A Mindful Practice - Step 1 -

Today I begin teaching a Mindfulness Class for Intermountain Cancer Centers. The class is titled: Breathe: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Wellbeing.

For those of you who know me well, you know it's hard for me to keep still. I wiggle, walk, think, think, think, do, do, do. Yet over these past few years I've learned the value of being still. In fact, "Be Still My Soul," has been a favorite hymn of mine, and more than that, my mantra for quite some time.

Being still is easier said than done, and many times I have to make sure everything is "done," before I can practice stillness. This sometimes means blinds cleaned, dust from under the bed vacuumed away, mail gone through, chairs straightened, front porch swept, meals planned, laundry in the wash - seriously, I am the delayer of stillness.

Yet I'm learning, and as I'm always a work-in-progress, I've learned how renewing a few moments of stillness can be. I do my best to find a sunny spot; I prefer laying flat down on the ground, or sitting in a chair where I can lay my legs out in front of me; I lean my head back, close my eyes, and go somewhere safe, comfortable, warm, take deep breaths and begin voicing my "omm phrase." I have several, and based on how I'm feeling, I choose one. Right now they are words where I can draw out the vowels and soft consonants, similar to chanting "ommmmmmmmm." Sometimes I voice this, most often I think it. Always practicing my deep breaths.

And then I go away - away to wherever my relaxed mind takes me. Typically this is for 3-8 minutes, then I'm drawn back to the present with a noise, a smell, a startle, and I'm awake and alert and ready for what's next in the day.

But more than anything, I'm rejuvenated and relaxed.

I strongly suggest beginning a short meditation as above for the beginning step in practicing mindfulness.

More to come -