Chelsea Smith’s family moved five times when she was growing up.

She changed schools every time they moved. Each time there were new friends to make and new routines to learn.

“The experience was stressful,” said the 38-year-old. “Although I didn’t label it as such at the time, I started suffering from anxiety.”

It wasn’t until she grew up and took a meditation course that she learnt to deal with the negative feelings.

“I first took a class because I was dealing with some personal and financial stresses,” she said. “It was a great help. I’m calm now. I wish I’d known how to meditate as a child. It really would have helped me.”

That’s one of the reasons she started teaching meditation to youngsters three years ago as part of a summer camp, Mind, Body and Soul.

“I really felt the kids were missing quiet time,” she said. “I thought maybe I could introduce to them something I had found that helps me.

“I was unsure at first if they would take to it, but they got it, liked it and it stuck.”

She described herself as a floater without any real profession. “Life” was her qualification to teach children meditation, she said.

Ms Smith will offer a four-hour meditation workshop for children through holistic health company My Sereni-Tea next month.

It’s open to youngsters between the ages of six and 11. Meditative breathing techniques and information about the power of crystals and chakras, the body’s energy centres, are all on offer.

The idea is to give children tools to more effectively deal with life’s stresses such as spelling tests or arguments with peers or family, said My Sereni-Tea owner Deryn Higgins.

“Certain crystals channel certain types of energy,” she said. “The kids really get into the crystals.”

A tiger’s eye stone for example, promotes dynamic energy, strength and grounding.

Ms Higgins said some kids like to keep the stone in their pocket while they write exams, to help them through.

“It helps them focus and stay grounded,” the 52-year-old added.

Frank Arnold, 12, took the programme two years ago.

“Sometimes I struggle with my emotions,” he said. “When I get really angry I am brought to tears easily. Meditation helps me to calm down.”

He recalled one incident where his school gym teacher made him furious.

“The whole class was doing laps through the entire gym period,” he said. “If one person lagged we had to do it all over again. After school when I got in the car to go to a swim meet I was really upset and exhausted.” Deep-breathing exercises helped him focus enough to win some of his races.

He found the crystals in the course interesting, but said taking crystals into an exam didn’t work very well at his school.

“They don’t let you take those things in,” he said. “I tried to take one in a necklace and it was confiscated. Maybe they should allow it.”

Ms Smith’s class takes place November 29 from 11am to 1pm on the fourth floor of the Bermudiana Arcade. The cost is $45.

For more information call 296-2114.