Restoring Inner Balance In A Fast-Paced World

In this session we explore the meaning of balance and how it relates to our lives, and then how we can apply this to ourselves individually. For our first practice we look at pausing and grounding into the physical body and finding our centre. We draw from mindfulness expert Dr Craig Hassed, concluding that 'pausing' for just a short amount of time everyday positively impacts our health and wellbeing.

In this session you will learn about the power of intention, or 'Sankalpa' in Sanskrit. We explore the meaning of intention and how to construct an intention statement. You will also learn a little about the quantum model of 'causing an effect', and how this theory can create a new way of being.

Today we create a safe place or sacred place. In Psychotherapy the inner safe place is a tool used in treating trauma. It is also a wonderful technique to calm and balance an over stimulated and anxious mind. The Safe Place acts as an antidote to a busy lifestyle. It can be used to settle the mind and body before meditation, as well as a tool to move out of negative thinking patterns.

Today we go into the body, literally, with our attention. This body scan comes from an ancient Himalayan tradition. It is a systematic exercise aimed to balance the subtle energies of the body and increase mental clarity and harmony. You will learn how this sequence of body rotation communicates specifically with the brain, thereby increasing mind body coherence.

Today you will discover that as a human being, you are multi-dimensional. We explore a more subtle layer of our being known as the energy body. You will learn that in fact we are more energy (space) than matter (physical substance). We will access this layer of our being via the breath and discover how profound and effective a simple breath exercise can be for our emotional regulation and wellbeing.

Today we explore our tendency to stay busy and distracted and at the same time long for something else. We look into that 'something else' and identify the qualities and gifts this can provide. You will learn about the practice of mindfulness and begin to uncover the benefits and foundations that underpin this technique. Finally we will be introduced to a mindful practice, using our senses to experience presence.

Today we explore 'joy and happiness.' We first take a glance at our inherent behaviors of negativity and how these have served us as we've evolved. We hear a historical story of the Buddha's path to enlightenment and how this is relevant to our lives today. We then explore the direct road to joy and happiness, learning to cultivate this practically for ourselves.

Today we adapt the skill of mindfulness to our daily life by walking mindfully. We pay close attention to the environment in the way we would with a formal sitting meditation, but with eyes open and bodies moving. In this way of walking and being, we learn to bring a sense of balance to our experience with more presence and ease.

Today we go deeper into the foundations of mindfulness and explore exactly how to be in the formal and informal practice of mindfulness. You will learn how the attitude you adopt to everything in your life will effect how you experience it. We will explore how to see our thoughts from a distance, giving greater perspective and choice to respond rather than react.

This final session explores the future and what it might look like. I will recap on what we have covered and how we engaged with these practices. We already have exactly what we need to be balanced and stable - it's at the core of who we truly are; we simply require the skills to uncover our true nature.