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Welcome to the Mindful Families December Newsletter With practice ideas, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events. Feel free to share. Hi
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Welcome to the Mindful Families December Newsletter
With practice ideas, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events.
Feel free to share.
Highlights include a Breathe In: Sing Out - A Mindfulness-based Music Circle for Infants, toddlers & Caregivers 5 week program starting January 13, 2014. See full details below.
Mindfulness Program for Children (6-8 years) & Caregivers
4 weeks, starting January 20, 2014. |
Practice Idea for November
Stillness Snow Globes
It is the perfect time of year to create your own stillness snow globe. All you need is a photo snow globe. Take out the paper insert to use as a template for two pieces of coloured paper. Then decorate the two papers with images and /or words that are settling for you. Next, put them back inside the globe.
You can shake it up any time you feel you could bring in a little stillness. Take some breaths and rest your awareness on the snow flakes in the globe as they all settle to the bottom. As the snow settles, our bodies and minds also begin to settle into stillness.
This lovely snow globe was created by a 6 year-old-girl in my mindfulness program for children & families. it was their favourite activity! |
Adventures in Mindful Parenting: Fumbling my way through, one breath at a time...
Being Mindful of the Mind: Your brain (and family) will thank you…
“The brain takes its shape from what the mind rests upon.” Rick Hanson
I have recently been reading Hardwirng Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence: by Rick Hanson. It couldn’t have come at a better time. It has been a particularly stressful fall, with many big transitions and decisions to make. In the midst of this turmoil, the joys of everyday life were getting buried under to-do lists, endless discussions about pros and cons, worry about letting people down, anxiety about figuring out the right decision, etc. etc. etc. I was getting bored of hearing myself! I came to realize I was no longer showing up really for anyone… especially my family.
[read full post] |
Book Pick of the Month
Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence by Rick Hanson
The official description: "Why is it easier to ruminate over hurt feelings than it is to bask in the warmth of being appreciated? Because your brain evolved to learn quickly from bad experiences but slowly from the good ones.
You can change this.
Hardwiring Happiness lays out a simple method that uses the hidden power of everyday experiences to build new neural structures full of happiness, love, confidence, and peace. Dr. Hanson’s four steps build strengths into your brain— balancing its ancient negativity bias—making contentment and a powerful sense of resilience the new normal. In mere minutes each day, we can transform our brains into refuges and power centers of calm and happiness."
I am just inhaling this book and I LOVE it. It is very easy to absorb and practical from the get go. Hanson's now infamous quote has had a profound impact on my practice of where I rest (and encourage) my attention. "The brain takes its shape on what the mind rests upon." I also use this information to intentionally guide my conversations and interactions with my son so that I can nurture his ability to absorb the positive experiences in his life.
Visit www.rickhanson.net |
Breathe In, Sing Out: Music, Mindfulness & Fun for You and Your Little One.
Breathe In, Sing Out offers a fun way for parents to practice mindfulness, nurture connection & have fun with their little ones.
In this 5-week program, Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW will teach both original and classic songs, mindfulness activities and breath practices that are engaging for little ones, while also planting seeds of mindfulness, relaxation, awareness, connection, kindness and gratitude.
WHO: For babies, toddler, preschoolers & caregivers.
WHEN: January 13 – February 10, 2014 (5 Mondays),
TIME: 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. (18-30 months). 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. (newborn to 18 months)
WHERE: The Toronto Healing Arts Centre. 717 Bloor St. W. (Bloor just East of Christie).
COST: $100 - includes a copy of “No Ordinary Apple: A Story about Eating Mindfully” |
Breathe In & Shine: Mindfulness for Children & Families
Are you interested in sharing mindfulness with your children, but not quite sure how?
In this 4-week program, Sara will introduce child-friendly mindfulness practices to children and their families that they can then practice together at home. Practices will include games, songs, stories, art activities and everyday mindful awareness practices that can help to reduce stress and support connection in today's often hectic households.
Monday evenings. Jan. 20 - Feb. 10th, 2014. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Dufferin & Bloor. For children 6-8 and their caregivers.Cost is $110 (for up to 3 family members) and includes all art materials, a mindfulness activity booklet and a copy of "No Ordinary Apple." Email Sara for info and registration. |
Mindful Kids
Join Sara Marlowe for a fun hour of Mindfulness Story, Song and Play.
WHEN: Sunday, January 19th, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Story Planet. 1165 Bloor St. W. (Bloor just West of Dufferin).
For children ages 5-9.
Please RSVP to liz@storyplanet.ca with 'mindfulness' as the subject.
Free of charge. |
Individual, Family & Group Counseling offered by Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW
I will officially be starting a private practice in November, where I will offer counselling services to individual children, youth, and adults as well as families in the West Toronto area. You can read more about my services at Psychology Today
I will also be offering more mindfulness groups for children and families as I free up more time. Feel free to email me with any questions. info@mindfulfamilies.ca |
Looking Ahead
Interpersonal Neurobiology
with Innovative Therapeutic Practices
Registration.
This breakthrough conference offers a full day with Dan Siegel as well as two days with prominent academics, practitioners, theoreticians, researchers and students in the field of mental health who are working at the intersection of neurobiology, mindfulness and innovative therapeutic practices.
This is an exciting period of transition as the field of mental health reconsiders and re-conceptualizes ideas about mental well-being and what constitutes identity. The field of Interpersonal Neurobiology enables us to understand that the function and structure of the mind and brain are shaped by both individual and social experiences. Faculty will provide cutting edge multidisciplinary views that further our understanding of the complex neurobiology of the human mind. They will offer a variety of clinical approaches and scientific viewpoints that are often inaccessible to clinicians. This conference will integrate the best of modern science with the healing art of innovative therapeutic practices.
Sara will be offering a workshop at the conference. "Twinkle, twinkle, Little Mind. Which Part will we Help you Shine? Mindfulness in Therapy with Children." |
No Ordinary Apple: A Story About Eating Mindfully
Would you like Sara to come to your child/ren's school or community group to read No Ordinary Apple and share interactive mindfulness practices?
Before school ended last June, Sara had so much fun sharing her book with children at a number of schools in the GTA. Please email info@mindfulfamilies.ca to arrange a book reading and mindfulness workshop.
LIKE No Ordinary Apple on Facebook and help share mindfulness with children. |
Click Here to view past newsletters. |
Staying Connected with Gmail:
As you know, Gmail has implemented some new features that sort your email under Primary, Social and Promotion Tabs and our newsletter will not arrive in your primary inbox anymore
UNLESS you make the following easy adjustments:
To receive the Mindful Families Newsletter in your Gmail Primary Inbox:
1. Open up your Gmail and check that you have the NEW tabs set up at the top of the inbox.
2. Click on the PROMOTIONS tab folder and locate one of my previous newsletters (from Mindful Families). I sent you our last newsletter on Monday, Sept. 9, 2013.
3. DRAG IT to the PRIMARY tab folder.
4. A question should pop up and ask if you want to do this for future messages from me.
5. Click YES. This should add our emails to your Primary folder in the future.
6. Repeat this process for everyone whose mail you find in "Promotions" that you want to receive in your Primary folder.
Thank you for taking the time to stay connected!
(Thanks to Dr. Shari Geller for instructions on how to keep connected) |
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