My Experience as a SoulKids Mentor

My Experience as a SoulKids Mentor

By Dana Ilies, SoulKids®  Mentor

19th March 2018

My story starts with a Facebook post where Sally wanted to hire a part-time employee for SoulCentre. At the time I had never heard about SoulKids®, but I was looking for a job and I sent Sally an email.  Taking this action changed my life.

I joined a team of wonderful people who encouraged and supported me from the first moment on.

When the opportunity to attend the SoulKids Mentor Training came up and Sally offered it to me, I was very happy and absolutely sure that it would be an amazing experience.

Nothing could prepare me for what the course really delivered. Vikas Malkani is the wisest person I know (if not the wisest person there is). He can tell you one single line and change your life forever. He has a way of revealing the deepest secrets of life in the simplest possible way.

SoulKids Mentor Training is life changing. It makes you a better person and a great parent. It goes to the deepest corners of your soul, it makes you re-evaluate your mindset, conditioning, limiting beliefs, it helps you build up self-esteem and it gives you the tools for creating your own success and happiness.

The training first supports you as a person, and only afterwards gives you the proper instruments for teaching the program to children.

A SoulKids Mentor is inspirational, we don’t only teach children, we inspire them. We walk the talk and apply the lessons to our own life first. This is why this program is so powerful, it speaks to children’s souls, not only their minds.

And the most interesting part is that all of this happens while having lots of fun, through games and stories. Children, and adults learn best when they have fun and interact.

I became a SoulKids Mentor in May 2016 and since then I have been assisting Vidhya, the SoulKids Program Manager, in all the programs organised by SoulKids Academy.

There is no bigger reward than to see happiness and joy in the eyes of the children listening to you telling them stories.

We can see children changing from the moment they come through the door.

They enter SoulKids Academy not knowing what to expect. At first they may be a bit shy and do not interact a lot, but by the end of the program they are very excited and confident.

When they meet up with their parents again they jump around trying to tell pieces of the stories they learnt. A wonderful experience for me is the hugs that the children give as they leave, they hug with their whole hearts. It is so fulfilling.

What can be more rewarding than to read their testimonials: “SoulKids helped me overcome my fears” or “SoulKids made me more confident” or “SoulKids is awesome”?

All the children who attended our programs are special and unique. Not only did the children learn from us, but we learnt a lot from them as well. Every single program I conducted as a Mentor made me more confident and taught me valuable lessons.

SoulKids empowers children with skills for a happy and successful life: having an open mind, positive thinking, focus, persistence, having a vision, how to manage bullies, fear and negative people.

Looking back I feel so blessed for having been given this opportunity.

I have loved every minute of it and now I am leaving Singapore and am ready to take it home to Romania.

Thank you Sally, Vikas and Vidhya for supporting and encouraging me all the way, I’ll be forever grateful to you.

I end my story encouraging all the parents to gift their children the SoulKids experience.

It gives them the power to lead their best life.

SoulKids Mentor training happens only once a year!

Vikas and Sally are the teachers and it is an amazing opportunity. It will really change your life.

The 2018 training dates are from April 22-April 26.

To find out more about this program, attend one of our free talks and hear all about the philosophy behind SoulKids® from our founders Vikas & Sally themselves.

The free talk dates and times are given below.

-       April 5 (Thursday), 11am or 7pm or

-       April 16 (Monday), 11am or 7pm

Email us at soulkids@soulcentre.org or click on the preferred time slot to reserve your spot.

To find out more about our programs for children, please visit www.soulkids.org or email us at soulkids@soulcentre.org for more information.

 We offer group programs for different age groups of children and even offer one-on-one coaching if your child requires specific help and guidance. 

Meditation Teacher Training at SoulCentre

Meditation Teacher Training at SoulCentre

By Sally Forrest
Managing Director of SoulCentre, www.soulcentre.org

14th March 2018     

Sally took the opportunity recently to interview Robin Liu about his meditation journey with Vikas Malkani at SoulCentre.

She asked Robin 3 questions and his answers are very enlightening.

1) Why did you want to learn meditation?

3 years ago I was troubled by something in my life. A little voice in my mind posed a very simple question that moved me to act. That voice asked, “How’s your life today?"
I was perplexed! I started doing a soul search and realised that whilst I was doing well in my job and almost all areas in my life, something seemed to be missing. I was stressed, worried and experienced anxiety. This felt just not right and I was neither happy nor feeling fulfilled at all. That is when I embarked on a spiritual journey.

I used to meditate when I was a teenager, but somehow the everyday life had taken over and I stopped meditating. Remembering that peace and serenity that I have when I meditate, I decided to go back to the practice.

It was also around that time that I decided to visit Bhutan. That trip changed my life for good: I understood what it means to feel contented and live in balance and harmony with yourself. On one of the trips a simple quotation on the rear windscreen of a mini bus struck me at the core: “If you want to know your past, look at who you are today. If you want to know the future, look at your mind today.” It was strange, just like that little voice that asked about my life today! I knew I had to do something at that moment and discipline my mind. I knew meditation was the way to go but I also knew that what I was doing was not enough and I should learn more about meditation from a teacher to truly benefit from it. That is how I landed at SoulCentre and I immediately clicked with what Vikas taught during the preview session.

2) How has it benefited you?

Meditation has effectively calmed me down and “re-conditioned” my mind to be more focused. It is also through meditation that I have learnt to be more open minded. I choose my response to any situation instead of just reacting to it.
I have not only gained more confidence, but I also live a happier life. I have overcome my stress, worries and fears.
Through meditation, I learnt more about myself than any personality and psychometric tests I had ever taken. Meditation allows me the space and security to reach into my deepest consciousness and be truthful to myself. It makes me a better person, knowing my strengths, weaknesses, deepest fears, beliefs and desires. Through meditation, I have learnt to harness these aspects of me to achieve a balance in both my inner and outer world.

Hence, meditation has benefited me in 3 ways,

- Control my emotions and thoughts;
- Choose to respond and not react; and
- Contentment that allows me to know I am blessed, to be positive and to have a happiness that emits internally.

3) What qualities do you have as a teacher that you want to share with your students?

Having gone through that period of soul searching an encountering that life changing question “How’s your life today?”, I am now able to identify and understand what most of us are going through in life. My life has changed because of this question. Richness in life is not only about material wealth, but also about inner peace, fulfillment and happiness. 

Having achieved the 3 “C”s, Control, Choice and Contentment, through the wisdom that was taught by Vikas, I know with certainty that the system works and it will work for you too.

As a teacher in meditation, I will be able to guide and provide that support you need to grow and achieve that balance in your inner and outer world. My passion is to make a difference and see that my students will be confident to answer the question “How’s your life today?” with a strong affirmative and positive answer.

Thank you Robin, true words of wisdom.

I am confident that you will inspire many more people globally now that you are a Meditation Teacher at SoulCentre.

It’s great to see that Robin “walks the talk” and inspires everyone he meets with his calmness and wisdom.

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation & Mindfulness, and many students (and teachers) from around the world have learnt with us. We have taught over 25 different nationalities, and so we know the training and processes work across all cultures.

Vikas Malkani is the creator of our unique proprietary meditation programs, and he will personally train students to become a certified teacher.

Vikas is one of the world’s leading teachers of wisdom and meditation, who has taught leading companies and personalities, and anyone will be fortunate to have him as a guide. He is sought out by people from all over the world. 

We love to work with people who are passionate to be with us, and we grow as a wisdom family. 

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Meditation Teacher at SoulCentre, please connect with us at: info@soulcentre.org

Meditation For Corporates

By Sally ForrestManaging Director of SoulCentre, www.soulcentre.org
28th February 2018    

52% of Singaporeans have said that their work stress has risen significantly in the past 6 months. The office is no longer a fun experience and is increasingly becoming a stressful grind.
Increased workload, lack of support, office politics and reduced communications are all cited as issues in a recent survey “Working in Asia”.

Employees lack focus, are not clear on their priorities and admit they do not have strong enough influence skills. This coupled with extremely long working hours and commutes that are occupied with social media and “others agendas”, all lead to a mind that is over stressed, overloaded and dissipated. The joy of life is no longer apparent and the downward circle begins.

A recent workshop was conducted by SoulCentre with a top multinational team of executives where we asked a simple question.

What causes your stress and anxiety?

The answers we can all relate to;

Things not going to plan
Not enough time 
I feel like I am not progressing at work
The team is misaligned
In-house politics
Relationship issues at work
I am too hard on myself and need to achieve the best always
The unknown – is my job safe?
I cannot get my message across
Resistance and in house fighting
No time for my family – it’s all about work!

SoulCentre tailors our corporate meditation programs to clients’ needs and provides practical training that brings results!
Every company needs this training.
Imagine a workforce that focusses in the same direction and drives to achieve common goals.
Imagine staff who are focused and in control of their emotions and feelings.
Imagine being able to take the good days and the bad days with an inner determination and drive to continue moving forward.
Imagine staff having an inner drive and passion for their role.

These are only some of the results we achieve.

What do we include in our Corporate Programs?

An understanding of how stress is created.
Identifying the triggers of stress in the particular company.
Learning about negative outcomes if the stress is not managed.
Develop a strategy to identify and mitigate stress and its causes.
Develop a range of techniques that one can use during the working day to manage stress.
Developing emotional intelligence strategies to enhance team work.
We inspire the participants and include memorable techniques and examples that they can use in their work and home environment.

Our results speak for themselves

Just some of the feedback we have received;

A positive impact on the overall culture of the teams.
Stress management tools that work and are quick to employ.
Reduced stress.
Increased focus.
Work relationships improved as people started to truly listen and understand each other.
Decision making skills improved.
Staff at ALL levels benefited.

Top CEO’s learn meditation and see a difference after only 2 training sessions.

The best companies in the world use Meditation and incorporate it onto their corporate culture; Apple, Yahoo, Google, Nike, Rolls Royce, Siemens, P&G, Ogilvy & Mather, Avon Cosmetics to name a few.

Now it’s time to bring Meditation and Mindfulness to your company.

There is no better corporate meditation provider than SoulCentre Pte. Ltd to conduct your programs.
We are Asia’s Premier Centre for meditation and mindfulness and we have an amazing team of dedicated and committed meditation trainers. Our programs are taught around the world.

Sally Forrest and Vikas Malkani, our founders, are from the corporate world, having senior executive positions globally.
A depth of business experience allows us to fully understand and to tailor each program to your specific needs.

Contact us today and your program will be tailor-made to bring guaranteed results.

Sally ForrestBSc, MRPharmS, MBA.Managing DirectorSoulCentre Pte Ltdinfo@soulcentre.org

SoulKids - Why we started SoulKids

In 2003 whilst on a visit to India I met some parents who were singing the praises of a program called “SoulKids”. Whenever someone is enthusiastic about something they naturally speak about it and tell others.

The comments I was hearing excited me and included the following;

“My daughter was shy and after attending SoulKids she is much more confident”

 “My son was considered aggressive and he bullied other children. After attending SoulKids he started to value others more and became much more loving to himself and others “

There were many more, however these 2 impacted me so much that I tracked down the founder, Vikas Malkani and told him that SoulKids should not be limited to India, it should branch out globally.
We decided to join forces and in 2004 we brought SoulKids to Singapore and created a format and content that children love and one which brings changes from the inside out.

We work with children to bring them essential life skills for happiness and success.
We introduce subjects such as self-esteem, self-awareness, team work, leadership, positive self-belief and so much more.
We tell stories that make an impact and we introduce fun games so the children have a real experience of how to manage in different situations.

Children leave SoulKids knowing their strengths and also having an awareness of how their thoughts and actions affect others.

Over the years SoulKids has developed and we have won awards for “Best in Class” for Life Skills.

SoulKids Coaching has been introduced so children have an opportunity for one on one support on deeper issues (Issues such as moving to a new country, parents’ divorce, school bullying etc.)

SoulKids Mentor Training has been introduced for adults who want to learn how to inspire children, how to be better parents and how to simply bring out the best in each child they meet.

SoulKids Mentors also can become a part of the SoulKids team and spread the SoulKids wisdom worldwide alongside Vikas and Sally.

We teach SoulKids Mentors once a year and the next program is on 22-26 April 2018.

For upcoming programs for children please see our calendar: http://www.soulkids.org/events

One on One coaching sessions can be booked at your convenience by contacting the SoulKids Manager, Vidhya on soulkids@soulcentre.org.

An interview with leading meditation teacher Vikas Malkani

Vikas was recently interviewed for a magazine. He explained what meditation is and shared a few simple, yet profound meditation techniques as well! We are happy to share this article with you. Enjoy the read!

The Chinese New Year is around the corner. How do I prep myself for a good year ahead?

If you want to have a good year ahead with positive results, the most important element to get right is your mind-set. You start each day with your own thoughts, and end everyday with your own thoughts too. The thoughts you have create the emotional states you experience which then drive your actions and behaviours. The results you get in life are due to the actions you take. Thus it’s clear that your mind-set is the start of the results you achieve in your life.

It is no surprise that meditation is used by professionals in many fields to assure optimum performance. Hollywood Stars, Professional Athletes, Business Leaders, Investment Legends, Entrepreneurs and A-listers such as Oprah Winfrey, Ray Dalio, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Gordon Summers (Sting), Cameron Diaz, Paul McCartney, Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad), Eckhart Tolle, Anthony Robbins, Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer, are all people who meditate.

In my recent meeting with Hollywood Stars John Travolta and Mark Wahlberg, I was happy to hear that both of them give a high priority to wisdom and meditate on a daily basis.

The lesson is clear - Create a positive mind-set, and you have primed yourself to have a great year ahead.

What is mindfulness and meditation? How do I practise it? Are they the same?

Meditation is an ancient science of understanding our mind and training it to be our friend, not our enemy. Doing this is necessary if we value our happiness, peace, clarity, compassion and the many other positive emotional states of life, because our thoughts create our emotional states. We can choose our own emotions only if we can choose our own thoughts and that’s what meditation trains us to do.

You can also think of meditation as a way of training the mind, just as you would use various exercises to train the body.

Mindfulness is just a subset of the science of meditation. It started in the US about 50 years ago, and includes a few of the techniques that are taught in meditation and also some of its wisdom concepts.

How do I incorporate mindfulness and meditation into my daily life?

It’s necessary to start your meditation training with the right understanding. Think of meditation as getting more mentally fit and in balance; more in control of your emotions and personal peace.

Here are 2 easy ways to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into your daily life.

Beginners Meditation 1

One of the easiest ways to begin meditating is by focusing on the breath, which is a great way to improve focus and concentration. By focusing on a single thing, like the action of following the breath, repeating a single word (mantra) or staring at a specific object (a painting, a tree or a candle flame), a beginner can start to meditate.
Focus your attention on the chosen object, and each time you notice your mind wandering off, simply bring your attention back to the object of your focus. Start with only a few minutes at a time and slowly increase the duration.

Beginners Meditation 2

Another easy way for beginners is by practicing Mindfulness Meditation, which involves observing your thoughts with attention but without judgement or engagement. The intention is not to get involved with the thoughts that crop by in your mind, or to judge them, but simply to be aware of each thought as it arises. You may begin to realise you have a tendency to quickly judge an experience, thought, or person as good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant. You may also notice that your thoughts and feelings move in particular patterns. With practice, an inner stillness and balance begins to develop, and the mind quietens down from its erratic, active and agitated way of being.

There are many other techniques of meditation, but the 2 that I have described above are sufficient to get you started.

I also highly recommend you to find a good teacher, someone you resonate with and who can explain the intricacies of meditation to you in a logical and scientific manner.

Learn from such a teacher and you will soon begin to experience the powerful and positive effects meditation can have in your life.

What sort of good practices would you recommend for my daily life?

A few simple habits will also support your happiness, peace of mind, focus and mental clarity:

1) Limit your time on social media, and checking into other people’s lives
2) Set yourself 5 important things to accomplish, at the start of the day
3) Set aside enough time for those important to you (partner, kids, family etc.)
4) Spend some time daily reading inspirational material; it is nourishment to your soul
5) Take time out to meditate everyday (or a few times a day). 5 minutes at a time, 3 times a day is ideal to start with.
6) Don’t hang out with negative people, they are toxic to your happiness and success
7) Eat food that is nourishing and healthy

Any other tips or advise to share?

Come to SoulCentre (www.soulcentre.org) and let me teach you the secrets of meditation. It’s the fastest and most efficient way to maximize your happiness and success!

Vikas Malkani has been called the World’s #1 Wisdom Coach. He is an authority and best-selling author on wisdom to create a life of happiness, success, significance and legacy. He is also one of the world’s leading teachers of meditation and mindfulness.

Attend ‘Meditation Made Simple’ with Vikas and empower yourself to create a life of happiness, peace and fulfilment. Click here to register on Meditation Made Simple
http://www.soulcentre.org/events

3 Secrets To Raising A Happy Child

3 Secrets To Raising A Happy Child

By Vikas Malkani

Founder of SoulKids®

Raising happy children is the goal of every parent. Children are naturally drawn towards happiness, and as parents, we must understand what it takes to nurture and raise a happy child.

Here are my top 3 secrets to raising a happy child.

1.    Feed their self-confidence

As parents, it is our responsibility to raise our child’s sense of self-esteem so high that nothing or no one can break it.

Boost their confidence by always encouraging them to try new things. Appreciate their efforts not just the results. Support their interests, desires and strengths. Encourage them to do more of the things they are naturally good at. This provides a positive reinforcement and helps them grow in confidence; it also strengthens them to produce positive results in their endeavors.

Make sure that you do not compare them with others. Comparisons with peers devalues their self-confidence and also affects their inner beliefs.

2.    Make your home a positive one

Children learn more by imitation than by instruction. Be aware of your words, actions and behavior and keep them positive, as your children are watching you constantly.

Engage in fun activities together. Develop a positive and happy mindset yourself so they learn by watching you.

Let them see you making mistakes, learning from it and moving forward. Encourage open communication so they know they can always come to you for guidance and not be judged.

3.    Inspire, don’t perspire your children

Motivate children, don’t dictate to them. Acknowledge and reinforce good work and behavior. Notice them doing things right, don’t just catch them doing things wrong.

Encourage them to make small efforts and support them. It is always the small victories that lead to greater ones.

Children learn best through positive and constructive feedback. Remember failure has a purpose too – it shows you what you need to work on. Help them develop this growth mindset.

The award winning SoulKids® programs are designed to give children the life-skills they need to create their own happiness and success.

At SoulKids, children learn skills such as resilience, emotional intelligence, teamwork, personal leadership, creative problem solving and more in a fun and engaging environment. They always leave happy, excited, positive and wanting more.

We offer group programs for different age groups and also offer one-on-one coaching to provide specific help and guidance for your child.

Click here to see SoulKids program dates and register http://www.soulkids.org/events

Vikas Malkani is an authority on personal development, happiness and success. He has coached CEO’s, Hollywood Stars, Royalty, Sports Champions and more…

SoulKids is an award winning life skills program that makes children future-ready by teaching them leadership, resilience, emotional intelligence, teamwork and more.

Find out more about SoulKids programs and one-on-one coaching here www.soulkids.org or email us at info@soulcentre.org

Happiness Begins With Me

Vikas Malkani

13th September 2017

 

Every morning is special, because the past is gone, and the future is yet to happen. Only today exists. If you choose to, you can make today an opportunity to be happy, consciously, no matter what!

There is plenty of evidence to show that happiness is beneficial for health. Happiness produces endorphins within the body, which strengthen the immune system and result in overall well-being.

 

So give yourself the gift of happiness today; both your mind and body will thank you for it. Happiness is simple, when you know how.

 

Here are 5 simple tips to help you.

 

1) BE AUTHENTIC

Ask yourself some key questions - What makes you happy at work? What makes you happy at home? What do you love to do? What are you currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy?

 

You'll find that by putting your answers down on paper, they'll become clear more quickly and the actions you need to take more obvious and easier to initiate.

 

2) COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

 

We usually tell ourselves the story of what we lack, what others have that we don’t. Instead, begin every day by consciously counting your blessings and knowing the fact that you are in a better position than the majority of our world. Stay focused on your full-ness, not your empty-ness. This one practice will turn your life around.

 

3) STOP JUDGING

 

It's impossible to experience happiness when you're always judging others. Accept the truth that we are not here to judge one another. The next time you find yourself getting upset, ask, "Are you judging?" Judging others is often an unconscious habit that can be changed the moment you decide to stop doing it.

 

4) RAISE YOURSELF

 

Many people silently talk to themselves very negatively, yet they would never accept the same from a stranger, friend, or loved one. So become aware of your self-talk and if it’s negative, try this - For one week, simply commit to saying "stop" whenever you think a negative thought.

 

Carry a notepad and make a mark each time you catch yourself thinking negatively. And then, think of something you enjoy doing, something positive. You'll find that as the days go by, your negative thinking can quickly be reduced.

 

5) FOLLOW FUN

 

Fun is good. It's what children do naturally. Why do we stop pursuing fun as we get older?

 

Fun shouldn't be squeezed into a few weeks of vacation each year, while the rest of our life continues to be drudgery. And it shouldn't be squeezed into the last chapter of your life either, when you "get to" retire. Fun should be a daily experience!

 

But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a priority in your life. The wise know - happiness and fun are the reasons for living, not the symptom of it. Fun deserves to be a part of your life today, and forever.

 

Adopt this as a new rule – Follow Your Fun!

 

In my best-selling book The Little Manual of Happiness, I write “Happiness is now, or never!” Well, you can be happy now, as you read these words, or you can wait.

 

This is the perfect moment to be happy; in fact this is the only moment you’ll ever have. Happiness is a choice, and it begins with you.

 

So why delay? Choose to be happy today.

 

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation, Mindfulness & Stress-Management.

 

For details & dates of our meditation programs, connect to www.soulcentre.org/events