BODY-CENTERED MINDFULNESS A Way to Awareness of the Present Moment… Isabel Solano, RSW Family Support Coordinator Regina Catholic School Board

W HAT IS B ODY -C ENTERED M INDFULNESS ? Paying attention to our body Awareness of actions, thoughts, and words Capacity to be in the present moment

M INDFULNESS HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES BY LOOKING AT OUR INNER BEING How do experiences affect us? How do we react to difficulties? What are the emotions we fear? What happens when we face silence and stillness?

I N ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MINDFULNESS IS, WE MUST PRACTICE STAYING IN THE MOMENT Being present to those who talk to us…. see, hear, try to understand Being patient….. we have to practice being in the present and that way we can ask others to be present for us

W HAT PREVENTS US FROM BEING IN THE MOMENT ? Our lives and experiences set us in motion and we react according to the past that follows us. Often times we live in the past…..

P EOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED ARE OFTEN VERY EASILY HYPER - AROUSED BY EXPERIENCES THAT MAY SEEM ORDINARY TO YOU AND I Traumatized people are often not in the present moment What can we do to help them come back to the moment?

W HEN HELPING STUDENTS TO BECOME MINDFUL, WE INVITE THEM TO BECOME AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON … Body Emotions Mind Environment How can I help students if I am uncomfortable with my own emotions and my own life?

I N MINDFULNESS WE BECOME AWARE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OURSELVES AND OTHERS Awareness of our breath Awareness of thoughts and body sensations Awareness of difficulties we face Awareness of our stillness and silence

T HE CONCEPT OF MINDFULNESS WHEN APPLIED IS VERY PRACTICAL AS IT CAN BE PRACTICED IN OUR ORDINARY TIMES Eating Cooking Walking Cleaning Showering Driving Brushing our teeth

M INDFULNESS IS ONE OF THE MOST SELF - REGULATORY PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP US DEAL WITH DIFFICULT EMOTIONS AND OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCES We center ourselves through the breath and we ground ourselves through the feet

W E LEARN TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE INPUT OF OUR FIVE SENSES What do we see? What do we hear? What do we feel? What do we taste? What do we smell? …in the present moment

A N ORANGE …… Be as much present as you can…..

I T IS THROUGH THE AWARENESS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT THAT WE CAN CHANGE … Behaviors Actions Responses Thoughts Words

O UR BODIES HAVE AN IMMENSE CAPACITY TO HEAL AS WE BECOME AWARE / MINDFUL OF OUR INNER SELF We become resourceful We uncover strengths We become comfortable with weaknesses

E MOTIONAL SELF - REGULATION Awareness Attention Acceptance Understanding Respect Compassion …to the self ….for the self

T HERE IS NO WRONG EMOTION, NO WRONG FEELING, NO WRONG BODY SENSATION We learn to be in harmony with all that is uncomfortable We find serenity in the midst of despair

C OMPOSURE When we develop the ability to face difficulties by staying in our bodies without reacting

M INDFULNESS BRINGS US … Calmness Joy Peacefulness Self-acceptance Balance Creativity Stress reduction Self-control Appreciation Thankfulness connectedness

M INDFUL GAMES CAN HELP STUDENTS TO BECOME AWARE OF …. Frustration Impatience Self-doubt Self-consciousness These are walls that prevent learning

H AVE A MINDFUL DAY ….. May you be blessed with the best that life can bring and may you find what you are seeking… Isabel Solano