Old Door in Cortona Italy
It takes great discipline to practice the art of “being present.” We are conditioned from the moment we wake, until we close our eyes and sleep, to being busy. When we come from that place, we are never really where we are, doing what we are doing, engaging fully in the moments of our lives. Some people don’t like to slow down. It scares them. It makes them notice their feelings and thoughts and wonder about their lives. Am I happy? What do I want?
Sit down and be still for a bit today. Notice your breathing. Notice your body breathing and your breath moving through your body. Just 5 minutes would be nice. Touch into your life that way and calm down a bit. You will nourish and replenish.
Reflect on times when you have felt really aware, present and relaxed. Noticing everything going on, within you and around you. As I reflect on my life these days, I look back at how raising my children were times where I felt very present and relaxed. Especially when they were very young. If we were at the park, or reading or eating together I loved experiencing through their filter, what the world was like. How new and fresh everything was. Long moments would pass and not much would happen. And it was truly satisfying. Very in the moment.
In the past few years I’m noticing that being present in nature gives me a great feeling of being present and open to possibilities. It sparks my creativity. Being a city dweller I appreciate the culture and vibe of city life, yet being outside in nature or near water is unbeatable for soothing our soul and calming our mind. It’s like gazing into a fire. We can all relate to the mesmerizing quality of gazing into a fire. It brings us home to ourselves.
Walking meditation is a wonderful way of cultivating being present . Try this. Now that Spring is here, go outside in nature as soon as time permits. Find a quiet place to walk. Walk slowly while being conscious of each step. The way your foot hits the ground. The way that feels. Just that. That is all you have to do. Just walk and notice. (and watch out for other people or things to bump into)
Best-
Yoga Jane
Jane: Thank you for this note - and it was through you that I learned to “be in the present”. I certainly don’t accomplish it often enough but, because of your teachings, I am able to appreciate the moment and live in the moment. I use the breathing technique (listening to my breath) when in stressful situations and feel the need to be calm. It works! I enjoy “feeling” the air around me, the floor beneath me, being aware of surroundings. Thanks for the reminder to be ever more present. And I loved the photo - Cortona was the town we stayed in when we visited Italy a few years ago. We were there for a month and loved every moment of it.
Hello Betty:) So lovely to hear from you. Thank-you dearly for bravely and openly sharing yourself on my blog. Hearing directly from you how yoga and present moment teachings play out in your real life is a great reminder of how powerful writing and sharing ideas, feelings and experiences is. Cortona Italy is one of favorite places on earth. I spent a week there last December. I plan to host a yoga retreat near Cortona sometime in 2011. Still investigating the best possible place:)
Take care today and always-Yoga Hugs-Jane
Wonderful message this morning. It is in the art of being present that we allow ourselves to connect to our higher power and receive all the magical gifts that this universe is offering us every moment. So often, we run around, disconnected from our source, thinking that it is “we” who have to do everything. When we get out of our head, take a moment to slow down like you say and “be present,” we connect to our Source and realize that our true responsibility is to “surrender” and allow things to be. Just “be” in the moment. Then we see through a fresh pair of lenses and gratitude becomes a more permanent frame of mind. In that space of gratitude, blessings pour through into our lives and it all stems from your powerful message of “being present.” Just like Betty said, the “breath” is a wonderful tool to help us get into this magical space. You are a true inspiration Jane and keep on rockn:) Blessed be!
Five Sun Salutations Triangle & Tree this AM to celebrate spring even though the rains are moving back in and I had a breakfast meeting.
A little yoga a lot.
Thanks Dave. So good to hear from you. A very wise teacher once told me, “Jane you are not the “do-er.” Receiving from the source is an art form:) Allowing and receiving go nicely together. Joy to you!
Thanks for the great reminder Jack. You were always a very astute student. Your memory is remarkable. I hope life is giving you all the good things you deserve. Peace-Jane
I try to practice tiny “present moments” during my regular day-sitting/standing with my eyes closed and breathing -even for a moment or two- gives me a renewed feeling of energy to continue moving in the fast paced world of the ICU. Funnily enough, people often ask me if I am feeling ok when they see me do this. I tell them I am just “being”-the looks I get are often hilarious. (I have several “door” photos from Italy, too. They were so wonderful, weren’t they?)
Susan-thanks for such a great reminder to practice in tiny doses. I love that. Someday more people will get it:) Yes the doors of Italy are a unique art form. I took many pictures of them and they are some of my favorite Italian “art.”