Stone’s parents came to visit us this past weekend after their extended winter stay in California. The kids were over the moon happy to see their long lost grandparents and we had the most beautiful weather with which to enjoy their company. On top of appreciating their presence it’s always nice to have extra hands to buckle and unbuckle car seats (and chase a certain run away two year old down the road) if you know what I mean. (I think you do.)
Despite having company I managed to make it to yoga class last night which was a well needed respite for this ever expanding mama. Sleeping has been more challenging and I’ve been waking up pretty achy. I try to do a little yoga every day, but nothing ever matches a real live yoga class where you have to do the poses that suck at the moment and then feel SO good later on.
One little trick I’ve picked up from this yoga teacher is a little mind naming exercise. She asks us, ever so gently and every so often, “Where is your mind right now?” and suggests we simple name it as mind and return to our breath (and the present moment).
Mind, mind: breath in, breathe out.
It works for me because it provides a bit of short circuiting to my mental patterns; halting whatever my runaway mind has run off to and then within a moment I’m back to a conscious breath to bring me back.
I’ve been using it in my every day life whenever I remember and I’ve found it really helps me to chill out and stay more focused. In a time where I have so much on my plate it’s easy to let my mind run away which accomplishes less than nothing (if that’s even possible).
I know there are many exercises and little tricks to help us accomplish a clear mind and a regular return to mindful living. I remember when I spent time at Thich Nhat Han’s monestary their practice was to pause for three breaths everytime you heard a bell. While at first this seemed almost disruptive, it became a very welcome mindful practice.
I’d love to hear what kind of practices or exercises you use to keep a steady, clear mind in check in our very distracting and highly stimulating world.
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I pray and choose to shift my focus on things that are true, pure, good and lovely (and other things along those lines).
journalling. which I am not doing right now (except with my son) but that is what works best for me to help quiet my mind, get me to a peaceful place, be able to sleep…like julia cameron’s (I think that is her name) artist’s way – just straight stream of conciousness. I’ve tried to do it online and unless I make it private people always feel like they have to comment about how things will get better esp when I’m complaining. hey, I know life is wonderful sometimes I’ve just gotta bitch and moan about it, ya know? its like when I gave birth – I told my doula – I will complain and whine…that’s me but I’ll do it…the whining makes me feel better. and since my 2! epidurals didn’t work – I did it with pitocin and no pain killer and did it really well, imo…the nurse was all “oh you’re funny” after I was done…she hadn’t seen that before. ;)
Nina–totally had me laughing about the bitching and moaning. Sometimes you want to whine and not have everyone tell you it’s going to get better.
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