One of my favorite classes was a mindful parenting early childhood family education (ECFE) class that I took when our kids were younger. We covered the 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness by John Kabat-Zinn. The attitude that stuck out then, and now, is the “beginner mind”. A “beginner’s mind” is a great reminder to see each day with freshness, with newness, as well as removing expectations. Personally, this mindful attitude is hard because the “expert” is so prized in our society. However, Kabat-Zinn suggests that it is the beginner that has the ability to really explore without assumptions or presumed outcomes.
What if we took this concept and applied it to yoga. What if every time you came to the mat you saw yourself as the beginner. The person who can learn endless about yourself, your community, and our world? What if you took this beginner’s mind to each pose, to discover something that you perhaps overlooked or thought invaluable? What if you became a beginner again, how would you grow?
It’s a lesson that is harder for me to live by daily and thus, one I want to pay attention to and focus on. If you find this interesting, lets talk, I would love to get your feedback or ways to look at the world in a new light.