I asked Sr. Suchness, or Leslie, to be a regular guest blogger for Savor as she is a yoga teacher and former nun. She is currently studying at Harvard University’s School of Divinity for a Master’s degree in Buddhism. I am very happy to welcome her to the Savor Sangha.

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Mindful movements offer tremendous benefit to the mind, body and spirit. Breathing consciously through a physical flow, our entire being is present - connected and working in whole, for greater well-being. 

Meditation by Laura Smeaton 
Photo by Tracy Powell
 

For me, bicycling is a mindfulness exercise. 

When I’m bicycling – whether commuting, running errands, training for fitness, or just riding to meet friends --all I’m doing is bicycling.  No chatting on the phone, watching TV/videos in the background, or listening to music… just bicycling. 

My senses are honed and focused --- looking and listening for obstacles to avoid. 

Have you been waiting for a little extra motivation to get outside and exercise? Luckily, spring is the season of activity for a cause and there are hundreds of events in the coming months dedicated to supporting nonprofits through gifts of time and physical activity.

Nowadays, we tend to sit more, staring at the screen instead of moving around. Create your own inMoving plan  to help you stay active and feel better by asking yourself a few questions:

1. Why do you want to be more physically active?

2. How do you feel when you are really sedentary, sitting almost the whole day?

Incorporating mindful movement/exercise into our lives should always be this fun! Dance is a natural, dynamic form of expression that can also provide quite a work out.

The mental release provoked by dance is often good for clearing the mind, allowing us to focus on and enjoy movement. Opportunities to experience dance are countless and ever expanding, so you can find a style that works toward your healthy living goals.

Two forms of dance I’ve recently become fond of are:

Take inventory of your movements throughout the day. Awareness is important to facilitate improvement. How much of your day are you sitting? How much of your day is spent looking at a screen?

Yoga is a wonderful opportunity for us to connect our body and mind. The mindful movement and breathing in yoga allows us the space to nurture ourselves. Even very simple movements, in tandem with mindful breathing, release stress, invite tranquility and strengthen our core being.