“The body is the vehicle of the mind. If you think that you’re not as good as others, you may slouch, avoid meeting people’s gazes, or stare into space. If you think that, alternatively, you’re better than others, you may walk with your chin up, looking down your nose at…
“Similar to yoga, qigong is another mindful movement practice. Qigong literally means “the cultivation of energy or life force.” Qigong recognizes the universe as made of energy and focuses on this energy, both inside and outside the body. As your practice of qigong deepens, your sense of your body shifts…
“Yoga, meaning “to integrate” in Sanskrit, reestablishes the union and balance of mind and body. Through postures, yoga corrects learned patterns stored in the “memory of the body” and the “muscles of the mind.” There are upside-down, twisted, contorted, stretching, and balancing postures. As you learn how to move into…
“When you take your seat to meditate, you ground yourself in the present moment and establish your presence. You summon your body to take you into moment-to-moment awareness and be open and receptive to what’s here. You call upon your body to sit erect, balanced, and relaxed but alert so…
“When you bring your attention to your body and your sensory experience, you learn how to “work with” both physical and emotional “dis-ease.” “Being with” your body as it is and understanding how to “work with” pain and discomfort establishes a deep intimacy.” (Marotta 2014, 37). Inquiry: Ask yourself: “What…
“A self-esteem based on external measurement affects not only your mind, but also the way you relate to your body. At one extreme, your attention may be toward body image, appearance, and sexual attraction; you may view your body as a commodity, to be manicured, styled, and dressed. At the…
This series continues to explore the relationship between mindful self-esteem and self-care through the foundational practices of mindfulness of the breath and now through mindfulness of the body. These foundational practices—both in stillness and movement—lay the conditions for a self-esteem that’s a relationship with life. They help you shift from…
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