Week 1 of MBSR there is no doubt excitement, nervousness, and even a little skepticism. All are welcome. As participants arrive they are greeted with a hello. The teacher checking everyone in as they enter the zoom room. Participants begin to enter in their first names only, pronouns, and the city and country they are joining from, into their personal zoom windows.
Participants have been reminded to bring items to support their comfort: water, a blanket if you tend to get cold, and when sitting cross-legged, having a pillow to sit on and a pillow under each knee is really supportive. Often, people are express relief at finally understanding why they haven’t been able to sit for any period of time due to being uncomfortable. It’s true, the pictures on the internet don’t often display people actually practicing.
There is a reminder that throughout the course, we are all in choice. The importance of listening to one’s body, to error on the side of caution. To understand the difference in between one listening to one’s body and our personal preferences. If we sitting and you need to stand, do that. If we are lying down and you need to sit, do that.
Acknowledging the brain will wander. And when the mind has wandered and bringing it back to the breath or another anchor because it is the noticing that the mind has wandered off is really what mindfulness practice is about. The idea of paying attention on purpose, with kindness. No judgement, just noticing and coming back to the breath.
A couple mindfulness practices are completed, including the raison exercise.
We talk about the fieldwork for the upcoming week.
And this is it.
