Dare to Be Aware

"Whatever you are doing, ask yourself, 'What's the state of my mind?'" - Dalai Lama

I am finding the topics I share with you each month are practices I am personally working on. Here we are in the middle of September and I have noticed over the past two weeks of hiring and training instructors, getting school schedules set, working on a DVD, hiring an administrative assistant and doing it all with an intention of ease and grace, I have to slow down and practice awareness or mindfulness. With so many things going on I find I can get overwhelmed and consumed with all I need to get done and I forget to do those things which ground me, such as taking time to nurture myself or make calls to my family or friends. I find I feel most successful when I am able to take one day at a time or one moment or task at a time.

A friend of mine is reading Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh and we were discussing mindfulness and enjoying the moment. We were talking about how easy it is to get caught up in our own life with our wants, needs, dislikes, and desires and forget to be mindful of the moment or the appreciate the people around us. Life can be much sweeter by slowing down and practicing awareness of how we are acting, what we are saying, what and how we are eating, how we are feeling, and even what we are thinking.

Here are some examples of ways you could practice Awareness or Mindfulness:
- Take a few moments to focus on your breath, pay attention to how it feels as it moves in and out of your body
- Meditate (even if it is for five minutes)
- When in nature, stop and pay attention to everything around you (colors, smells, and the wind)
- Practice awareness while you are doing household chores. For example, if you are washing the dishes, focus on washing the dishes, try not to think about other things.
- When you feel angry or upset, recognize how your are feeling and take a few deep breaths before reacting, or overreacting
- Watch a sunset
- When someone is talking or sharing something with you notice if you are really listening or waiting to say what you want to say next, see if you can listen without an agenda of what to say next
- At the beginning or end of the day take a moment to state 5 things you are grateful for
- Go for a walk (wisdom from my grandmother-in-law)

Take the time to slow down, appreciate life and what is happening around you. Doing so allows you to re-group, de-stress and find peace in the moment.

"The moment we give close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself" - Henry Miller

Pose of the Month: Chair Pose

Start with feet together and ground both feet firmly into the floor. Inhale the arms up into the air (arms will be up by the ears, be mindful to keep the shoulders down and away from the ears). Exhale, and bend the knees to lower into a squatted position, keep the arms reaching up in the air.

Modification (to make it a little easier, especially for the lower back): Place hands onto the thighs.

Further Challenge: Lift up onto the toes and balance.

Awareness: 8 Tips for Kids

Awareness is being in tune with how you feel and your surroundings.

As our definition states, you can practice awareness with yourself and how you are feeling emotionally, such as happy, sad, tired, and peaceful; how your body feels physically, like when you are eating, while you practice yoga, or doing something that makes you happy. And you can practice awareness with what is happening around you. Noticing other people, objects in nature, or things in your school or classroom. When we practice awareness we are slowing down and paying attention to something.


Here are some ways you could practice Awareness:

1. Close your eyes and listen to all the sounds that you hear.

2. Close your ears and hear yourself breathing.

3. If you feel mad, stop and take a few deep breaths.

4. When you are eating, think about where your food came from and how it tastes. Remember to chew slowly.

5. Do something that makes you happy.

6. Pay attention to how your body feels.

7. Do your favorite yoga pose.

8. Practice a YogaBuddies breathing technique.