Instructor uses meditation
to help teens
Pair put sessions on CD
BY SUSAN SILVER
Nancy Neal’s passion is working with teens. Using meditation, she helps them to de-stress, and to live a life free of alcohol and drugs.
The Troy resident educates teens about how their brains work, and how important nutrition is to their overall good health.
"I explain why they feel the way they do, and how to deal with society," she said. "Society in general does not give them the best tools to de-stress."
Neal volunteers at several youth facilities in the area. She also teaches classes at Earth’s Center every other Sunday, and conducts twice-monthly sessions at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center.
"Meditate does not mean they are cross-legged and chanting," she said. "There is lot of misconception about what it is. It is to get these kids to focus their thoughts, to turn them toward what God has given them and away from drugs and alcohol. I give them other tools."
According to Neal, teenagers experience a high amount of stress due to peer pressure, family issues, school, best friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, parent’s divorce, stepparents and curfews.
"If a student is different, he can be made fun of," she said. "I teach them to be true to themselves."
Her students tell her she helps them.
"A teen who used to be at West Central came up to me and said, ‘I wish I would.have had your class when I was in there, it would have helped,’" she said.
This need has propelled Neal to record her sessions on CD to give to those who want to continue with her after they leave a facility or class.
Neal’s soothing voice gently instructs students about ways to relax, ways to deal with peer pressure and ways to get a better night’s sleep. Her voice is accompanied by music; music she says has been requested by those in her classes.
She is collaborating with Scott Oglesbee – a well-known musician in the Piqua area – of SKmusic productions.
"He understands what I am doing," she said. "He is donating his.time and talent."
Oglesbee said Neal has been a friend of his family’s for years, and he was excited about working with her on this project.
"She is helping teens; it is great," he said. "We need more people doing it. I am helping her out and it is a creative project for me."
Neal said she is creating the CD because she has had many requests from teens, especially from those who are in facilities.
"Some of them cannot remember how to do it when they get home," she said. "They wanted a CD to take with them. I wanted to put it into the hands of my kids."
While Oglesbee composes the music, Neal will be recording the guided meditation part of the CD.
"It is one little tool they can take with them to remember what God has placed within them and to trust themselves," she said.