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It went really well and I am excited about the opportunities arising from it! I am going to be partnering with a body positive/inclusive yoga teacher on a workshop of welcome where we will make space for every body and all of that body's experiences with a combination of restorative yoga and trauma sensitive mindfulness meditation. Two other participants have reached out to learn more, one around my work with children and the other for herself and her colleagues. Super exciting for my passion for sharing mindfulness to be generating some enthusiasm! Thanks for the suppor3 points
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A bit about me? Great-Grandma - Fairy Garden Caretaker - StarGazer - GhostBuster - Bean Counter - Mystic - Ordained Minister3 points
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I appreciate your responses Gillian and Rachel. I am continuing to feel relief from the burden of anger. To let it go as both of you have described does something very good for the one who lets it go. Having some understanding that the other was/is wounded is easier with time as my own wounds from those negative encounters yield to healing. Compassion and acceptance are the beautiful qualities that you mention that allow us to move on. It feels enhancing to respond with them rather than anger and hurt. Thanks again.3 points
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I had a tough experience in the last few years with an autocratic person. I was a leader in a program and that person led another. When my group and I advocated for a change to a topic that involved both groups, that person went wild. That person communicated in a way that was dehumanzing. After my last enconter I was literally in a state of shock.That person organized an attempt to turn a common community against us. It ended in a stalemate. I resigned to recuperate from the withering attacks. Then, a new leader from our group and other new members attempted interaction again. Same wild and3 points
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I try to go for a walk everyday. I look into the sky & watch the clouds go by.sometimes I pretend that I'am sitting on the clouds & they are taking me along the sky for a ride.I know that Iam part of the air I breathe which is part of the clouds & the sky.2 points
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Thank you for the beautiful reflections James and Rachel. Coming back to nature is perhaps the most expansive practice for me. Depending upon what I tune into while out in nature (or depending on what the season is), there are infinite lessons to be learned. Today, as I look out my window, I am very aware of the impermanence of all things. Mild winter temperatures have arrived in Stockholm, which means the thick blanket of snow that once was is now seeping into the earth as water, preparing for spring. Nature today reminds me that all things come and go, stirring up a bittersweet feeling2 points
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Sometimes I feel very connected to a tree ,the sky ,the water in the lake.My cells have oxygen that's come from nature.I feel more calm & comfortable when I sit by a lake or go for walk outdoors.I think that I'm part of this plannet.It's so beautiful to look at the stars & out ro the endless galaxies above ,We are all part of that.2 points
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Well Rachel, your blog was so beautiful, authentic and powerful it has left me without more words! For me, you shared truth in ways I have never put together like this. All I can say is please keep being who you are and please keep sharing that with us. Daniel2 points
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Your description of happiness really rang true Rachel. I especially loved hearing your enjoyment of your daughter dancing. Beautiful! I have a granddaughter who dances and I share your sentiment. I am very happy when I laugh. My wife and I had our two grandchildren for a weekend recently and we played a hysterical board game in which each player choses a totally inappropriate response to a life situation described on a card. We all laughed until we cried. It was fun to share a slight "breaking of the rules of social interaction" with them in a safe situation. Because none of us would EVER say2 points
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Rachel, thank you sooo much for reminding me about David Treleaven‘s work. I watched some videos by him last year and couldn’t remember his name! I will check his work out further. Best wishes to you on your teaching!2 points
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Anger for me presents itself in the form of 'confusion', my mind goes foggy, i can't think straight, i find myself questioning the emotion a lot as i rarely am truly angry, but when i am i often have sadness or hurt deep inside my chest that quickly follows the angry sensation.2 points
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In Classical Chinese Five Element medical philosophy, the seat of anger in the body is identified as the liver. The liver is referred to as the ‘Little General’ or ‘Little Tyrant”. The liver activates in Early Spring ... some of you are experiencing symptoms / expressions of this right now as Spring is rapidly ascending. If we observe other people carefully we see that these aren’t limited to just this specific individual biological organism that modern people regard as a self-existing and exempt from cause / effect natural laws. During this seasonal transition and throughout Spring2 points
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Ok so I'd like to share my biggest fear. I'm sure it's the same for a lot of people. I'm petrified of ending up alone although it is inevitable. We come into the world alone and we exit it alone. Right now I'm happy with a great hubby and 3 beautiful kids. I wish I could freeze time and keep it this way, but we age everyday. We get closer and closer to the end. That's why I'm grateful for learning and practicing mindfulness. So I can just enjoy right now.2 points
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@Daniel A. Detwiler Thank you for sharing that story/memory. I empathize with your position of being so shocked and depleted from the attack that you needed to resign. I left a situation years ago because it was not sustainable due to an addiction (on the other's part); for many years, I identified as the victim, the one who had been wronged. But in the last few years, I have grown this wellspring of compassion for this person and the entire situation really. Someone close to me recently remarked upon this compassion, seeming to fall somewhere between "does he deserve your compassion?2 points
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Beautiful reflections Jillian, Rachel, and Daniel. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts on this topic. @JillianZ - Abandoning our views is a bit tricky because it is not something we can do by force, despite the frequent mental tendency to want to work it this way. We can't deny or push away how we ourselves feel, so what I think works best is to welcome openness and curiosity to our experience. I think that by coming back to the recognition that we are all products of our nature, our nurture, and other subtle factors, we might naturally start to cultivate greater openness towards anot2 points
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I have a background teaching young kids mindfulness and meditation, movement and breathing techniques. Children are SO receptive to meditation and I absolutely love seeing them transform before me. When Covid hit everything was thrown off for obvious reasons..but no longer being able to teach students face to face, online learning felt like it brought out a depression and anxiety in me that I couldn’t shake. I tried my best to continue online with my students but many of their parents stopped the extra-curricular activities and I found myself harboring this daily sadness and grief. After2 points
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@JillianZ Acceptance has definitely been a by-product of the pandemic for me as well. The forced slowing down allowed me time I never really took to acknowledge things, feel them in my body, process them. It is a work in progress but definitely I have embraced the opportunity to abandon my views on quite a few things during this time. Always, this work and growth and learning is ongoing. Best- Rachel2 points
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I would love to learn more about how to mindfully abandon my conditioned thought patterns and perception of things. I feel the pandemic had this effect on me without my awareness of it happening at the time. I have always been a creature of habit and routine, very set in my ways, resistant to change and even just down right stubborn. But with the forced shut down, losing my ability to support myself and having no choice but to face the uncertainty, I eventually embraced it. I began trying new things and stopping doing others that I may never have without the help of the pandemic. I also2 points
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I sO agree B. When i feel the sensatiOn of fear fOr me, it is a separatiOn which feels like an uncOmfortable energy in my chest and arms. A sensatiOn that is like stress Of a small self shaking hOlding the breath cOnstricted with the body cOntracting. I thank my bOdy nOw fOr letting me knOw i am nOt connected and cOme back to breath letting my bOdy know i am safe tO expand Once again with the life fOrce Of my breath.2 points
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It is like there is a separation from the free flow of life, a freezed, rejected, lost, confused, tight and unbreathable space...so tensed in the body2 points
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@helenea - No need to apologize for rambling! That's what the forum is here for. And these are certainly challenging times. We are here to support! @Cookie - Very cool! Do you have any interest still in flying? @Feelgoodfloozie - Ah yes, how our desires change I also wanted to be a grown up when I was a child. I remember asking my parents if I could watch 'real people movies' instead of animations.1 point
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A Mixed bag: Oldies, Classical, Top 40's, some Rhythm and Blues...Pop songs too! Al;l depends on my mood! In addition I love listening to old Gregorian Chants!1 point
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Hi Members, I am hoping & Inviting Folks to attend our Live Zoom Meditation! See this Calendar event; hope Folks will take advantage of this opportunity; I am inviting you as Students & Practitioners to critique this Session; we are all Students of Life; come celebrate with us! Namaste, ~~~Rick~~~1 point
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I so appreciate these reflections from you both. Daniel- I agree! There is nothing like the release of laughter. Wonderful anecdote. Gillian- Thank you again for these prompts. I loved sitting with them.1 point
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Hi! I have practiced mindfulness on and off for 2 years but have done a daily practice for about 6 months now. I like Joseph Goldstein and his breathing meditations. Currently I am studying MBSR.1 point
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Gillian, I liked your observation about contentment. At some times in my own life, contentment follows the elation of a happy experience. As I recall it, savor it and integrate it, contentment arises.1 point
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Thanks to you both, Rachel and Daniel, for your lovely reflections. When I feel happy or content, my body feels light and unencumbered. My mind feels clear and I sense a deep connectedness to life's flow. Still, there is a slight difference for me between being happy and content. Happiness feels like elation whereas contentment feels quieter and more peaceful. Both are beautiful. Laughter and dance are two ways of connecting with these feelings (specifically happiness), as you two have mentioned. I have also experienced deep joy and happiness during kirtan while I was studying yoga.1 point
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Hi Gillian! Thanks so much for being here. I'd love to hear more about your women's group and how it's going for you? Women's work is so powerful and necessary in time like these, especially! I do lead these retreats and wanted to share with the community—is this an appropriate listing? I want to make sure this is within the scope of this community! It's great to connect. Best, Emma1 point
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I have enjoyed these inquiries. Thank you, @Gillian Sanger. For me, in the absence of fear and anger, there is a general sense of ease, which I equate with happiness, joy, contentment, and peace. My mind is fluid, slow moving, and my body moves in a way where there is no real obstruction or discomfort. I speak inwardly to myself with gratitude for those moments- pausing to appreciate the tiny spaces where things feel just right- emotionally, mentally, physically, and even situationally. An example of when it is a situation that prompts the sense of ease- when I watch my daught1 point
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Hi Rachel, That sounds promising! Btw, do you have some tips to share about how to add trauma sensitivity to mindfulness meditation? I have a few students who expressed childhood trauma and we’re starting Body Scans... thanks, Amy1 point
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Hi Gillian! I'm Alba and I'm new Great question and I'm super interested in this reflection. Although I can see why many people think that living a mindful life means being aware of the present moment, personally, I feel that practising mindfulness is a way to getting to know ourselves better. Time ago, when I hadn't still known anything about mindfulness I felt rather stuck in my life. Thankfully, today I'm getting used to looking into my emotions and focus on my own happiness. Now I boast how good my life is! So grateful for your inspiring posts. Wishing you all1 point
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This past week I tried both walking meditation and mindful walking for the first time. I've been struggling with stillness of my body this week, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try something new-to-me. I'm not exactly sure if walking meditation will be a regular practice for me, it's much more difficult for me (vs. mindful walking) but I've been practicing very short periods (around 5 minutes) inside my home.1 point
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Hello Friends! I am Sneha Jhanb, a former student of Sean Fargo and mindfulness exercises. I am excited to join this community and learn from everyone. I live in Atlanta, GA with my kids and husband and our new puppy. I help relentless leaders sleep better and relax their way to prosperity using mindfulness, self compassion, sound healing and financial services. Most of my clients are entrepreneurial and professional women who are looking for more purpose and meaning in their life. This year, I am most excited about publishing my first ever book.1 point
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This is a beautiful and powerful reminder. Thank you for sharing Rachel.1 point
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Who amongst us has taught within the school systems, whether to students or teachers? What ages did you teach and how did you effectively share your understandings and practice? Share whatever this experience is or was like for you. And, if you have any questions about teaching mindfulness within the education system, share those as well and hopefully we can support one another in learning more.1 point
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Lately fear/anxiety crops up when I think about doing taxes this year. It’s a hollow feeling or a hollow space with a small nut shaped knot in the center of my solar plexus area. Where the fear is felt does seem dependent on if it is real ‘fear’ or more an anxiety producing fear. If I sit with the fear of losing a loved one, that knot gets bigger and radiates out through the legs, arms, head, feet and hands.1 point
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Today was day 28 of my 100 day challenge. I like the fact that I'm looking forward to each morning with a different meditation. These first 28 days were the mindfulness for beginners album. I'm interested to see where the rest come from. Kindness and love for all, John1 point
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Hi Gillian,I wish i would remember to stopping here more. this is such a beautiful and yet so sad quote. So many do not feel any connection to nature and while some people do not like the city others do not like nature which is beyond me. We are cut off from it so often and that is really too bad. because in my humble opinion they are missing out and it enables them to not care about the harm that is done to it or cause harm themselves. I do ot live in a wild place far from people but i am in a rural area and am surrounded by trees and mountains. Even when i lived in the city I walked in an ar1 point
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Hello. My name is Patricia F as there is already a Patricia in the group. I am excited to be here and looking forward to being on a consistent practice schedule. I am a volunteer at an organization that helps people in all forms of recovery. I would love to bring mindfulness to them as well.1 point
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I am a college professor so 18-22 is my target age. I find this group just wants someone to listen without judgment. They want an adult to see them and respect who they are becoming. I am wanting to start bringing mindfulness to this group as we move back into a school year (covid be damned!) and I look forward to this group as I move into this challenge!1 point
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My yoga teacher Tara Cindy Sherman said: Speak your truth, even if your voice shakes1 point
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When I was young, I really didn't have an aspiration to grow up and do or be something. I was honestly just happy to be a kid. I think it was because the future was terrifying and I didn't want any responsibilities, or the burden to have to live up to a dream. Little known fact about me is that I can roller skate really well, I went with my Dad 3 times a week for over 10 years. Also, I can dance my butt off on skates, but am terrified to dance on a dancefloor. Great topic, and it makes me happy to share this...but also scary because it's a part of myself that hasn't really ever bee1 point
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By Gillian Sanger · Posted
Here are Sean's 5 mindful musings for the week: enhancing non-judgmental moment-to-moment awareness Hi All! Here is your weekly dose of "5 Mindful Musings", a brief list of what's helping me live a more mindful life. What Brings Me Joy Elmo Learns How To Belly Breathe. I love Elmo, which is why I was so happy that he learned how to use this belly breathing strategy for keeping calm. No one wants to see a stressed out Elmo! 🙂 What I Am Interested In XPT Performance Breathing Certification. Two of my heroes, professional athletes Laird Hamilton and Gabrielle Reece, created this comprehensive guide to breathwork. They've been utilizing powerful breathing exercises to help them heal, perform and thrive in many areas of their legendary lives. I'm really looking forward to this. Something Valuable I Learned How Trauma Can Affect Your Window of Tolerance People with trauma are best able to cope with stressors and triggers when they’re operating within their window of tolerance. But a traumatic experience can narrow our clients’ window of tolerance, leading to states of either hyper- or hypo-arousal. So the NICABM created this infographic as a tool you can share with your clients. It can help you explain what’s going on when they’re feeling dysregulated. Plus, this will help to support the exercises and work you do together as an important part of healing. Mindfulness Exercises I Just Shared Freely - 8 Quotes & Videos To Help You Awaken Joy (Because we could all use a little more joy.) - How To Practice Mindfulness of Death and Why It's Important (The Buddha said this is the most powerful mindfulness practice there is. It's not talked about much, so we thought this may be useful for those of you who feel comfortable with this. Please do not practice if you're prone to depression, suicidal tendencies, or nihilism.) A Quote I Am Pondering "If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else." - Chinese Proverb Share your thoughts, questions and support in our online Mindfulness Community. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more free mindfulness trainings. Share your feedback or testimonial here. Donate to support the work of Mindfulness Exercises and allow the offering of these teachings as widely as possible. Donations are gratefully and joyfully received. Wishing you safety, health, happiness and ease, http://mindfulnessexercises.imgus11.com/public/559db4a0e82734e0f7184ada257149ab.png Sean Fargo - Founder, Mindfulness Exercises - Former Buddhist Monk of 2 Years - Instructor for the mindfulness program developed at Google - Mindfulness Consultant for Ernst & Young, Kaiser Permanente, Elevate, etc. P.S. - Enhance Your Mindfulness With Our Free 100-Day Mindfulness Challenge Receive daily mindfulness meditations, worksheets and infographics to help you start each day mindful. Sign Up Free: https://mindfulnessexercises.com/100-day-mindfulness-challenge/ -
I ALWAYS come back to my roots, @Gillian Sanger! In Ayurveda, I am dominant in Vata, which is comprised of air and space, meaning, I need to ground in order to feel more balanced. Doing things like your pottery work, or anything that stimulates that connectedness, can bring us what we need. Enjoy your class! Be well. Rachel
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Hi everyone My name is Jack I am pretty new to meditation but i have noticed how much it has helped me for the past few weeks. my interests include animals and music if you would to know which music i listen to while i medidate you can go here http://bit.ly/3sroe7S. I would appreciate techniques or guides who guys use to meditate.
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By Gillian Sanger · Posted
Lovely reflections as always Rachel. I am glad this question brought you relief. For myself, I feel called to tune into the earth - just to ground myself. We talked about the root chakra recently, and I still feel a strong call and need to reconnect with this grounding element. The past couple of weeks have been a bit challenging for me; my mind is more active than usual (which is saying something because it is usually quite active 😄). Today I am going to a pottery workshop (class 6 out of 8). I have found this craft to be hugely beneficial for my state of mind. When I am working with the clay, I am not thinking about anything else. So in a sense, this is a way for me to connect with the earth. -
By Gillian Sanger · Posted
@helenea - No need to apologize for rambling! That's what the forum is here for. And these are certainly challenging times. We are here to support! @Cookie - Very cool! Do you have any interest still in flying? @Feelgoodfloozie - Ah yes, how our desires change 😄 I also wanted to be a grown up when I was a child. I remember asking my parents if I could watch 'real people movies' instead of animations. -
By Feelgoodfloozie · Posted
Hi everyone! As a child I wanted to be a grown up, and now I want to be a unicorn... -
I used to fly Cessna single engine planes.
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Good morning- In reading this week's prompt, I felt a tangible sigh of relief. Like I was grateful for the gift of the question- to slow down and check in with myself. Thank you, @Gillian Sanger. I am working through a week of study with my teacher on clearing vishuddha chakra- the throat chakra, bridge between heart and mind. Within this work is a call to use aspects of right speech- are my words true, kind, necessary? Also embedded here is the invitation to explore one's truth, and to speak, listen, and act from a place of truth. It feels like I am working on attending to this in a subtle way while navigating a few challenges: with relationships and with work. So I am sitting in meditations that support this opening, this truth between my heart and mind, and bringing extra attention to the words I am choosing in my interactions as well as the thoughts that give rise to them. Of course, it is ongoing work- this listening for one's truth, and then speaking/acting it into being in a way that vibrates with compassion for all, including myself. Be well, everyone. Rachel
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hi Gillian I would say that TM was the begining of my search for something inside rather than waiting for something to come along which would make it ok I always felt that it was a need within that I was searching for so the start of many years of learning different methods, alternate and complimentary practices and techniques, I am reluctant to say that I have never found it? because I have been fortunate in every other area of my life.I have a long and happy marrage , good close relationships with my children who also have fairly well balanced lives, and 7 beautiful grand children, I am gratefull that i have been able to learn how much my thoughts influence my feelings and behaviour. and after 30 odd years working in the care sector I was in the position to change career when i should have been planning for retirement and join my son in building a new business, especially in these difficult times when many are having to deal with problems that none could have foreseen, yet there is one problem which i dont seem to be able to overcome and could ruin everything for me. I am so sorry for rambling on. To answer your question, most of our meditation attempts are usually the guided ones by Tara Brach,Joe Dispenza and other positive people,but I still remember my mantra.
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By Gillian Sanger · Posted
Hi Helenea! Thank you for sharing here 🙂 Do you still practice TM? I've been curious, but I really don't know much about it.
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