In my last post, we took a look at what we’re actually trying to accomplish when we sit down to meditate. TLDR (too long, didn’t read?): Complete embodiment is impossible. Dissociation is normal and healthy. And mindfulness meditation is a means to train ourselves to be more embodied and present, which can have some prettyContinue reading “yoga teachers: are we teaching presence or inviting dissociation?”
Category Archives: Mindset
practicing presence: embodiment, dissociation & meditation
Why do we meditate? Or, if we don’t, why do we think we should meditate? For many folks, the goal is to be more mindful. We want to enjoy the benefits of “being present,” “living in the now.” Maybe we’ve been told that being more embodied, or having more somatic awareness, is beneficial; that weContinue reading “practicing presence: embodiment, dissociation & meditation”
emotional labor: dissociation for hire
A few weeks ago, over the holidays, I was in line at a Starbucks when the mother of one of the employees came into the store to surprise her daughter. “Hi, honey!” she called, from the back of a long line of waiting customers. “Why aren’t you smiling more?” I cringed as the young woman,Continue reading “emotional labor: dissociation for hire”
Perception is Embodied (but what does that mean?)
Of course, we all know that each of us sees things a little differently. For example, if you’re lactose intolerant (or a vegan), dairy ice cream looks very different to you than it might to someone else. If you were bit by a dog as a child, then you don’t see them as the sameContinue reading “Perception is Embodied (but what does that mean?)”
awakening intuition through embodied practice
Our intuition is our gut instinct, our deeper knowing, Jung’s “perception via the unconscious,” which guides us when logical information isn’t enough. In my last blog, we discussed the ways in which our unconscious mind and body collect information that our conscious brain may not track. While some of this may feel relatively simple (suchContinue reading “awakening intuition through embodied practice”
intuition: perception beyond the conscious
Have you ever met a new person and felt an immediate sense of unease or distrust– something about them just doesn’t feel “right”? They are saying the right things, perhaps your friends or co-workers even like this person, but there’s something inside of you that’s telling you they’re not okay. Or maybe you’ve had theContinue reading “intuition: perception beyond the conscious”
mindful anger
What’s your capacity to be embodied, present and engaged with anger? Before we jump into this topic, it might be helpful to reflect for a moment on your relationship with anger: When you read or hear the word “anger,” what do you notice in your body? In your personal history, what has happened when youContinue reading “mindful anger”
taking control of the narrative
sometimes our deeply held beliefs about ourselves don’t hold up to scrutiny. For years, I’d been sure that I was not getting enough sleep. I would wake up in the morning feeling tired, often disturbed by the vivid dreams I experienced. If I woke up in the middle of the night, I’d anxiously count theContinue reading “taking control of the narrative”
they handed me a french horn: (it’s not too late to be who you wish you had been)
“There is an inner wholeness that presses its still unfilled claims upon us.” Emma Jung My one and only childhood encounter with musical instruction happened at the age of 9. My classmates and I were filed into a small room where a visibly irritated and tired teacher handed each of us a musical instrument. WhenContinue reading “they handed me a french horn: (it’s not too late to be who you wish you had been)”
6 ways that movement helps support mental health
(There are definitely more, but 6 is a nice number to start with!) Endorphins. Movement releases “feel-good” hormones like seratonin, endorphins, dopamine & norepinephrine (adrenaline). You really can get a natural high. If you’re moving in synchronicity with other people, socializing, or outdoors, you may get an additional dose of these! Improves the mind-body connection.Continue reading “6 ways that movement helps support mental health”