Sensory Awareness to Practice Presence
You know those days when life just feels… easy.
When you wake up to the first alarm and roll out of bed happy. You look in the mirror and satisfactions fills your eyes. You know it’s going to be a good day.
Breakfast tastes better, coffee gives the perfect buzz, you receive an unexpected raise.
It’s easy to brush past these days, to under appreciate them when they arrive but complain when they don’t happen.
Ever wonder what’s different? Why these moments fall into our laps. And how about those who LIVE this way. Who seemingly always have easy days.
What is it..
Why is it..
And how do you access it...
It’s rare that we evaluate these moments, these days, but today I’m having one of these days and I want to share with you my evaluation, my insight.
It boils down to one word…
Presence.
As I relaxed into my yoga practice this morning, getting a deeper stretch for my hip flexors than I’ve had in awhile, it hit me.
How often are you doing one thing but your mind is drifting off into the to-do lists, the family drama, the weight you wish you could lose…
How often is the very activity you want to do bypassed by the brain’s survival instinct to keep you alive by thinking about everything else except what you are doing…
It can be frustrating beyond belief. Especially when you know what’s happening and are having difficulty refocusing.
So what do you do…
BREATHE.
Ya, I know, you’re always breathing. But here, in this moment, when you bring your awareness to your breath, you are bringing the mind back to the present moment in a way that it can relate and connect. It understands the importance. The brain kicks on like “yes, this is what we’re doing now.”
You don’t have to be alone or in a meditative space to practice this. You only need to be willing to notice..
Here’s how:
Observe the rise and fall of your belly and chest.
Feel the cool air come in the through the nostrils and warm are go out of the nostrils.
Listen for the sound your breath is making today.
Notice where the air hits on your top lip when you breathe out.
Feel the sensation of breath going down your throat when you breath in.
Observe any smells or tastes that accompany your breath.
As you move through sensory awareness with your breath, it brings your attention to the present moment without any gimmicks or gadgets. You always have it. You can always access it.
Enjoy this short meditation/breath awareness practice I recorded for you! https://youtu.be/2QLPoQ9zb1c
Cheers,
Kas
