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Breathe
"Mom, I can't sleep!"
"Why not?"
"I don't know...I'm nervous and I can't stop thinking, thinking, thinking..."
"Do you want me to teach you how to breathe?"
"Breathe? But I already know how to breathe!"
When a young boy can’t sleep, his mother teaches him how to breathe with his whole body. He learns new ways to move his body, notice his breath, and calm himself. He can pretend he is a ringing bell, a cat, a rocket…any number of things! The activities combine controlled breathing, stretches, and visualization, and are an introduction to mindfulness and meditation that can be used to help induce sleep or just to calm the body and mind. Breathe is a conversation between a boy and his mother at bedtime. But this conversation can happen at any time, in any place. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers that describes the exercises and their effects in more detail.
From the Note to Parents and
And why is it important to know how to breathe well? If breathing is an innate physiological act for every human being, then we should not worry about how we do it! When we think about a baby sleeping, we realize that her entire body breathes—her belly moves with each inhalation and exhalation. But, over the years, we lose that abdominal and complete breathing, the diaphragm begins to weaken, and we progress to a shallower breathing rhythm. Regaining a full breathing pattern is a very important step in reconnecting with our bodies. If children learn how to do it when they are young, they have an important tool so that they can live deeper from the simplest and most necessary act that we all do—breathe. Since this theory seems very complicated and children love stories, Breathe presents a series of exercises—some come from yoga, tai chi, chi kung, or kinesiology—illustrated and adapted for children as they are already being applied in many schools and communities. In different religious traditions, there has always been a lot of importance given to the air we breathe, and the sacred has often been represented as the breath, the wind, the blowing spirit, the vital energy, etc. The practice of conscious meditation, centered on the breath and with the goal of being “present” in each moment, is called mindfulness.
"Why not?"
"I don't know...I'm nervous and I can't stop thinking, thinking, thinking..."
"Do you want me to teach you how to breathe?"
"Breathe? But I already know how to breathe!"
When a young boy can’t sleep, his mother teaches him how to breathe with his whole body. He learns new ways to move his body, notice his breath, and calm himself. He can pretend he is a ringing bell, a cat, a rocket…any number of things! The activities combine controlled breathing, stretches, and visualization, and are an introduction to mindfulness and meditation that can be used to help induce sleep or just to calm the body and mind. Breathe is a conversation between a boy and his mother at bedtime. But this conversation can happen at any time, in any place. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers that describes the exercises and their effects in more detail.
From the Note to Parents and
And why is it important to know how to breathe well? If breathing is an innate physiological act for every human being, then we should not worry about how we do it! When we think about a baby sleeping, we realize that her entire body breathes—her belly moves with each inhalation and exhalation. But, over the years, we lose that abdominal and complete breathing, the diaphragm begins to weaken, and we progress to a shallower breathing rhythm. Regaining a full breathing pattern is a very important step in reconnecting with our bodies. If children learn how to do it when they are young, they have an important tool so that they can live deeper from the simplest and most necessary act that we all do—breathe. Since this theory seems very complicated and children love stories, Breathe presents a series of exercises—some come from yoga, tai chi, chi kung, or kinesiology—illustrated and adapted for children as they are already being applied in many schools and communities. In different religious traditions, there has always been a lot of importance given to the air we breathe, and the sacred has often been represented as the breath, the wind, the blowing spirit, the vital energy, etc. The practice of conscious meditation, centered on the breath and with the goal of being “present” in each moment, is called mindfulness.
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1900
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 2, 2024
Super interesting, written in a very simple way with cutely illustrations.
November 26, 2019
I loved this book because it shows the different types of breathing exercises that can be done. In the end the child says he feels as light as a cloud thanks to all the breathing exercises. This book will be helpful to keep in my future classroom in the quiet corner. When a student is becoming frustrated, I will make sure to keep this book around so they can read it and feel as light as a cloud too!
August 25, 2024
my boyfriend found this book on the side of the road and brought it home to help with my insomnia 🥹 the combination of storybook childhood comfort and great mindfulness tips helped me fall asleep! would love to read this to my future kids ❤️
May 4, 2019
I liked the concept and words, but found the images too busy, especially for trying to calm down.
October 7, 2022
Amazing book to help kids deal with their emotions and calm their mind and body
May 12, 2024
Breathe
July 7, 2019
Great for breathing, relaxation, but also vocal and wind performers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews