It’s understandable that humans may seek out ways to self soothe so that they don’t have to be present to the uncomfortable sensations that they feel inside. However, if you find a way to witness sensory experiences in the body without seeking escape, or without judgment, then you create an opportunity to choose behavior, rather than being hijacked by impulse or reaction. Mindfulness is not a complicated meditation process—it is simply a practice of learning to pay attention in a special way…learning to witness the unfolding process of our environment with a non-judgmental and compassionate lens. Mindfulness cultivates a perspective of wonder and curiosity, while transforming habitual negative self-talk into useful growth and wisdom.  

 

Mindfulness is a tool that helps us recognize and appreciate people, places and things as they unfold in the moment of our awareness. Typically, our experience of the moment is shadowed by fears from the past and expectations of the future. Practicing the art of stripping away past experiences or future worries emancipates us to see things as they truly are—free from fear, concern, worry or anxiety. Liberation from these common cognitive processes encourages a person to shift from a place of resistance to a place of wonder and curiosity.  

 

Mindfulness is therapeutic. However, it does not come naturally to many people so it is also a skill we can learn and practice. Western culture does not prioritize contemplation—instead it prioritizes thought. Mindfulness practice seeks to balance thinking with the acts of doing and being. Sensitive therapy geared around appropriate skill development, as well as building awareness of perspectives that no longer serve our process is the groundwork of Movement + Mindfulness + Medicine.  

 

Here is a brief video about how movement and mindfulness is used in a recovery relationship:

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