Mindfulness Monday: Body Awareness 9/2/13

It's Labor Day! Hope you are all getting a break for the typical work week to enjoy all the things that matter to you most.

Today's Mindfulness Monday tip has to do with brining our awareness to our body sensations. Last week we brought our attention to our thoughts and today I am encouraging you to bring your focus of attention to your bodies. This type of attention, much like with our thoughts, is one of an observer's mind. We notice with a sense of detached awareness, without judgement or criticism or even an attempt to change. We simply notice.

Take a few minutes today to sit quietly. You can be really structured with it and set a timer for as little as a minute or up to 20 minutes for this exercise. If you choose not to be so structured that works too. Just simply center, close your eyes, attend to your breathing and bring your attention to the rising and falling of your chest. Notice what this physically feels like. Notice your heart beat and the texture of your breathing. Is it strained or labored? Is it calm and fluid? Just simply notice, again without judgement or desire to change. From Your breathing bring your focus to other areas of your body. Your hands... notice your hands. Are they tense or relaxed? Hot or cold? Just notice. Then move your attention to your shoulders, neck and jaw. What do you notice here? All the while, continue your breathing, in your nose and out your nose, keeping the in-breath and out-breath equal in length and once again, noticing the rising and falling of your chest. Continue this process through other parts of the body as well. Back, abdomen, hips, legs feet, face.

In this process of noticing and allowing, invite yourself to release what ever you are ready to let go of. Continue to notice your breathing, in the nose and out the nose. Letting go of old energy with the out-breath and taking in new energy with the in-breath.

At times the body will not want to let go of noticed tensions. This is ok. Tension is not always bad. Remember that the process is one of noticing and allowing not one of changing. As we notice in this way, we allow our bodies to naturally take care of themselves. When you think about a butterfly and it's transformational process remember, it is not one that is manipulated or control but one of natural unfolding. Trust. Just trust in the process.

Heidi

Happy Labor Day my friends.

It's Forward Moving Friday.. "How" are you moving FORWARD today?

It's Forward Moving Friday again... what do you have planned for the weekend that will bring you one step closer to your #1 goal? 

If you're not quite sure yet, try this on for size. Maybe this weekend instead of focusing just on the "what" of your goal, focus on the "how". By this I mean the process or quality with which you accomplish your task.

As an example, as many of you know, cycling is my passion and I spend many hours and many days in the saddle. Each day has a specific task that guides me towards my specific goals. And the goals are all very concrete and measurable. The irony though, to me, is that it is the process, state of mind, and "how" of how I approach each workout that truly bring in the results. If I go out on my bike with my head in the tank, thinking about how tired I am or how hard the workout is going to be, what do you think the workout is going to be like? ... well.. umm... HARD.. and probably slow.. and probably not to fun. It is important to consider the "how" when approaching both things that we love and things that maybe we don't love so much. If we can approach all things with an open mind and a little bit of loving energy we are more likely to find success, experience joy and positively impact those around us.

So regardless if you goal is focused on your training, relationship, personal life or work notice "how" you are approaching the task at hand. If you don't like "how" you are approaching the moment, then take a moment, pause, breathe and ask yourself, "how do I want to be approaching this task?" When the answer surfaces, take heed and move into the next moment.

Hope you enjoy the process =]

Heidi

Little miracles..

Well.. I started writing this post as I walked out of my office and noticed the sense of gratitude that I felt for all that is in my life right now and then blogger lost my post. =] lol oh my..
So I have taken a deep breath and have begun again. (Note to self.. Take the picture before you write.)
As I sit here and take in all that surrounds me, the warmth of the sun, the fresh smell in the air, the brightness of the blue sky above me I can't help but be grateful for this life.
There are many things that aren't going as I would like them to in my life right now yet in moments like these I am filled w a sense of wonder, calm and appreciation for what is.
I encourage you all to take a moment to pause amongst your 'business' and take note of the little miracles around you.
Life does not always give us what we want and at times what it hands us may be quite devastating. Even in those moments though there is beauty in being able to accept what is and the feelings that go along w it. There is beauty in being able to fully embrace our sadness and our fears as much as there is beauty in being able to fully embrace our successes and triumphs. I encourage you to see the little miracles that exist in the experience of emotion itself. Imagine that.. How is it that our bodies are capable of such subtle and miraculous things?
Inside or out there are miracles all around us. In this moment I am choosing to embrace this life as it is unfolding before me. I am blessed.
As are you.
Peace my friends.