Minfulness Class 3

I had class last night.

We started with sitting meditation. We did a 5 minute breathing/sitting meditation. Then we discussed what we went over last week followed by our first Gentle Stretching/Yoga routine.

It was nice. This week we are supposed to alternate between the body scan and the Gentle Stretching/Yoga Routine – 6 nights. Also 6 nights of sitting meditation and an unpleasant events log. I have my first unpleasant event already! It is funny I am much more cognizant of how my body feels when I am experiencing something unpleasant versus pleasant. It is something to think about.

We ended the Gentle Stretching with an abbreviated body scan. I was a bit nervous because last week I was stiff after doing the body scan. I think because it is on a concrete floor with a thin yoga mat. I think because we did the Gentle Stretching this week I was more relaxed; I wasn’t stiff at all after the body scan.

We then paired up and discussed how the Gentle Stretching and body scan went for us plus how it went over the week. Last night my mind was racing much more than it has been as of late. I truly believe it is hormones. I can’t believe how I resisted doing my homework this week. I wonder what effect it would have had on me if I had actually done it. I think I would have been in a much better frame of mind.

I stayed after class to ask if I can use a timer when I am doing the sitting/breathing meditation. I worry about not doing it long enough and so I don’t really focus on it. D said yes and I could eventually by automatic chimes or Dr. Kabat-Zinn has a cd with 5 – 10 – 15 minutes of silence interspersed with chimes.

I am glossing over things, it is hard to capture everything – especially when you can’t take notes.

Oh, another piece of our homework was to think of something we wanted to work on being mindful about and then pair up and share it. I said driving, which sounds really stupid. However I spend a minimum of 1 and a half in the car daily and I feel like a lot of it is with me checked out (accident last month?). My partner said he wanted to be more mindful when having conversations with his wife. He said he finds it very easy to only half-listen because you know the pattern of conversation, etc. Recently twice DH has told me something that I didn’t “hear.” So being more mindful when talking with my husband is a good one for me too!