Mindful Living In San Luis Obispo

From the Beginning

We humans are complex and miraculous creatures of habit. As we experience life through our senses, we touch the precious, the mundane, and everything in between. While we essentially navigate contemporary life with brains that evolved millions of years ago, basing our actions on what we think to be true can sometimes lead to inner conflict and interpersonal challenges.

To complicate matters our reactions to challenge – fight, flight, freeze, fawn – are also part of a primitive survival system such that being stuck in traffic can create the same physiological experience as being chased by a tiger. Other obstacles include skewed perceptions conditioned by core beliefs developed early in life, past experiences including trauma, as well as simple misunderstandings.                                                                  

Today

Mindfulness begins with somatic awareness – noticing what’s happening in the body – physical sensations like tightness, numbness, ease, warmth, coolness, or the movement of energy. While mindfulness is simple to describe, it can be incredibly difficult to alter habits we’ve spent a lifetime practicing, and instead meet the present moment, on purpose, with kindness.

Consider how much time is spent automatically moving through life, compounded with distractions that take us away from being present. Our culture has developed paradoxical advancements, that in some moments appear to make things easier and foster feelings of connectedness, and at other moments leave us overwhelmed, alone, and uncertain.

A Closer Look

We all share the desire to be happy and content, however, our thoughts can lock us into regrets about the past and worry about the future. Preoccupation with wondering, “If only things were a little different or quite different than they are now,” “If only I could go back and change the past,” or “Once I get the job, married, the house, the car, retire, … then I will be happy,” can disconnect us from our capacity to experience joy. This separation keeps us from authentically participating in the only place we can truly live – here and now. 

Developing Clarity

Fortunately, there are well-established practices for developing skillful ways of being in our lives that promote health, well-being and contentedness. Mindful living continues to unfold with the cultivation of a deeper understanding of the truth of our human experience including an awareness of how we care for ourselves and interact with one another and our surroundings.

As we practice being in the moments of our lives with acceptance, kindness, and compassion, rather than caught up in worries of the past, and concerns of the future, we slowly build a deep reservoir of well-being that we can rely on and regularly access. Over time, the expression of these resources benefits our interactions and all that we care for. These qualities of practice are an integral part of the courses, groups and sessions offered here.

Conveniently located in San Luis Obispo.

A peaceful, secluded property in a beautiful natural setting. The MBSR courses and Mindful Workshops take place here.

Mindfulness meditation classes and Daylong Retreats take place here.