Toxic Cough Syrup Deaths: What Parents in India Must Know and Steps to Protect Toddlers
Oct 13, 2025By Tanvi Munjal
A Different Kind of Guru
Guru Purnima is a day of gratitude honoring those who guide us, shape us, and awaken wisdom within us. Traditionally celebrated to pay respects to spiritual teachers, this sacred occasion can also be reimagined for children in a deeply meaningful way.
What if, on Guru Purnima, we teach our kids to bow to the most constant teacher they’ll ever have, their own body?
From the flutter of hunger to the shiver of a cold, the body whispers powerful truths. When children learn to listen, respond, and care for these signals, they lay the foundation for lifelong health, self-awareness, and confidence.
Why Your Body Is Your First Teacher
Before children learn from books or blackboards, their bodies teach them the most fundamental lessons:
- Rest when tired
- Eat when hungry
- Cry when hurt
- Run when joyful
The body is intuitive, honest, and immediate. Unlike external authority figures, it never lies. It just needs to be heard.
Teaching children to tune into their bodily cues fosters self-trust, emotional regulation, and a grounded sense of identity.
Listening to the Body: Lessons for Every Child
Hunger Isn’t Bad, It’s a Signal
Children are often scolded for wanting food “again” or skipping meals based on appetite. But hunger isn’t a flaw; it’s communication. Guru Purnima is a great moment to teach kids how different foods make their body feel energized, sluggish, bloated, or calm.
Teach:
- To recognize real hunger vs boredom eating
- To stop when full, even if the plate isn’t clean
- To notice how sugar vs fruit makes their energy feel
Pain as a Messenger, Not a Problem
When kids fall or get sick, their body is saying, “Slow down,” “Rest,” or “I need help.” Instead of brushing pain aside, help children ask:
What is my body trying to tell me right now?
Teach:
- That it’s okay to pause, stretch, or ask for help
- That pain isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom
- That rest is recovery, not laziness
Movement Is Joy, Not Punishment
Too often, exercise is seen as something to “burn calories” or “tire kids out.” Let’s shift that narrative.
This Guru Purnima, introduce movement as gratitude—a way of saying thank you to the body.
Teach:
- Dance because you feel happy
- Walk to feel calm
- Stretch to wake up your muscles
- Yoga to honor your breath and space
The Guru Within: Building Body Awareness in Daily Life
Children don’t need to chant in silence to connect with their inner teacher. They just need curiosity and permission to feel.
Here are some rituals and practices to start:
Body Scanning (Ages 4+)
Before sleep, ask your child to close their eyes and notice each body part—from toes to head.
- “Are your legs tired?”
- “What’s your tummy saying?”
- “Does your heart feel calm or busy?”
It builds mindfulness, empathy toward oneself, and better sleep.
Mindful Eating (Ages 5+)
Once a day, have a “silent bite” practice. One bite of food is eaten slowly—chewed, smelled, and felt. Ask:
- “What do you taste?”
- “Is it soft, crunchy, warm?”
- “How does your belly feel after eating it?”
Breath Awareness (Ages 6+)
Let kids place their hand on their chest or belly and feel their breath. Teach them to notice:
- How their breath changes when excited or scared
- That slowing the breath can calm the body
- That breath is their “invisible guru” in every moment
Words That Honor the Body
Children absorb what we say. On Guru Purnima, begin using affirmations that make the body feel like a friend, not a burden.
Try saying together:
- “My body is strong and wise.”
- “My body tells me what I need.”
- “I trust what I feel inside.”
- “Even when I don’t feel well, my body is helping me heal.”
Lessons from Indian Tradition
In Ayurveda and yogic wisdom, the body is never separate from the soul. It is a temple, a vessel, a channel for consciousness. Children deserve to grow up with this reverence, not just for gods and gurus outside, but the sacred self within.
In some ancient texts, even breath (prana) is referred to as the guru because it teaches presence, awareness, and balance without words.
Guru Purnima is not just for the teacher in the classroom; it’s for the teacher in the mirror, the heartbeat, the breath, the bruise that heals.
How Parents and Schools Can Support This Mantra
At Home:
- Let children choose when to eat within a structure
- Avoid body shaming or commenting on size
- Talk about feelings in the body (e.g., “Does this make your tummy feel funny?”)
- Encourage movement that’s playful, not pressured
At School:
- Introduce mindful moments in the classroom
- Respect kids’ body needs (bathroom breaks, hunger cues)
- Avoid using exercise as punishment
- Celebrate all body types and physical abilities
Final Thought: Let Every Child Be Their Own Guru
This Guru Purnima, let’s expand the definition of the guru to include the one that whispers from within. Let us raise children who don’t just obey health rules but understand their bodies, honor their needs, and feel empowered to take care of themselves.
Because a child who trusts their body becomes an adult who respects it.
And that, truly, is a lesson worth teaching.
Be the first one to comment on this story.