Stress
The very act of being alive means that - at times - we all encounter stress. Some stress is good for us, too much of it can break us, and much of it is unavoidable. This month, we will explore some simple, time-tested approaches that help manage our bodily and mental tensions and lead us to increased capacity and renewed well-being, allowing us to feel more at ease and better equipped to face our life’s challenges.
The Inevitability Of Stress (2 September)
Whilst we all might seek to avoid it, stress is a natural, ancient, and biological response to life. When we’re able to let stress in, to recognise it and make room for it as we rest, we’re able to befriend it and, paradoxically, feel more relaxed.
Watch the full zoom recording or listen to the practices.
Upside Of Stress (9 September)
Having explored the concept of ‘befriending’ stress, we can deepen our understanding of it by recognizing the crucial role it plays in our biology. Without tension, we could never know relaxation, and a certain amount of stress can be good for us.
Watch the zoom session or listen to the practices opposite.
Mental Tension (16 September)
“Grasping rhymes with gasping, and is best left for certain emergency situations” (quote from Michael Leunig). We’ll consider what we’re holding on to, and what we may be ready to let go of. The bird of paradise doesn’t rest on the hand that grasps!
Watch the zoom session, or listen to the practices opposite.
Acceptance (26 August)
Acceptance isn’t just a mind set, or a stage of working through our challenges. It’s can also be a deep embrace of all that is, and a surrender to the way things are, even if they are radically different to our preferences and wishes.
Watch the full zoom session, or listen to the practices opposite
