The wonders of life
‘The wonders of life are always available to us. The question is: Are we available to the wonders of life?’
Between protection and connection (Part 2)
‘Notice your patterns, bring self-compassion to your experiences of protection, and take delight in your times of connection.’
Softening into the body
Do your shoulders ever feel like they’re literally carrying the weight of the world?
Soft gaze
In meditation and Tai Chi, we often talk about using a soft gaze. This means that rather than intently staring at something, we open our gaze to include the full visual field.
Body-mind connection
What I also find fascinating is the body-mind connection – how the way we use our bodies can influence our mental state. We can get a sense of this with a very simple exercise – walk around the room twice, once with the head down and shoulders slumped forward, staring at the floor; the second time with the head high.
Softening into the body – Part 2
One of the easiest way we can allow our bodies to soften is by using our breath.
Stilling the mind – Part 2
Fortunately, mindfulness offers us a whole range of practices which can be very helpful when we are dealing with ongoing restlessness and anxiety.
Working with sleepy mind
One of the most effective (but definitely under the category of ‘don’t try this at home’!) strategies for combating sleepy mind must be sitting on the edge of a deep well during meditation.
Posture
Just like water can’t flow through a hose which is crinkled, so energy can’t flow freely through a body which is stiff and tense.
Going with the flow
‘Flow is the antidote to trauma.’ Dr Peter A. Levine