Written by Amanda Dzengeleski
Celebrate our growing community on New Year’s Day! Join us for a special in-person Mindful Movement and Yoga followed by a potluck brunch in The Parlour's beautiful space.
You can sign up for one or both events. Each event is $15.
Friends and family members are welcome! Pre-registration is required.
Our December Lunchtime Learning series will explore the mental states that challenge our ability to be mindful and present. Learn and carry your practice into 2024 to support mindful and compassionate responses to what life brings us. Join us every Wednesday, 11:30a-12:45p EST.
December 6: Six Enemies of the Mind with Aviva
December 13: iRest with Melissa
December 20: Sitting with Worry and Restlessness with Amanda
December 27: A Mind Training Practice for Stress Reduction with Sam
Don’t miss the Osteoporosis and Yoga Workshop on Saturday, December 9, 1:00-5:00pm EST. The in-person option is full, but you can put your name on the waiting list OR sign up for the online option.
The Five Hindrances are rooted in the Buddhist tradition and offer valuable insights into the nature of our mind states. The Five Hindrances include desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, and doubt. Each hindrance represents a specific aspect of the human mind that can be challenging to navigate, making meditation and mindfulness practices feel more demanding.
Gil Fronsdal, author of Unhindered, encourages us to approach restlessness and worry with a sense of curiosity and mindfulness. Instead of trying to push these emotions away, we are encouraged to sit with them, observing the sensations and thoughts without judgment. This approach aligns with the fundamental principles of mindfulness, which involve cultivating a non-reactive awareness of the present moment.
When restlessness arises, it often manifests as a feeling of agitation or a constant urge to move physically or mentally. Fronsdal suggests bringing attention to the sensations associated with restlessness – perhaps fidgeting or racing thoughts – and observing them with a gentle awareness. By acknowledging these sensations without resistance, we can start to untangle the grip of restlessness on the mind.
Worry, on the other hand, involves the mind's preoccupation with future events or potential difficulties. Fronsdal advises acknowledging the worries without getting entangled in them. By recognizing that worry is a projection of the mind into an uncertain future, we can cultivate a more grounded and present-focused awareness.
Both restlessness and worry can be met with the cultivation of equanimity – a balanced and non-reactive state of mind. By observing these hindrances and separating from their narrative, we can develop a resilience that allows them to remain steady amidst the fluctuations of the mind.
An essential aspect of Fronsdal's teachings is the recognition of impermanence. All mental states, including restlessness and worry, are transient. In understanding that these hindrances will come and go, we can develop a patient and accepting attitude toward the spectrum of our human experience.
By approaching these hindrances with awareness, curiosity, and equanimity, we find opportunities for growth and deeper understanding on the journey toward greater peace and presence.
Email info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com with questions. We are here to help!
Amanda Dzengeleski is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT) and an aspiring yoga therapist (in training). She first discovered yoga as a form of mind-body medicine that cultivated a deeper state of self-awareness and personal growth. Using a functional and trauma-informed approach, Amanda empowers her students to move freely and intentionally in celebration of body, mind, and soul.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and an Insight Yoga Institute (IYI) endorsed teacher. She individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.
