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The Power of the Pause and 3 Ways to Tap Into It

This post was written by Kathy Parsons, yoga teacher, mindfulness coach and retreat host from The Santosha Life.

“Allow nature to teach you stillness.” Eckart Tolle

It’s understandable that we are drawn to hitting the proverbial pause button in our society these days. We work hard, we play hard. We even relax on a schedule.

I just returned from hosting two yoga retreats in Greece and Ireland. Six countries were represented, ages from 25-71, men and women, couples and solo travellers, beginners to advanced level yogi's...As human beings, our similarities far outweigh our differences. One common theme that continues to emerge is that we're all seeking to bring more peace and contentment into our daily lives. More space to just be.

It can be difficult to find a pause for unscripted thoughts when we have so many distractions at our fingertips.

We come by this honestly. Our monkey minds are programmed for distraction and research is showing that our attention span is shrinking dramatically. It only takes a few moments of waiting for an elevator or in line and our phones are out and we’re scrolling!

Technology isn’t going anywhere soon, so how can we train ourselves to be comfortable, and even enjoy periods of silence and the pause in between?

Here are three ways to cultivate and to tap into the Power of the Pause.

1.Spend time in nature

This is perhaps the most powerful thing you can do. Leave your phone behind, and allow yourself to experience nature in all it’s majesty. Rest your attention on the beautiful, small details that exist in front of you and beyond.

2. Savour the moment

When you feel yourself in awe of a sunrise, moved by an unexpected embrace of a child, inspired by a beautifully written passage in a book, pleasantly surprised by the taste of something new…. take time to savour that moment. Resist the temptation to move on in your mind, and allow yourself to feel it.

3. Cultivate a daily meditation practice

It takes intention and attention to train our brains to be comfortable with silence. Find a meditation practice that suits you (there are so many to choose from!), and start with just a few minutes a day and work your way up slowly.

The peace within is always there. It’s not something we need to strive for. With practice, we can begin to remove the external noise to tap into the pause, and access that peaceful place within us all.

“Listen to silence, it has so much to say.” Rumi

I’ll be hosting two yoga and mindfulness retreats at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise this Fall and I’d love for you to join me! This is a great opportunity to explore this concept further in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Wishing you peace and contentment in your daily lives.

Blessings,

Kathy

“Sometimes finding that quite stillness within us is our highest and greatest aspiration.” Anonymous

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