Local Yuma program hopes to educate community about benefits of meditation in schools

Meditation is an ancient practice that has long been known to help deal inwardly with issues of self-worth, depression or anxiety.

A local group in Yuma: Samadhi Sea of Wisdom intends to spread a message of unity in Yuma especially among young children in school.

Co-founders Alice Sinohui and Michael Post hope to expand their meditation sessions and practices to students and their teachers.

“I believe the reason why we desire to take meditation to schools is for everyone,” Sinohui said.

Samadhi plans to not only encourage students but also teachers to deal with healing through meditation.

For Post and Sinohui, meditation does not have to be a silent time but can also be a fun way to “go within yourself and discover who you are,” Sinohui said.

Meditation can be seen as a “recess” or a timeout for the brain to relieve stressors.

Post and Sinohui hope to work specifically with troubled students and help them work through anger management.

For the couple, meditation focuses on realizing the inner self: “we remind people what they’ve forgotten…who we are,” Post said.

In schools, they believe there should be a balance of allowing children to realize who they are themselves and learn what other things are in the classroom.

“We intend to give them the tools to realize they are good,” Post said.

The couple believes it is crucial for kids to be able to realize their worth on their own without trying to get it from others.

They believe that if kids are able to learn that before “unhealthy patterns” set in, they can bring the same connections to their family and others.

“Meditation for children in the schools should be like having any other class that’s important to cope in the world,” Sinohui said.

According to Post and Sinohui, meditation is meant for people of all ages and walks of life.

In order to bring people together, Samadhi does not look to change people’s religious beliefs or judge them based on their previous life choices.

If you have been positively influenced by meditation, the couple encourages people to show support by sharing these stories on online articles or even hosting presentations at your workplace to educate others about meditation.

You can also join class sessions led by Sinohui and Post or donate to their gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/bringing-meditation-school-to-yuma.

“It’s not the act that matters, it’s the quality behind the act,” Post said.