Nervous System Reset Day 5

Present

Hi there! Welcome to day 5 of our 7 day Nervous System Reset program! In today’s class, we practice present moment awareness by tuning into our senses (see, feel, taste, hear and smell).

“We cannot live in the past; it is gone. Nor can we live in the future; it is forever beyond our grasp. We can live only in the present. If we are unaware of our present actions, we are condemned to repeating the mistakes of the past and can never succeed in attaining our dreams for the future. But if we can develop the ability to be aware of the present moment, we can use the past as a guide for ordering our actions in the future, so that we may attain our goal” (S.N. Goenka). I feel like this quote speaks to the importance of present moment awareness. I invite you to reflect upon this quote. Do you agree? Disagree? Perhaps partly agree or partly disagree? What does being truly present mean to you? How does it feel in your body to be present?

In today’s class, you will have the opportunity to explore a variety of techniques that can be very helpful for when you’re feeling anxious and when you are experiencing racing thoughts. These techniques can help anchor you back to the present moment, so that way you are feeling more grounded and in your body.

The following are some ways you can practice present moment awareness off of your mat:
Brush your teeth with your opposite hand.
Pay attention to each bite of food you take. Pay attention to the texture, the temperature, what spices you taste, etc.
Practice 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 strategy when you’re out and about. For example: the next time you are at the grocery store, take note of 5 things you see (name them), 4 things you hear, 3 things you feel (different foods, your feet on the ground, warmth from your sweater), 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste (you can imagine eating something).
Do a body scan, searching for areas of tension. Use your breath to soften each muscle group; one at a time.
Shake your limbs and jump up and down. Notice how it feels to shake different parts of your body.
Play charades or try improv.
Balloon play - Keep the Balloon Up! You can play by yourself or with a group of people. The main objective is to ensure that the balloon does not touch the floor.