靜默之光：種籽幼兒瑜伽的旅程（一）

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（1）

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

2006年的夏天，一個契機讓我們的教室生活悄然改變。那時的種籽蒙特梭利幼兒園，教室裡充滿了孩子們的歡聲笑語，他們熱愛工作，老師們也用心引導。但我們觀察到，有些活潑的孩子仍然難以穩定下來。他們的精力四溢，似乎總有用不完的動力。在教室裡，我們時而會思考：能否讓這些孩子更加平靜，讓他們的動作更輕柔、心靈更專注？如何讓整個教室都能更深刻地體現蒙特梭利的精神？

這些問題，最終引領我們踏上了一條融合靜坐、瑜伽與蒙特梭利教育的旅程。

啟發：蒙特梭利與印度哲學的相遇

蒙特梭利博士對「靜默」的探索，源自她深厚的哲學思考，也與她在印度的經歷密不可分。1940年代，蒙特梭利因二次世界大戰的影響，流亡至印度。在那裡，她不僅持續推廣蒙特梭利教育，也接觸了印度的靜坐哲學與傳統文化。

在印度期間，蒙特梭利被深深吸引於印度哲學中「內在平靜」的概念。她曾描述過，印度的教育強調心靈的靜定與感官的覺察，這與她對兒童的觀察不謀而合。對蒙特梭利而言，靜默並不僅僅是「不說話」或「不動」，而是一種內在的專注與秩序，是孩子達成心靈和平的重要途徑。她開始在課程中加入靜默遊戲，讓孩子們體驗心靈的安靜力量。

我們思考著，瑜伽的理念也與蒙特梭利的教育哲學相契合。瑜伽動作講求平衡與節奏，讓身體與心靈共同進入平和的狀態，這正是蒙特梭利教育中「內在建構」的一種延伸。

初步嘗試：種籽的第一堂靜坐課

當我們與國際蒙特梭利顧問Akyer Amelita老師討論教室內的情況時，她提到歐洲許多蒙特梭利學校已將兒童瑜伽融入課程，並且取得了顯著成效。同時Amelita老師長期進行瑜珈與靜坐的修練，在受到她的啟發之下，種籽決定開始嘗試在教室中結合瑜伽、走線與靜坐，幫助孩子穩定情緒，培養專注力。

第一堂靜坐活動，我們選在茉莉班（現在的花朵家）進行。當老師輕柔地引導孩子坐下，讓他們雙手放於膝上，閉上眼睛，感受周圍的寧靜時，那一刻，教室裡彷彿一切都靜止了。雖然有些孩子因天性活潑難以完全靜下來，但多數孩子都能跟隨指導，逐漸感受到靜默帶來的安定力量。

接著，我們帶領孩子們做模仿動物的幼兒瑜伽動作。熟悉的伸展與平衡動作讓他們放鬆，卻又充滿挑戰。孩子們在這些緩慢而有節奏的動作中，開始學會專注於自己的身體與呼吸。最後，老師講述了一個生氣的故事，結合瑜伽的動作與情緒表達，幫助孩子學會調節自己的情緒。當故事結束時，我看到孩子們專注的眼神，心中充滿了感動。

挑戰與堅持：探索穩定的步伐

然而，過程並非總是一帆風順。當我們進入葉子班（現在的葉子家）進行第二次活動時，遇到了孩子們的浮躁情緒。當天有老師請假，教室中少了一份熟悉的穩定感，這讓部分孩子的行為顯得更為難以控制。活動進行得不如預期，我們提前結束。

這次挫折讓我們更加意識到，老師的參與與引導是成功的關鍵。除了活動本身，我們還需要在日常教室管理中融入更多的靜默精神。因此，我們決定在接下來的教師研習中，分享如何以輕柔、尊重的方式引導孩子。教師的正向提醒與支持，是幫助孩子進入靜默狀態的重要橋樑。

收穫與成長：穩定的內在建構

隨著活動的持續進行，我們漸漸看到改變的發生。中小班的孩子逐漸展現出更強的穩定性，教室裡的秩序感明顯提升。他們在靜默中學會觀察自己的行為，在瑜伽中找到身體與心靈的平衡。

在走線活動中，孩子們的腳步越來越輕，動作越來越優雅。他們學會用輕柔的手法放置教具，尊重每一件物品。這種由內而外的變化，讓我們看到了蒙特梭利教育真正的力量——它不僅培養孩子的學習能力，更建構了他們的內在秩序。

特別值得一提的是，那些曾經情緒不穩的孩子，在靜默與瑜伽的幫助下，開始展現出驚人的學習潛力。他們的注意力更集中，對工作的熱情更高，讓我們深感欣慰。

展望未來：一場未完的旅程

回首這段旅程，我們深刻體會到靜默、瑜伽與蒙特梭利教育的完美結合。這些活動不僅讓孩子們在教室中變得更穩定，也讓我們的教學團隊深刻感受到教育的意義。這不僅是傳授知識，更是與孩子一起探索內心的和平與力量。

未來，我們期待讓靜默之光照亮更多孩子的心靈。種籽蒙特梭利幼兒園，將繼續在教育的道路上穩步前行，為每位孩子建構一個充滿穩定與愛的成長環境。

從印度哲學到蒙特梭利的教室，我們相信，每一次靜默，都在孩子的心中種下一顆和平的種子。

The Light of Silence: A Journey of Children’s Yoga at Seed Montessori Kindergarten

The summer of 2006 marked a quiet yet transformative shift in our classrooms. At the time, Seed Montessori Kindergarten was filled with the laughter and joy of children. They loved their work, and teachers guided them with dedication. Yet, we noticed that some of the more energetic children struggled to settle down. Their boundless energy seemed uncontainable, and we often pondered: Could we help these children find greater calm, move more gracefully, and focus their minds more deeply? How could we help the entire classroom embody the true spirit of Montessori education?

These reflections ultimately led us to embark on a journey that combined meditation, yoga, and Montessori principles.

Inspiration: Montessori’s Encounter with Indian Philosophy

Dr. Montessori’s exploration of "silence" stemmed from her profound philosophical insights and her experiences in India. During the 1940s, amidst the upheaval of World War II, Montessori spent several years in India, where she continued to promote her educational philosophy while engaging deeply with India’s meditative traditions and cultural philosophies.

While in India, Montessori was captivated by the concept of "inner peace" emphasized in Indian philosophy. She noted that Indian education fostered mental stillness and sensory awareness, which resonated with her observations of children. For Montessori, silence was not merely the absence of sound or movement; it was an inner focus and order, a vital path for children to achieve peace of mind. She began integrating silent games into her lessons, allowing children to experience the quiet power of their inner selves.

We also contemplated how the principles of yoga aligned seamlessly with Montessori’s educational philosophy. Yoga movements, which emphasize balance and rhythm, enable the body and mind to achieve harmony—a natural extension of Montessori’s focus on "inner construction."

Our First Steps: The First Silent Activity at Seed Montessori

When we discussed classroom dynamics with international Montessori consultant Akyer Amelita, she shared how many Montessori schools in Europe had successfully integrated children’s yoga into their curricula. As a long-time practitioner of yoga and meditation herself, Amelita inspired us to begin combining yoga, line walking, and meditation into our classroom routines. This was aimed at helping children stabilize their emotions and enhance their focus.

Our first silent activity took place in the Jasmine Class (now known as the Flower Family). As the teacher gently guided the children to sit down, place their hands on their knees, close their eyes, and sense the surrounding stillness, it felt as though the entire classroom paused in a moment of tranquility. While a few naturally energetic children struggled to fully settle, most followed the guidance and gradually experienced the calming power of silence.

Next, we led the children through yoga movements mimicking animals. These familiar stretches and balancing poses allowed them to relax while also providing challenges. Through these slow and rhythmic movements, the children began learning to focus on their bodies and breathing. Finally, the teacher narrated a story about anger, incorporating yoga movements and emotional expressions to help children understand and regulate their emotions. As the story ended, the children’s focused gazes filled us with a sense of accomplishment.

Challenges and Determination: Building Stability Step by Step

The journey, however, was not without its challenges. During our second activity in the Leaf Class (now known as the Leaf Family), we encountered restless behavior from the children. A teacher’s absence that day seemed to destabilize the familiar classroom dynamic, making it harder for some children to focus. As a result, the session ended earlier than planned.

This setback highlighted the critical role of teacher involvement and guidance in the success of such activities. Beyond the activities themselves, we realized the importance of integrating the spirit of silence into daily classroom management. In the subsequent teacher training sessions, we emphasized using gentle and respectful reminders to guide children. Positive teacher support, we found, was a crucial bridge to help children enter a state of calm.

Growth and Transformation: Constructing Inner Stability

As the activities continued, we began to witness remarkable changes. The younger children in particular showed noticeable improvements in stability, and the overall sense of order in the classroom became more pronounced. Through silence, the children learned to observe their own actions, and through yoga, they discovered the balance of their bodies and minds.

In line walking exercises, their footsteps grew lighter, and their movements more graceful. They learned to handle materials with care and respect for every object. This transformation, radiating from within, revealed the true power of Montessori education—it not only nurtures children’s ability to learn but also constructs their inner order.

Notably, children who previously struggled with emotional instability began to exhibit extraordinary learning potential. Their focus intensified, and their enthusiasm for work soared, bringing immense joy and encouragement to our teaching team.

Looking Forward: A Journey That Continues

Reflecting on this journey, we are deeply moved by the harmonious integration of silence, yoga, and Montessori education. These activities not only brought greater stability to our classrooms but also allowed our teaching team to rediscover the essence of education. Education, we realized, is not merely about imparting knowledge but also about exploring peace and strength together with children.

In the future, we aspire to share these experiences with more parents and educators, letting the light of silence illuminate the hearts of more children. Seed Montessori Kindergarten will continue on its educational path, providing every child with a nurturing environment filled with stability and love.

From the philosophies of India to the Montessori classroom, we believe that every moment of silence plants a seed of peace in the hearts of children.

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