We began the class with 45 minutes of yoga in the slightly darkened room, and I have to admit I felt a bit rusty. It’s been awhile since I did yoga and some self-consciousness was creeping in, especially knowing that many in this youngish crowd are regular practitioners.
Discussion of the yoga transitioned into discussing the Pleasant Events Calendar. Students had a tendency to want to comment on trends they noticed in their events and I struggled to get them to identify and discuss specific events. These are people who will rely upon their ability to detect patterns and connections in order to do their jobs someday, so it’s not surprising that they defaulted to this mode. A student noted enjoying making his own lunch and eating outdoors and I wanted to know “How did you know you enjoyed it?” I love to ask this question, even if it does frustrate those who try to answer it. I persisted. There was talk of comparing it other experiences that were less enjoyable. “Yes,” I said, “but what was your criteria for evaluating this?” Finally someone suggested that happiness, for her, was sensation in her neck and shoulders. Ahhh! A connection to this body that we just spent 45 minutes working with!
And speaking of bodies, we moved on to wounds. Specifically, the Myth of Chiron, the Wounded Healer as discussed in Saki Santorelli’s book Heal Thy Self. This touched a number of students and a discussion of the importance of becoming aware of and familiar with one’s wounds ensued. This was triggered by Rumi’s Childhood Friends:
Trust your wound to a Teacher’s surgery.
Flies collect on a wound. They cover it,
those flies of your self-protecting feelings,
your love for what you think is yours.
Let a Teacher wave away the flies
and put a plaster on the wound.
Don’t turn your head. Keep looking
at the bandaged place. That’s where
the Light enters you.
And don’t believe for a moment
that you’re healing yourself.
“I have a kind of a question for you,” one student asked. “I have a kind of an answer for you,” I remarked casually to a few scattered laughs. Then I felt a shift in tone. “What if I’m aware of the wound already? What do I do with it? I’m aware of it, I know it, I’ve thought it all through, but how can I touch the difficult part and feel it, without . . . ” her voice trailed off. She went on to posit that to be a good doctor, one would have to be able to deal with one’s own wounds and emotions and not be cut off from them. How to be empathic without being overwhelmed? How to be balanced?
That wasn’t “kind of a question” it was “the question.” What are your thoughts on the matter and how does it all relate to mindfulness?
stevepsyd
mindfulcoaching
reginahuelsenbeckphd
blairbuckman
Rick Hanson, PhD
mlfreedman
katieferrell82
psychroses
luismc1
I found this week’s readings to be very helpful and inspirational. I especially resonated with the story of the Wounded Healer. I found it comforting to realize that the process of becoming a healer is not about perfecting yourself, but rather about remaining connected to your wounds and thus the wounds of others. I also experienced a profound calmness and sense of peace as I was doing this particular reading– perhaps a sign of how comforting this idea was to me.
I also very much enjoyed this week’s practice of yoga. It was more relaxed than yoga I had briefly practiced before, but I found that I was more able to focus on the mindfulness part of yoga rather than just going through the motions. It was also a unique experience not to constantly be pushing oneself in physical activity, which I believe is part of the reason I do not exercise as much as I should. When I do exercise, I often do not enjoy it as much as I would like to because I am constantly self-critiquing. So, I am very hopeful that this new-found way of practicing yoga will also help me to better enjoy exercise in all forms as well.
I find that it is hard for me to take time for myself and really engage in the practice of mindfullness. I always let everything else in my life become a priority even though I crave and miss my physical and spiritual endeavors. Taking this class has been a huge step in the right direction in engaging my whole being. I look forward in the coming weeks being able to make “me” time as much of a priority as my career and academic pursuits.
Thank you for sharing the class on-line.
Having suffered a series of mysterious falls during a long retreat, I found that my GP was a very deep listener, respectful and appreciative of the retreat process. He was able to distinguish between the kinds of falls, suggest treatment, offer follow up referral and supports from good people, and to suggest that I simply needed to refocus and ground my meditation practice with a simple body routine..like yoga, or chi gong. Although he did not meditate himself, he had incorporated mindful listening and some aspects of mindfulness of body into his medical understanding and practice. Because he could hear me, I could trust his advice, and follow through with treatment that required me to change my life style. he could both be present, think outside the box, and hold the mirror for me to heal myself.
Thank you.