Do nothing for 6 hours. Can you?
I can, to my amazement.
Unless you count meditation as doing something, then I guess the question doesn't hold. We convened at a cosy little dance studio, with yoga mats and soft warm lights. The rules for the day were to simply, be silent, and refrain from interacting with anyone else in the room.
I know some friends who would balk at this - it's hilarious thinking about it - and I thought I would struggle too since I love conversations. It was surprisingly easy though, probably because I am an introvert.
I was at a silent retreat, as part of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course by Emerge Performance. They have a new session beginning next month, check it out here. The whole premise is raising awareness of our internal states, both physiological and psychological, which is the first step towards being comfortable with ourselves and others. It may sound lofty and abstract, but it works for all of us.
Through the 6 hours, we did various forms of meditation and simple yoga based on the instructor's directions. We had our lunch in our own space too, in a form of mindful eating. I enjoyed this the most. The burst of blueberry sweetness and chocolate and maple syrup in the overnight oatmeal I'd prepared was oh-so-good.
At the end of the day, we gathered to speak about our experiences for the day. Many found it a welcome start to the long weekend after a crazy busy week at work. Some made new discoveries - a regular Coke drinker realized he didn't really like the taste of Coke, for example - and some appreciated the connection among the group in the room despite the lack of interaction.
I was made very aware of the effects of meditation today, when I went rock climbing. I scaled a 25-metre wall multiple times - it was satisfying but tiring, and towards the last few climbs, I was highly aware of my breathing, fatigue in my arms, and body movements while navigating a harder route. The awareness of all the sensations helped me to rest when needed and to know how I could nudge my limits. I would feel my arms trembling for instance, and rest my arms while planning how my next manouvre could use more of my legs.
I'm glad I experienced MBSR. I'm surprised at the small ways it has changed my life honestly. Research shows that mindful moments at the beginning of each day makes a big impact on your focus for the day; I'll incorporate that as a habit in my life from now on.
On a side note, a happy SG50 to everyone! It's amazing how Singapore has grown the past 50 years. I'm so proud to be a citizen and resident of this country.
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