There's more than one way to be present There are many places in life where we're asked to "be present" -- and it doesn't always mean the same thing. Allowing some variation in the ways you show up in any given moment might make "being present" feel more manageable. I share a few thoughts on […]
being brave by being patient When it comes to movement, patience largely comes from being ok with what you're experiencing -- which means it doesn't feel like what I normally think of as "being patient," requiring oodles of discipline. Of course, sometimes to find that sense of being ok with what is, you have to […]
It can start with the breath It's fairly common knowledge that deep breathing is calming. Unfortunately, deep breathing as a practice that everyone knows well enough to call on every time it's needed is not yet standard. Which means it's always worth a friendly reminder that your breathing is a powerful avenue for shifting nervous […]
Strength in connection I feel strong when I bring interconnected parts together in a coordinated movement. Even a form as simple as being on hands and knees does this for me, because I had to learn to notice where I automatically gave into the form and where I resisted it. Over time, I found my […]
Trying is scary When you're brave enough to go for it, maybe let the journey be the prize, regardless of the outcome. Listen to "trying: standing balancing forms" What’s in the "trying" episode of moved to heal? I offer standing balance forms. If you want to see any of the forms, you can […]
Making moves with your mind I sometimes refer to meditation as "mind moves" even though most of us, myself included, also think of meditation as "quieting the mind" or "stilling thoughts." That's because most practices involve moving your awareness, moving your mind, in order to create the conditions for stillness. (As someone who is more […]
Choosing your journey Meditation is the practice of focusing the mind without judgment or criticism. When you enter into the practice, you can bring effort and intention, curiosity and wonder. Once you've made the decision to practice, or to try, it's again your choice, at every moment, how to proceed. There's choice in the type […]
Effective presence Not all of our moments are ones where being fully aware (mindful) is helpful or safe. And many of our moments are made fuller and safer when we show up with all the awareness we can bring. Movement practice is one such place, with the understanding that "all the awareness we can bring" […]
Where do you find steadiness? Moving through a practice --whether of yoga or meditation, sport or dance, writing or drawing, or any kind of skill-- can take you through a range of experiences and feelings. There may be days where the practice will have its own rhythm. Some days that rhythm might draw you in, […]
You decide how to get ready Meditation is a simple, if difficult practice. And yet, because our lives are complex and often messy, we're not always ready to jump right into the simplicity of the meditation practice. This week, I talk about the importance of choosing what you need (and taking time to explore ideas […]
Different kinds of choice Allowing things to be as they are is a kind of choice. It's a choice of attention, of heart, of being. Of course, in order for it to be a choice, you might first need to see past clouds of emotion, to realize what is -- which isn't always possible in […]
Shall we oscillate? To oscillate means to move back and forth in a regular pattern, to sway or swing like a pendulum. To vacillate, by contrast, means to move back and forth in an irregular pattern. Some days I notice that movement and breathing feel regular, steady -- like an oscillation. And other days vacillation […]