Thriving in Today's World
- anndalepearson
- Sep 23, 2020
- 3 min read
In 1970 Alvin Toffler wrote a book called Future shock. In it, he described how the already rapid pace of change in our civilization was speeding up exponentially, and how the greatest adaptation we would need as humans would be to ‘learn, unlearn, and relearn’. In many ways this lead to my lifelong exploration of stress and the ways in which we might help ourselves in accommodating change, so that we could thrive rather than feel exhausted and debilitated.
In these times of global stress we often find ourselves reflecting more deeply and re-assessing our priorities. The role of mindful awareness and self-care in our lives has become more prominent, and the International Yoga Federation estimates that over 300 million people today practice yoga worldwide. Countless others practice meditation, mindfulness, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga NIdra and breathwork. These are practices that have no age limit, and in 2020 we see that 38 percent of people practicing yoga are over 50 years of age.
We are called upon to unlearn and relearn, to examine our beliefs, and to find the most effective ways for each of us to connect with our inner strength and capacity for adaptation. One of the most important survival skills in the 21st century may, in fact, be a neurological skill – the ability to physically relax and demobilize the body and mind for long enough periods to allow it to recuperate and repair.
Toffler says, “To survive, to avert what we have termed future shock, the individual must become infinitely more adaptable and capable than ever before. We must search out totally new ways to anchor ourselves, for all the old roots - religion, nation, community, family, or profession - are now shaking under the hurricane impact of the accelerative thrust. It is no longer resources that limit decisions, it is the decision that makes the resources.”
The sessions and workshops offered in Mindful Yoga are designed to help us anchor ourselves, develop our resilience, be ‘do-able’ by people of all ages, and to quiet our body and mind. Our practices develop the skills that support us in our endeavours to live a healthy, balanced life. We learn to quiet the mind, create space in ourselves for inner growth and awareness, and to stretch and nourish the body.
We learn how to stop and observe, to find ease in a challenging world, and to support better sleep, improved health, and stronger immune systems. We learn how to be with things as they are, and find more acceptance and tolerance of ourselves and others. We learn to create the space in our bodies and minds to heal and replenish.
In her poem, A Thousand Mornings, Mary Oliver say this:
“Today I'm flying low and I'm not saying a word. I'm letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep. The world goes on as it must, the bees in the garden rumbling a little, the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten. And so forth. But I'm taking the day off. Quiet as a feather. I hardly move though really I'm traveling a terrific distance. Stillness. One of the doors into the temple.”
Taking care of ourselves and developing a mindful practice enriches our lives and opens doors that we may have left locked or untended, and we can take our practice with us wherever we go. I hope you join me soon for some mindful practices and self-care.
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