Mindful Adventures on El Camino

I’m delighted to share some exciting news with you. Over the course of the last two years, my most recent journey has culminated in a new professional credential from Brown University as a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teacher. When injury surprised me nearly three years ago, I was no longer able to maintain the physical yoga and walking practices that had sustained me for years. My pelvis and spine were chronically unstable, and the western medical system could not diagnose what my body was telling me clearly – my lower spine was out of alignment with my pelvis. During this time of injury, I found the way to my first MBSR course. It gave me the skills I needed to deal with the chronic pain and uncertainty that resulted from my injury. It gave me mindfulness practices that were accessible, no matter what physical limitations were present. It was a transformative experience that gave new direction to my chosen path as a mindfulness teacher. The evidence-based curriculum integrated my analytical brain (developed in the business world) with my loving heart (developed as a yoga teacher and coach). Physical salvation, for me, came in the form of an osteopathic fellow and western medicine-trained physical therapist, who I found after over 10 months of painful misalignment. She quickly identified and adjusted my pelvis, spine and neck. And we began our work together on the long process of physical recovery. And now here I am, two years later – with an MBSR teacher qualification from Brown University – and a fully functioning body. It is my intention to stay in touch with you more frequently, and share with you my new upcoming offerings. Take a look at the little refresh that I’ve done on my website. There are two new trips now in May!  All FOUR journeys on El Camino will incorporate the life changing practices of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).  https://lnkd.in/ggG9vny #mbsr #mindfulnessmeditation #wiseleadership

Are you on a Quest for Quiet? You are not alone. According to Condé Nast Traveler, serene nature and walking retreats have become one of modern travel's latest trends. Escaping the increasing noise of the world, as well as shifting towards introspection and a deeper connection with who we are, are leading people on this quest. And, with this type of self-reflective experience, people are feeling better. A 2022 study pubslished by the American Medical Association shows that mindfulness meditation worked as well as a standard drug for treating anxiety. To explore our offerings go to: https://lnkd.in/gcATS59K #mindfuladventures #questforquiet #elcaminodesantiago #mbsr

What are the things in your life that seem to go together perfectly? It could be pairings of food and drink, activities and a buddy, or any other combination of two objects, ideas or people that you consider complementary to each other. ✨Take a moment now to bring them to mind. Remember and appreciate the joy the have brought you in past experiences. ✨ As you can can see from my photos, my perfect pairings include me and Spain - both the country and my favorite food combinations there. Another is Walking + Meditation. I'd love to hear about your favorite pairings and what you enjoy about them - please let me know in the comments! Go here to read the full blog and enjoy a short practice: https://lnkd.in/gJZBRnvn

Take my hand. We will walk. We will only walk. We will enjoy our walk. Without thinking of arriving anywhere else. -Thich Nhat Hanh #mindfuladventures

Do you ever find yourself dreading a particular conversation you need to have, or a message you must send? Or perhaps thinking about this holiday season, in the current divisive climate, makes you wary of family gatherings. Not only do the stressors of difficult communications like these impact our health, they also can trigger stress reactions that harm our relationships with others. So, how do we unwind those triggered reactions and respond from a calm and kind place? A place that recognizes what connects us and seeks common ground. Behaviorally, our communication patterns can become habitual. Without conscious choice, we may close off a possible moment of connection with another through our repetitive stress reactions. This can occur both verbally and nonverbally, including gesture, posture, tone, volume, and so on. By bringing attention to our habitual reactions, we open the possibility of kinder, more empathetic ways of responding to others – no matter how difficult the communication. A mindfulness practice provides a means to break those habits and grow our interpersonal resilience by: ✨ increasing awareness of/attention to how we communicate when difficulties arise ✨ accepting that moments of avoidance and challenge will likely arise ✨ creating space for choice & possibility around how we respond in our interactions When engaging in difficult communications, there are four typical personas that people adopt. Take notice of which of the following personas you recognize in yourself: 1) Taking too much responsibility for the difficulty: I’m so sorry. I know I messed up. I’ll do better next time. I just need a little more time. 2) Avoidance and walk away: I don’t have time right now. I have another meeting to go to. I need to take care of something else. 3) Holding ground, pushing back, irritation or frustration: I’m tired of you always blaming me. I don’t feel as though I have your support. Whenever we are together, you are not taking responsibility for your part in our difficulties 4) Openness, engagement and compromise: Is this a good time for us to talk? I’m wondering how we can sort this out. Do you have any ideas? With this increased self-awareness of your own patterns, the door to choosing a kinder response is opened. An important step in the process is letting go of the conviction that you have the only right opinion. Adopting a curiosity about what underlies a differing opinion opens the door to finding common ground. Empathy is developed by recognizing that, like you, your communication partner may also be in the grip of a habitual stress reaction. #difficultcommunications #skillfull #mindfulness

Did you know that you have a stress type? As human beings, our life experiences combined with our neurobiology can trigger specific automatic reactions when faced with certain stressful situations. You might, for example: • argue with a co-worker treating you unfairly • flee from the path of a car running a red light • freeze when you hear an unexpected noise in the dark • keep quiet about how you really feel to avoid starting a fight Do any of these sound like you? We frequently have more than one type, depending on the specifics of the situation with which we are faced. And most times, our reactions happen without our conscious awareness but can have a profound impact on our relationships and experience of life. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eYYN-2fQ #wiseleadership #mbsrteacher #mindfulnessbasedstressreduction

Do you ever feel triggered? Here's a simple tool taught in MBSR to help manage our reactions and choose our responses more skillfully in those triggered moments. https://lnkd.in/efqBzUWz

Part 3: The Nine Attitudes of Mindfulness 7️⃣ Non-Striving 8️⃣ Gratitude 9️⃣ Generosity These three qualities complete Jon Kabat-Zinn’s pathway to embodying mindfulness in everyday life. Whether you’re a mindfulness novice or looking to deepen your practice, these attitudes are pivotal guideposts to a balanced and resilient mind. 👉 Tap here: https://lnkd.in/eYpdFPqM To get your FREE daily dose of the 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness and begin cultivating each in your own life. #stressrelief #mbsrteacher #gratitude #generosity #wiseleadership

Part 2: The Nine Attitudes of Mindfulness 4️⃣ Letting Go 5️⃣ Trust 6️⃣ Patience Welcome to a journey of self-discovery and personal transformation. Jon Kabat-Zinn’s 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness are qualities that can be cultivated every day to experience a more present, connected and easeful life. They can provide a gateway to more fulfilling experiences, marked by increased awareness and a deeper understanding of oneself. Whether you’re a mindfulness novice or looking to deepen your practice, these attitudes are pivotal guideposts to a balanced and resilient mind. Explore how each attitude can transform your approach to daily life. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYpdFPqM To receive a free daily dose of the 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness and learn how to cultivate each in your own life. #mindfulnessmeditation #stressreduction #mbsr

How can you embody resilience in everyday life? MBSR Founder Jon Kabat-Zinn has offered a path that points the way. Our first adventure in embodying resilience centers on developing his 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness – qualities that, when cultivated, can lessen stress and bring more ease in our lives. Each day of this FREE series will focus on one of the 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness. We're going to email you stories demonstrating each quality in real life, and short practices to develop each for yourself. Part 1: #Beginnersmind #Nonjudging #Acceptance Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e_EjgnYr To receive your FREE daily dose of wisdom and learn how to cultivate each the 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness in your own life. #mbsr #wiseleadership #innerwisdom