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OUR METHODS · HIGH SCHOOL

METHODS FOR HIGH SCHOOL

Our methods were originally designed for high school students, who turned out to be starving for peace and quiet. The teachers were always surprised at the enthusiasm of their students whenever they had a chance to try out the Dream of the good methods.” Here is a neglected resource for creating a better learning environment and improve the social relations in the classes", we thought. Much has happened since then. The Dream of the good has developed and expanded. It spreads from teacher to teacher, from school to school.
The methods have been thoroughly been tested and researched when it comes to their effects as well as their reception by the students. Our earliest experiences have been confirmed in pilot projcts, led by different teachers in different age groups time and again. The methods are easy to learn and to use and are easily integrated with the existing curriculum. They are appreciated both by students and teachers. Some of the exercises you, as a teacher, can impement right away and others you need to learn at short training courses. Begin with the method that appeals to you and you experience as simple. Below are a few examples for high school.
Read about our training courses for teachers
You are welcome to download more exercises as a PDF document.

Stillness:
Concentrate on a focus word, phrase or image
Pick a focus word, phrase or image. Sit quietly in a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Relax your muscles. Breathe slowly and naturally, and as you do, repeat your focus word or phrase or recapture the image. Allow a passive attitude. Don’t worry about your performance ! When other thoughts come, simply think to yourself; ‘oh well’, and gently return to the exercise. Continue for ten to twenty minutes. Practice the exercise once or twice daily.

Peaceful touch
Be present in your hands
Let one person sit comfortably on a chair. The other person stands behind the chair and puts her hands softly on the others shoulders, close to the neck. Let it be an open touch. Both should be as relaxed as possible. The giver, focusing on her hands, and tries to open up fully to the impressions of the other. She pays attention to the breathing of the other (is there any movement) and listens with all her mind to the other´s silent story. After about 5 minutes the one giving touch says, I’m about to remove my hands from your shoulders, she waits, a few moments and removes her hands. The two people switch places and the exercise is repeated. Practice in silence, you can talk when you have finished.

Reflection
Life talk: Speak from your heart
Sit in a circle and place a candle in the middle. Ask a question about life. For instance: What is the meaning of life? What is love? Peace? The good? Start with a few moments of stillness and silence, letting everyone come to rest within. Then let each one speak in turn. Let everyone express whatever he or she wants. No one can comment or discuss what is said. Everyone listens with intense presence to the speaker. A talking stick can be used. The speaker holds the stick and passes it on to the next person when she has finished.

Movement
Peace Power Qigong
The Peace power qigong is a medical qigong for youngsters, which fosters an inner and outer peace and helps you to take in the powers of nature. It consists of beautiful, strong movements, accompanied by an effective concentration. The movements help the body to open up, stimulate the circulation and develop the intuition. The method, strengthening one’s health in general, is especially good for the spine, and the inner organs, relieves stress, balances the functions of the brain and opens up for wisdom.

The Peace power qigong has two parts - one consisting of movements and the other of stillness. It harmonizes with the feelings and thinking of teenagers, and balances the hormones. According to Chinese medicine you need to strengthen your powers of the soul and find a way to handle and express these during adolescence. Qigong, at the output of hormones at this age, helps to balance them and the subsequent feelings like fear, aggression and their lovelife.

The Peace Power qigong is created within the Biyun School

Yoga
The power of nature yoga
The Dream of the Good yoga program, The power of nature yoga, is designed for grade school students and intended for classroom practice. It consists of large, powerful movements in combination with effective focus inspired by nature. The exercises awaken dormant strengths in the children and youngsters, promote the connection between the inner and outer environment and contribute to the creation of a loving relationship with nature and fellow human beings. The movements help the body open up and resolve tensions and they are especially good for the spine. At the same time they stimulate circulation and support the inner organs. The program takes about 15-20 minutes.

Here you can download more stillness exercises for the class room!
The Dream of the Good offers a rich supply of teaching material and tools for free. Among them are our Peace films for High School students. And meditations.
You can download our films and meditations here!
Our work is made possible by contributions and funding from organizations and individuals. Do you want to support us with a donation, please click on the Donate button in the left margin.

stillness exercises

Sharif´s heroes

“I have kept up my Dream of the good exercise plan,
because the training makes me feel better and has helped my progress. I have also benefited in other ways from the methods that I have learnt. I am a member of an organization called “Sharaf´s heroes” that is fighting for equality and against honor-related violence. We were going to receive a diploma and an award in the Swedish Parliament in front of an audience of 700 people and several TV cameras. I was stressed out and very nervous. But my mate and I went into the lavatory and tried to relax. We practiced some yoga and qigong movements that you had taught us. When I came out again I felt like a totally different person. I wasn’t nervous or stressed at all, just happy and had good thoughts.”
17 year old male High school student, Stockholm

To believe in the students' good inner possibilities

The greatest joy has been to see students with
difficulties in making contact with people and social problems change and become social, expressive and harmonious.
We adults working in the school strive to awaken and safeguard the students’ own creativity and meet every student in a profound way.
At Tanum high school we in the staff group have talked a lot about the conditions for such profound meetings, which in my opinion are essential for the good results that we have achieved. We teachers have struggled to raise our consciousness about our own prejudices and to push them aside so that they no longer affect our attitude toward the student.
We need to meet and accept ourselves with our own fears and weaknesses. For my part, my early experiences of abandonment and vulnerability have helped me to understand how we can help the students. When they feel that we see them, believe in their good inner possibilities and in a reality based and practical way support them in their efforts to overcome their problems, their growth gains momentum.
Torgny Greveby, high school teacher, Tanumshede

“I’ve noticed that it’s easier for me to study and I don’t get terribly nervous before an exam. Now I am much calmer and more collected before a test. It’s certainly due to the increased power of concentration that I have gained from our mental training. My results have also been affected positively.”

16 year old high school student, Stockholm