Beginners Mind
I have some pretty epic trauma when it comes to the dentist. (Can you relate?) I’ve learned that due to my red headed gene, it is difficult to numb the nerves in my mouth. So when I cracked a crown last Friday and found that the tooth underneath needed to be reshaped, I kinda freaked….a bit.
A few years back (thanks to my amazing dental hygienist, Natalie), my Dentist came up with a special sauce that FINALLY worked for me! And for the very first time in my life, I did not feel the sharp intense pain of the dentist’s drill.
Unfortunately, both my Dentist and Natalie are no longer at the dental office here in town. So this week, when I needed to get my special sauce to have my tooth reshaped, I became a bit terrified. Not only from the years of trauma, but I was, once again, faced with trusting a stranger to not hurt me when even the familiar and kindhearted, unintentionally, have broken this trust.
So as I laid back, mouth open, nerves exposed, I found myself beginning to loose my shit (on the inside/on the outside I was frozen). To calm down, I took a few deep breaths. Trying to get grounded, I got curious and asked myself, what would I share with someone else or one of my students on how to approach this situation? My mind went right to beginners mind.
My new Dentist knows and has seen the recipe for my special sauce. This allowed me to begin to trust him. Within this trust, I began to breathe a bit more. I then got curious, asking: How would a beginner, someone who has never been to the dentist before, feel in this moment?
Now, I’m not gonna lie. This didn’t take away all my anxiety and fears. But it did help. And maybe, each time I go to the dentist, if I walk in with a mindful mindset, that over time this trauma and pain may transform into a little discomfort, or even maybe transform into calm.
Take Away Practice
This visualization take away practice is inspired by a story that Jon Kabat Zinn (godfather of western mindfulness) told about how to let it be or how to let go. I hope you enjoy it!
Last Week
Last week in Adventures within Somatics, we did a let it be visualization as we freed ourselves from a coconut.
During Thursdays Breath Works & Mindful Meditation class we focused on a three part breath as well as a body scan meditation as we practiced to let things be.
Ending, or beginning, the week with Sundays Rest & Digest, we got grounded as we connected with the breath to allow space to let it be.
This Weeks Class Overviews
Wednesday Aug 30th, 2023 4pm PT/7pm ET
In Adventures within Somatics, we will play with movements and visualizations. Class is open to all ages, abilities, and levels.
Thursday Aug 31st, 2023 6am PT/9am ET
During the Sunrising Meditation & Breath Works, we will reconnect within our breath and a Mindful Meditation within stillness. Class is open to all ages, abilities, and levels.
NO REST & DIGEST CLASS
Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Even though classes have started you can still join us. Sign up gives you access to weekly class recordings, even if you can’t make the live zoom classes.
In the final week of classes it’s now time to forget all that you have learned. Let it all go and approach this week as if you know nothing.
With much Luv and Gratitude,
Casey
Enjoy!
Take Away Practice
Let It Be Visualization Practice
People in India trap monkeys by cutting a hole in a coconut and attaching the coconut to a wire after putting a banana inside. When the monkeys come down from the trees, they put their hand in the coconut to grab the banana. If they let go of the banana, they will be free but the monkey does not want to let go, so they become trapped.
Sit either on the floor or in a chair (you may do this lying down or standing as well). Get comfortable as you root into the earth and expend through the crown of your head.
Either soften your gaze or close your eyes.
Take a few breaths as you envision a coconut in front of you.
Inside the coconut you see an object, a thought, something you feel you would like to change. Nothing too deep to start with. Maybe a morning routine you’d like to change, like drinking less coffee.
Grab a hold of this object, thought, this something you feel you would like to change.
As you grab this object and are now stuck within the coconut, take notice of your breath.
Does the breath change?
Take notice to your body, any sensations arise?
If so, where. Take notice of your mind.
Any thoughts or emotions arise?
Just notice any sensations, do not try to change them.
After a moment, take a deep breath in and as you exhale, let go of of this object, thought, this something you feel you would like to change as you pull your hand free from the coconut.
Take notice of your breath. Does the breath change?
Take notice to your body, any sensations arise?
If so, where. Take notice of your mind.
Any thoughts or emotions arise?
Just notice any sensations, do not try to change them.
See if you can feel a sense of openness or calm and sit within that space.
Repeat this practice but go a little deeper, envisioning the object, thought, experience as something you MUST change.
For the final and third time, repeat the practice as you go even deeper. But taking care to not go too deep. This is a practice and takes time. Go slow and be patient with yourself.
After you have done this practice three times, take a moment to sit within a sense of openness, of calm. You may meditate for any amount of time you'd like.
Slowly deepen your breath as you bring your awareness to the room or space. Begin to feel the air on your skin. Slowly blink your eyes open.