靜默之光：種籽幼兒瑜伽的旅程（二）

2006年種籽瑜珈課程的發展歷程故事 The Light of Silence: A Journey of Children’s Yoga at Seed Montessori Kindergarten（2）

The Development Story of Seed Montessori Kindergarten’s Yoga Program in 2006

第二週瑜伽活動：穩定的起步與孩子意志的展現

進入第二週的瑜伽活動，我們感受到孩子們逐漸熟悉了活動的節奏和模式。活動開始以走線練習為主，接著是熱身動作，然後進入模仿動物姿勢的瑜伽練習，包括蘋果樹、烏龜、貝殼、長頸鹿等姿勢。每一個動作都結合了想像力、伸展和平衡的挑戰，讓孩子們在輕鬆的氛圍中專注於自己的動作與節奏。

我們特地問孩子們：「你們喜歡瑜伽嗎？」孩子們以燦爛的笑容和肯定的回答回應，讓我們感受到這些活動已逐漸融入他們的日常，成為他們期待的一部分。最後，我們引導孩子進入放鬆的環節，請他們平躺在地，閉上眼睛，伴隨著輕柔的音樂想像自己變成飄浮的雲，在天空中彩繪美麗的色彩。

然而，在這一部分，我們觀察到一些活動力較強的孩子仍然難以完全靜躺，他們的身體似乎總是充滿能量，無法保持長時間的安靜。這些現象提醒我們，穩定性和專注力的提升需要更多時間與耐心來慢慢引導。

感動的瞬間：小柏與小呈的努力

這一週，葉子班（現在的葉子家）的小柏與小呈讓我印象深刻。這兩個孩子過去在活動中常常顯得難以集中，但這一次，他們展現出令人驚訝的意志力。他們努力控制自己的身體，專注地完成每一個瑜伽動作，用行動告訴我們他們的努力與改變。

當看到他們用意志力完成動作的瞬間，我的內心充滿感動，甚至忍不住熱淚盈眶。課後，我與Amelita分享了這一切，我說：「孩子們是真心投入，用他們的行動為生命譜寫了一首動人的樂章。」這樣的改變讓我深刻地感受到，教育的力量在於耐心的等待與真誠的陪伴。

第三週瑜伽活動：穩定進步與新的嘗試

進入第三週的瑜伽活動，我們持續收到老師們的回饋，孩子們的情緒與專注力逐漸穩定。雖然進步緩慢，但這是一個自然的過程，我們明白，教育需要循序漸進，不能急於求成。每一點進步，無論多麼微小，都讓我們感到欣慰，因為這些改變是真實且深刻的。

這一週的亮點來自於佩容老師的勇敢嘗試。她主動承擔瑜伽活動的帶領工作，並在其中融入了故事元素。透過生動的語言與肢體動作，她吸引了孩子們的注意，引導他們模仿故事中的動物姿勢。孩子們不僅專注參與，還對故事中的動物展開熱烈的討論，分享自己的相關經驗。這樣的互動讓整個活動充滿了生氣與生命力。

課後，我們與Amelita老師一起討論了這次活動的觀察，並得出以下幾點啟示：

1. 空間感的建立：我們需要幫助孩子更清楚地界定自己的活動範圍，進一步學習如何尊重「人我空間」。台灣的孩子因為空間狹小和少子化的影響，普遍缺乏這種空間覺察的能力，而瑜伽活動正是讓孩子感受並學習這一能力的絕佳機會。

2. 循序漸進的動作設計：瑜伽應從上半身的活動開始，再逐漸過渡到下半身，並儘量減少移動，以幫助孩子穩定自我控制，提升專注力。

3. 聽覺引導的重要性：我們發現，透過語音進行動作指導，孩子們能夠更加專注，並建立起「聽—意志—大腦—動作」的連結，這是一個促進自控力的重要途徑。

Jason的改變

第三週的一天，我與Jason一起進行數學教具的工作——平方鏈的排列活動。Jason過去常常缺乏耐心，會說：「我不要做這個工作！」或者只是草率地完成一部分就放棄了。但這一次，他的表現讓我感到驚喜不已。

他專注地取用教具，輕柔且有條不紊地完成了整個排列過程，並且將鏈條擺放得整整齊齊。看到他的改變，我忍不住對他說：「Happy叔叔幫助你學會了自我控制，你做得非常好！」Jason靜靜地微笑著，他的眼神中流露出滿滿的成就感與自信。我給了他兩次深深的擁抱，感受到一股溫暖與滿足。

這樣的改變讓我思考：這是否與近幾週的靜默與瑜伽活動有關？也許這些活動正在幫助Jason找到內在的穩定與秩序。

教育的深思：給孩子最珍貴的禮物

除了Amelita老師帶領的瑜伽活動外，種籽的老師們也在其他時間持續帶孩子進行瑜伽練習。我們相信，這種長期而持續的努力，能夠幫助孩子更穩定、更專注，並逐漸建構出內在的秩序。

然而，我也在觀察中反思：當代的孩子是否因過多的聲光刺激、玩具與環境影響，失去了與大自然互動的寶貴經驗？事實上，給孩子最珍貴的並不是短期內看似顯著的學習成果，而是在學齡前幫助他們建構完整的人格，邁向正常化之路。這些根基將成為他們一生的寶藏，幫助他們面對未來的每一個挑戰，並保持對學習的熱忱。

這是我們教育者應該深刻省思的問題：我們究竟該給孩子什麼？

教育者的堅持與反思

除了瑜伽活動，我仍需應對密集的期末親師會談（種籽每一個學期，在期末最重要的活動，所有的家長都需要參與會談）與學業報告，工作強度讓我幾乎每天只能睡三個小時。有一天，Amelita老師問我：「要不要休息一下？今天由我帶領活動即可。」我笑著回答：「你不能對我太好、太縱容，否則我會怠惰！」因為當我進入教室，看到孩子專注的眼神與穩定的改變，我就覺得疲憊都是值得的。

教育是一場漫長的旅程，孩子們需要的不是立刻顯現的成果，而是長期的陪伴與耐心。我們的任務，是幫助他們在學齡前建構完整的人格，培養面對未來挑戰的勇氣與能力。

用靜默與愛陪伴成長

教育是一場漫長而充滿挑戰的旅程，但每一個孩子的改變，無論多麼微小，都值得我們全心投入。從小柏與小呈的努力，到Jason的突破，再到每一個參與故事與瑜伽活動的孩子，我們看到，他們正在以自己的方式，邁向更加穩定與專注的未來。

靜默與瑜伽不僅是活動，更是一種生活的哲學。它教會孩子如何感受內心的和平，如何尊重自己與他人，如何用愛與專注面對世界。我們期待，種籽蒙特梭利幼兒園的每一位孩子，都能在靜默與愛的陪伴下，為未來的挑戰做好準備，並在生命的旅途中，展現無限的潛能與光芒。

The Development Story of Seed Montessori Kindergarten’s Yoga Program in 2006

Week Two: A Stable Beginning and the Display of Willpower

By the second week of the yoga program, we noticed that the children had become more familiar with the rhythm and format of the activities. The session began with line walking exercises, followed by warm-up movements, and then transitioned into yoga poses inspired by animals such as the apple tree, turtle, shell, and giraffe. Each movement combined imagination, stretching, and balance, allowing the children to focus on their actions in a relaxed environment.

We asked the children, "Do you enjoy yoga?" Their beaming smiles and enthusiastic responses reassured us that these activities had gradually become a part of their daily routine, something they looked forward to. At the end of the session, we guided the children through a relaxation activity, asking them to lie flat, close their eyes, and, accompanied by soft music, imagine themselves as floating clouds painting beautiful colors across the sky.

However, during this part of the session, we observed that some more active children found it challenging to remain still for long. Their bodies seemed to be brimming with energy, resisting the tranquility of lying down. This reminded us that building stability and improving concentration requires time and patience for gradual guidance.

A Touching Moment: The Effort of Xiao-Bo and Xiao-Cheng

This week, Xiao-Bo and Xiao-Cheng from the Leaf Class (now known as the Leaf Family) left a deep impression on me. These two children had previously struggled to concentrate during activities, but this time, they demonstrated remarkable determination. They worked hard to control their bodies, focusing on completing each yoga pose, showing us through their actions how much effort they were putting into improving.

Watching them accomplish their movements with such willpower filled me with emotion, bringing tears to my eyes. After the session, I shared this with Amelita and said, "The children are genuinely invested; their actions are like composing a beautiful symphony for life." This transformation deeply reinforced my belief that the power of education lies in patient waiting and sincere companionship.

Week Three: Progress and New Approaches

By the third week of the yoga program, we continued to receive positive feedback from teachers about the children’s increasing emotional stability and focus. Although the progress was slow, we understood that education is a gradual process. Each small step forward, no matter how minor, brought us joy, as these changes were genuine and profound.

A highlight of this week was the courageous initiative of Teacher Pei-Rong, who volunteered to lead the yoga session and creatively incorporated storytelling into the activities. Using vivid language and body movements, she captured the children’s attention and guided them to mimic the animals in the story. The children not only participated enthusiastically but also engaged in lively discussions about the animals in the story, sharing their own related experiences. This level of interaction brought vitality and excitement to the session.

Afterward, we discussed the observations with Amelita and identified several insights:

1. Establishing Spatial Awareness:Providing yoga mats could help children better define their activity spaces and learn to respect "personal boundaries." In Taiwan, limited living spaces and a declining birth rate mean children often lack spatial awareness, making yoga an excellent opportunity to develop this skill.

2. Gradual Movement Design:Yoga should begin with upper body movements before transitioning to the lower body, minimizing unnecessary movement to help children achieve emotional and physical stability.

3. The Importance of Auditory Guidance:We discovered that children are highly responsive to verbal instructions. Guiding them through auditory cues can help them concentrate and establish the connection between "listening—willpower—brain—movement," which is vital for developing self-control.

Jason’s Transformation

During one session in the third week, I worked with Jason on a mathematical activity—arranging the square chains. In the past, Jason often lacked patience, saying, "I don’t want to do this!" or abandoning the activity shortly after starting. But this time, his behavior amazed me.

He carefully handled the materials, methodically completing the arrangement process and aligning the chains neatly. Witnessing his transformation, I told him, "Uncle Happy helped you learn self-control, and you’ve done an excellent job!" Jason quietly smiled, his eyes reflecting pride and confidence. I gave him two heartfelt hugs, feeling a sense of warmth and fulfillment.

This change made me wonder: Could it be that the past few weeks of silent activities and yoga sessions had helped Jason find inner stability and order? Such observations deepened my curiosity and motivation to continue exploring these methods.

Reflecting on Education: Giving Children the Most Precious Gift

In addition to Amelita’s yoga sessions, our teachers also incorporated yoga into other parts of the children’s routines. We believe that such long-term and consistent efforts can help children become more stable and focused, gradually constructing an inner sense of order.

However, during these observations, I also reflected on the broader challenges facing children today. Are they losing the opportunity to interact with nature due to excessive exposure to sensory stimulation, toys, and technology? What children need most is not immediate academic achievements or memorization but the chance to build a complete personality during their early years. This foundation will serve as a lifelong treasure, enabling them to face future challenges and maintain a passion for learning.

This reflection led me to a fundamental question for educators: What should we give to children?

The Persistence and Reflection of an Educator

Apart from the yoga activities, I had to manage intensive parent-teacher meetings and academic reports. This workload left me with barely three hours of sleep each night. One day, Amelita kindly suggested, "Why don’t you take a break? I can lead the session today." Her thoughtfulness moved me, but I replied with a smile, "You can’t be too kind or indulgent; otherwise, I’ll become lazy!" Stepping into the classroom and seeing the children’s focused expressions and gradual improvements made all the fatigue worthwhile.

Education is a long journey. Children don’t need immediate results; they need long-term companionship and patience. Our mission is to help them build a complete personality during their formative years, equipping them with the courage and ability to face life’s challenges.

Accompanying Growth with Silence and Love

Education is indeed a challenging and enduring journey, but every small change in a child is worth our wholehearted effort. From the determination of Xiao-Bo and Xiao-Cheng to Jason’s breakthrough and the participation of every child in yoga and storytelling, we see them moving toward a more stable and focused future in their unique ways.

Silence and yoga are not just activities; they are philosophies of life. They teach children how to find peace within themselves, respect themselves and others, and approach the world with love and focus. At Seed Montessori Kindergarten, we are committed to nurturing every child with silence and love, preparing them for future challenges and helping them shine brightly on their life journey.