Limerick primary school offering pupils sound therapy in new mindfulness programme

ONE Limerick primary school is breaking new ground by offering pupils sound therapy during the school day - a practice it believes is unique in Munster, and possibly nationwide.
Limerick-based holistic practitioner, Geraldine O'Brien is running a mindfulness programme in Bohermore NS, incorporating sound baths, reiki and modern tapping energy.
Principal of the school, Ciara Sheehy said: “We're running a pilot programme where Geraldine has come in and is working with the children. We cater in this school for a lot of additional needs and there's a lot of children with anxiety these days and a lot of children needing extra support.”

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She added that the teachers and SNA's have also been enjoying taking part in the sessions.
“The parents were blown away by it and they were also blown away that it was a form of therapy for the kids, that it was going to help to relieve anxiety. The children were absolutely buzzing after it and they can't wait to continue doing it.”
Ms Sheehy commented: “It was run in second and third class first and we had a whole pile of staff sneak in and grab a seat and sit at the back of the room and take part in it so the atmosphere in the school was totally zen on Friday leaving the place.”
“A lot of the comments from the parents were that they were so grateful that something different was being trialLed in the school and that it was fantastic to see the kids have such a positive experience and the staff,” she added.
The holistic practitioner, Ms O'Brien explained that the children have the opportunity to enjoy sound therapy workshops using Tibetan bowls and various other instruments.
“The idea is that the frequency or the noise of the bowls will actually soothe the children so it's a very gentle form of healing that regulates their emotional state.”
“If they're anxious or if they're upset or if they're just a little bit sad, it brings that level of anxiety down by listening to the noises and then as part of the workshops that they do, they get a kind of background information into sound therapy and the Tibetan culture.”
Geraldine said the children really interact with the instruments and different therapies.