Slowing Down – Starting With Sitting

For most part of 2024, we’ll be focusing on slowing down in our Wednesday Pause sessions. The starting point would be to sit.

Sitting lowers our center of gravity, enabling us to feel more grounded.

Then using the outbreath, we bring the mind back to reminding ourselves to slow down, to become conscious that we’re sitting, how we’re sitting.

The invitation is to practice this whenever you have moments to pause, say when you are in the train or bus. Even when you are driving and stopping to wait for the lights to turn green, you can check in with the body, reminding yourself to slow down, to notice how you are sitting.

What would the world do with me?, by JP

Why is it

that I only sit quietly

in the morning?

Am I allowed just

one breath

of wholeness

before the barrage

of the day?

What would happen

if I claimed

all my other breaths

in the name of peace –

of saving a life?

What would the world

do with me?

Guide: Noelle Lim

Image credit: Priscilla du Preez, Unsplash

Going Slowly

As we head towards the end of the year, a gentle reminder to slow down and smell the roses. And even if the mind is jumping around, here is an invitation to slow down. Inspired by Walk Slowly by Danna Faulds.

It only takes a reminder to breathe,

a moment to be still, and just like that,

something in me settles, softens, makes

space for imperfection. The harsh voice

of judgment drops to a whisper and I

remember again that life isn’t a relay

race; that we will all cross the finish

line; that waking up to life is what we

were born for. As many times as I forget,

catch myself charging forward

without even knowing where I’m going,

that many times I can make the choice

to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk

slowly into the mystery

Guide: Noelle Lim

Image credit: Zane Lee, Unsplash