This is my second post in the series Reconnect with Happiness.  Read my first post here:
https://specialsaathi.com/2024/07/02/reconnect-with-happiness-a-daily-practice-for-neurodivergent-parents-and-children/

In this post, I will describe how the Six Ss introduced in the above article are being integrated in our daily routine.  I will also describe the impact of these practices on our lives.

I. Daily Rhythms and Six Ss

Reconnect with Happiness is a part of our daily practice.  Our daily rhythms are organized by the Six Ss :
1) Smile Brightly and Dance
2) Soothing chants
3) Storytelling
4) Silence
5) Self-inquiry
6) Surrender

Embedding such practices as part of the daily rhythm is of vital importance.  By practicing the Six Ss as described below, we are able to use these techniques for stress management, emotional regulation, and happiness throughout life.  Reacting to stress does not work for us.  We are now proactive in practicing several techniques daily.

II. Ananth’s Daily Rhythms: July 2024

1) Smile Brightly and Dance

Before Breakfast: Ananth and I practice some stretching exercises and simple movement activities together. 

Some of these activities are based on the building blocks of Bharatanatyam.  Adavus are foundational movement patterns done to rhythm.  Ujwal integrates Smile Brightly and other Ss in these simple  foundational pieces:
https://youtu.be/-ukjPZCV_tw?si=duT9npTtt12huZ2_
Then, Ananth continues with his practice for his diploma in Bharatanatyam exam.
Our playlist is available here.

Before Lunch: Ananth practices hastas (hand gestures) and hand gestures/facial expressions for some dance that he is learning.  On some days, Ananth goes to dance class.

Evening: Ananth and I again practice simple movement activities before Ananth practices dance.



2) Soothing chants
My mother is staying with us this month.  Ananth and I listen to chants with my mother in the evening.  Ananth also listens to chants for a few minutes in the morning.

3) Storytelling
Storytelling is integrated throughout dance lessons and practice.

4) Silence
While silence refers to inner silence or eliminating thoughts, external and internal silence work together.  Ananth’s experiments with talking softly or not talking much.  These explorations help with inner silence too.

5) Self-inquiry
Ananth joins the Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning (RMCL) 9 pm satsang daily as he wants to join the group for meditation.

6) Surrender
We are beginning to explore this daily in small ways.  We are exploring ways to focus on what is happening in the moment and limiting talk about past experiences or future plans to specific times of the day.

III. Outcomes of Six Ss in Daily Rhythms
Since June, Ananth has been attending group coding classes with HashHackCode.  Until a couple of months ago,  Ananth was finding it difficult to manage the process.  He had been doing group dance classes but the coding group was more challenging as he is doing an apprenticeship program where he has to work independently, monitor group conversations, and seek guidance as needed.  Now, he is able to attend these sessions for two hours.

Overcoming the Tired but Wired Pattern
Recently, we were in London.  While Ananth enjoys visiting his brother’s family in London, he also gets overwhelmed.

Read Ananth’s posts on watching his first Shakespeare performance and his first opera below:
https://rasaindia.org/2024/05/14/life-is-theater-theater-is-life-4-watching-theater-performances/

https://rasaindia.org/2024/06/22/my-first-opera-experience/

When Ananth goes for such performances, he goes by trains.  He also tries different cuisines with his brother and sister-in-law.  He enjoys these experiences but gets very tired.  In the past, he found it difficult to cope with the sensory overwhelm and fatigue.  On this trip, when he came back from shows, he would go to a quiet corner and listen to chants.  Soothing chants have been a key discovery and Ananth regularly uses chants as a tool for regulation.

IV. Six Ss, Daily Rhythms, and Family Fun

Organizing daily rhythms around the Six Ss has developed Ananth’s capacity to enjoy varied experiences.  Before discovering the soothing chants, he had a tough time dealing with the tired but wired scenarion.

Making the Six Ss a part of the daily rhythm enables Ananth to use the Six Ss as techniques for feeling good as needed.

Kelly Mahler explains the importance of noticing body signals (interoceptive awareness) and identifying feel-good strategies.
https://www.kelly-mahler.com/resources/blog/part-1-tune-into-body-signals/

Embedding the Six Ss in the daily rhythms and developing interoceptive awareness have helped Ananth greatly in managing stress and finding ways to enjoy experiences.

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Author Dr Dasaratha Rama
Dr. Dasaratha Rama is a professor and home educator. She was the editor of a monograph on service-learning published by the American Association of Higher Education. This monograph was a part of a series of monographs on service-learning published by AAHE. She was also an Engaged Scholar with the Campus Compact, an association in the US dedicated to higher education civic and community engagement at colleges and universities. She has served as the Chair of the Teaching and Curriculum Section of the American Accounting Education. She is a certified leader in systems thinking, mapping, and leadership under a program offered by Cabrera Research Lab. She is currently doing a certificate in Theater Arts for Holistic Development (TAHD) from RASA (Ramana Sunritya Aalaya).