Practice Idea for Spring

Meditating: 10 Minutes a Day...

Before having our son, I had a regular sitting practice, 30-45 minutes every day (well almost every day). It's been 4 years now and I still haven't gotten back to that practice, although my opportunities for informal practice seemed to have grown exponentially! However, practicing for 10 minutes a day (sometimes more, sometimes less), still helps me to settle myself and be more present in the rest of my day.

So perhaps, for the next while, invite yourself to set an intention to practice - even if it is for 10 minutes a day.

As author and meditation teacher Andy Puddicombe states, "All you need to do is to take 10 minutes out a day to step back, to familiarize yourself with the present moment so that you get to experience a greater sense of focus, calm and clarity in your life."

You can view his TedTalk HERE

Image borrowed with gratitude.

Book Pick for April

The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How its Unique Patterns Affect the Way you Think, Feel and Live - and how you can Change Them by Richard Davidson

Richard Davidson Ph.D., the founder of affective neuroscience, and a key researcher in the are of mindfulness meditation with children, offers a fascinating exploration of the neurological basis of emotions. His discussions of epigenetics and neuroplasticity invite readers to question the use of totalizing labels so often used to describe children - like "he is a shy child" or "she's just impulsive by nature."His research shows that one can't predict the "emotional style" of a a 9-year-old based on their emotional style as a tot... i.e. they may be "shy" at 2, but does not at all mean they will be so at 9. It all depends much more on our life experiences than on the brain we are born with.

After his rich, evidence-based presentation of affective neuroscience, he delves into meditation, what I guess really fuels his passion for studying the brain and emotions. He presents his groundbreaking research on the brains of monks - people with a life long meditation practice as well as changes that occur in the brains of people who are novice meditators. He concludes with concrete 'mindfulness' practices that can change our emotional styles, bringing great resilience, positive outlook and self awareness into our lives.

I LOVE this book!

How We can Teach our Children Mindfulness

"This is the final post of Stress-Less Parenting Club's workshop on mindful parenting. This week, our leader Carla Naumburg explains how we can teach our kids mindfulness.

“Mindfulness is not hitting someone in the mouth.”

Those were the words of an 11-year-old boy who had just completed a five-week mindfulness-training program at his school, as reported by The New York Times..."

Read the full article HERE

Breathe In, Sing Out: Music, Mindfulness & Fun for You and Your Little One.

Breathe In, Sing Out offers a fun way for parents to practice mindfulness, nurture connection & have fun with their little ones.

In this mindfulness-based music program, Sara Marlowe, teaches both original and classic songs, mindfulness activities, musical games and breath practices that are engaging for little ones, while also planting seeds of mindfulness, relaxation, awareness, connection, kindness and gratitude.

This program will resume in the early fall of 2015 - I will bring my daughter along to join in the fun! Details will follow in future and be posted on the website.