Body Awareness

This week I've been trying to get serious about exercise, with not much success. My right arm is sore with tendonitis, and pain makes exercise hard to contemplate.

I'm going to need to build this habit systematically and slowly, so as not to injure myself badly. This week I'll begin with body awareness.

 

Agenda: 

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

2. My exercise plan

3. Creative Nature-Culture awareness

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness":

I've been reading this book by Shannon Duncan (2001) that takes awareness one step at a time: First, body and senses; then beliefs and limitations; then emotions; and finally, reactivity. It seems like a straightforward plan!

Chapter 1 is The Power of This Moment, and the fourth section is Tension. She says that most of us carry a great deal of tension and stress, which numbs us to other sensations, and makes us more likely to over-react, or make bad decisions.

"Reducing tension enables us to experience life more fully because when we are in the moment with our bodies and are able to relax, our other senses become more vibrant. ... In addition, we have more control over our actions and are much more likely to make good choices in our lives."

She suggests I practice doing a body scan:

1. First be aware of my breathing and let it anchor me in the present.
2. Then do a scan of my body, from the feet up, noticing tension and relaxing it if I can.
3. Fully accept myself as I am.

2.  My exercise plan:

I'm going to schedule 30 minutes every morning at 7:45: 

1. Begin with a body scan and release tension. Make note of painful places and send them light.
2. Do a warm up stretch very slowly.
3. Do one set of strengthening the core exercises.

3. Creative Nature-Culture awareness:

Yesterday I was walking with my two-year-old grandson and he said, "Grandma, butterfly!" I looked up where he was pointing and sure enough - a large yellow swallowtail! We spent a few minutes looking and taking photos, and he said, "I love butterflies!"

This is what I live for: Building awareness and love of nature in others, especially children. And then doing everything I can to assure that we still have butterflies for future generations to be inspired by.