Mindfulness of Sensation

by Jill Satterfield

Seanna Browder by Melina Meza

The non-verbal language of our body is sensation. Our body communicates discomfort, fear, anxiety, depression, embarrassment, happiness, love—all through an orchestral variety of sensations.
Becoming familiar with the sensations in our body is a way to become more intimate with ourselves, by seeing sensations as a reflection of our mind and heart. Sensations can be the bridge of communication between body and heart-mind, and being mindful of sensations not only keeps the mind in the present (the body is always in the present moment) but offers a much needed respite to the overly worked and depended upon thinking mind. 
The body will sense and “say” through its language of sensations what the mind is about to think, what the heart is just about to feel. The body warns us that something big is building, and being in the body, and staying present with its current sensation is a skillful way to cut off a strong reaction or loss of emotional control. Staying with sensations—breathing into what we feel—staves off many unwanted reactions and gives us time to have a thoughtful pause, and then a response.
This short introduction to mindfulness of sensations will give you a start to noticing them without judgment, to treating the body with more kindness, and to seeing things as they are without the colored glasses of attachment or aversion.

If you're interested in learning more about embodied mindfulness, I'll be offering another Embodied Mind 200 hour teacher training at Zazen in San Francisco this fall and winter 2015/2016. See vajrayoga.com for further information.
Jill Satterfield is the founder of Vajra Yoga + Meditation, a synthesis of yoga and Buddhism that combines meditation, yoga and contemplative practices. Named “one of the 4 leading yoga and Buddhist teachers in the country” by Shambhala Sun Magazine, Jill has instigated mindful and creative educational programs for over 28 years.She is also the founder and Director of the School for Compassionate Action: Meditation, Yoga and Educational Support for Communities in Need, a not-for-profit that trains teachers, psychologists and health care providers to integrate mind and body practices into their professions. SCA also provides classes to people in chronic pain, with illness, those suffering from PTSD, and at-risk youth. Jill teaches workshops internationally, is a faculty member of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Mindfulness for Yoga Training and the Somatic Training in Marin, California, and is a guest teacher for many other training programs. To find out more about Jill, visit her website vajrayoga.com.
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