An 8 Week Long Book Review : Week 3 – Mindfulness Starts Here

Confession for this week : The book may be titled ‘Mindfulness Starts Here’, but I wasn’t very mindful when I mistakenly started reading the chapter ahead instead of the one for week three. Ahem. Offering some gentleness to my gaffe and letting go.

This week, week number THREE of the book review in action brings me to a chapter titled ‘Awareness of the Body’, so I don’t feel so bad about it not being a chapter on being mindful of what chapter one is on. The intention for this chapter as stated by the authors is to bring awareness back to the body.

With the Body Scan that was introduced in earlier chapters, I’m noticing my body more than ever and credit the chill of Fall for helping me to be even more aware to ancient pains re-emerging. My funky, busted up ankle had been howling all weekend and a past toe injury became a screaming voice in my head while scanning my foot. All these sensations not tuned into during the run of a day.
This chapter reminds me gently ‘Perhaps you’re living in your head little one.’

Another theme that emerged from the readings this week was that of the body’s limitations and how it is deteriorating - daily, with every minute that passes. The need for gentleness in recognizing and resting with this reality is expressed and was comforting.

Why resist?

This chapter really gave me a lot to reflect upon when it comes to the SR (Stress Reduction) aspect of MBSR as the book cites how much stress, wear and tear we put our bodies through. We allow ourselves to carry and hold so much. We put ourselves through so much.

What can we rely upon to help us? Breathing and mindfulness.

At this point in the book and the practice program, breath work is a large part of what is practiced daily, however it’s now that mention to the remaining awareness work is introduced, namely the cultivation of 5 Skillful Habits. The authors cite the 5 Precepts found within Buddhism as a basis for the 5 Skillful Habits they are introducing within “Mindfulness Starts Here” and roll their own version for the MBSR program they have developed.

As a hunchback, 9-5 pixel shifter with multiple body twerks, this chapter is both comforting in helping me to work with accepting my multiple broken spots, but also encourages me to discover a gentle body-work practice and it is some coincidence that I was speaking with my neighbor last week about Tai Chi classes in the neighborhood.

Tai Chi vs Qi Gong vs Gentle Yoga - What’s your vote?