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Welcome to the Mindful Families October Newsletter With practice tips, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events. Highlights include an upc
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Welcome to the Mindful Families October Newsletter
With practice tips, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events.
Highlights include an upcoming 4-session Mindfulness for Children & Families Program starting mid-November. See full details below.
Feel free to share. |
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) |
Practice Tip for October
Inviting the Sound of the Bell
Thich Nhat Hanh shared this practice at his mindfulness retreat for educators in St Catherines, Ontario this past August.
Sound a bell or chime and as you inhale, quietly say to yourself, "Listening, listening." As you exhale, quietly say, "This beautiful sound brings me back to my true home" (meaning ourselves). Thich Nhat Hanh suggested families practice this at the start and end of their days.
In our household, we are halfway there...
Each morning before we head out to work and childcare, we bring the entire family together. Then, someone "invites the sound of the bell" (In our house, that task is reserved for our 'almost' 3-yr old). We take a few deep breaths together as we listen to the sound of the bell or chime. We do it three times, usually, then we say our good-byes.
Typically my son rings the bell and my partner and I take some deep, deliberate breaths. Sometimes my son continues playing and watches us do the practice. Other times he pants like a dog as we take deep breaths. To us, that is just fine. He's doing it in his almost 3-yr old way. And because we offer it with a 'lightness of touch' he remains engaged with us and thus, a part of the practice.
This practice is a lovely way to pause from the often hectic rushing around that typifies many households in the mornings! We can take a few moments to connect in stillness. Or at least connect :)
It is also a fun way to "plant seeds" of mindfulness with children - I never knew there were so many ways to sound a chime until handing the wand to my son! |
Adventures in Mindful Parenting: Fumbling my way through, one breath at a time...
Halloween: Treats can be Tricky!
The saying goes ‘It takes a village to raise a child;’ but can’t there be an opt-out clause?
“Mommy, mommy, Tyler’s gonna be Iron Man for Halloween, and Eloise is going to be a peacock. Oh and Mommy, I wanna go to McDonalds,” my almost 3-year old bellows with excitement.
“Noooooooo!” (A blood curdling, horror movie Halloween- scream inside my head) We’ve never been there; we never talk about it; we don’t even have a TV! How on earth does my son know about McDonald’s?
“Why?” I ask him, trying to remain calm.
read full post |
Book Pick of the Month
The Stress Reduction Workbook for Teens: Mindfulness Skills to Help You Deal with Stress by Gina Biegel
This past month, likely with school starting up again, I have received numerous inquiries about mindfulness groups for teens. I hope to get one started in the New Year, but in the meantime, I highly recommend this mindfulness book, written specifically for teens.
Gina is an American therapist who adapted MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction) for teens. She published one of the first studies showing that her teen-friendly MBSR program is useful in supporting teens to manage and reduce stress.
This user-friendly book simply and eloquently teaches about stress and its potential impact. Gina provides numerous real-life examples that helps to make mindfulness concepts concrete. The book is also filled with non-intimidating work pages. I use many of them in groups with teens at one of my jobs, and they are always engaged. One of the most popular pages in my work is a diagram that invites teens to reflect on all the aspects of their life that make up their purpose.
This book is an engaging way to teach the benefits of mindfulness practice to teens and is a highly recommended addition to the book collection of teens, parents of teens and people who work with teens.
Visit stressedteens.com for information about Gina Biegel's work and her mindfulness practice CD for teens. |
Individual, Family & Group Counselling 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 |
Mindful Kids
Join Sara Marlowe for a fun afternoon of Mindfulness Story, Song and Play.
WHEN: Sunday, November 3rd, 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. |
Author Event:
Come and celebrate 100 years of the Bloor-Gladstone library. Saturday, October 19, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. The Bloor Gladstone Library is hosting a local author event to celebrate 100 years! Sara will be there with her book No Ordinary Apple. She will be one of many local authors sharing their work. |
Mindfulness for Children & Families Program
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.
WHO: For children ages 6-8 and their caregivers.
WHEN: November 18th - December 9th (4 Mondays), 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Story Planet. 1165 Bloor St. W. (Bloor just West of Dufferin).
COST: $100 per family (up to 3 people.) - includes all art materials.
Please email info@mindfulfamilies.ca to register. Space is limited.
Sara is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) and so the program may be covered by some extended benefits plans. Please discuss with your insurance provider. |
”Nurturing our Children, Nurturing Ourselves: An Introduction to Mindful Parenting”
Sara will be speaking at 2:00 p.m. at the Learning Disabilities Association of Peel's 12th Annual Resource Fair and Speaker Corner Conference
From mealtime to bedtime, homework to playtime, mindfulness offers a way to develop a non-judgement, non reactive, compassionate approach to everyday life, thus fostering emotional well-being and resilience in both our children and ourselves. In this workshop, participants will learn mindfulness practices that can support them in everyday parenting and with the unique stresses that can arise when parenting a child diagnosed with a disability.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
1:00pm to 6:30pm.
This event will include a panel of experts include a Nutritionist, Dietitian, and a Naturopathic Doctor and a resource fair of alternatives approaches, services, and programs that treat and improve overall health and learning/attention difficulties. This event is for parents, caregivers, educators and professionals who work with individuals with learning disabilities/AD(H)D and their families. www.ldapr.ca |
Looking Ahead
Workshops:
Sara will be offering a 6 week mindful parenting workshop in the New Year. Details will be forthcoming. Please email if you might be interested in participating. |
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. |
Some Great Mindfulness Resources
Cultivating Presence:
A Weekend Retreat of Mindful Drumming, Photography and Meditation with Shari Geller & M. Lee Freedman
Beaver Valley in Grey Highlands - Northeast of Flesherton
Saturday, Oct. 19th 2013: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 20th 2013: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
For further information or registration please contact: Camilla at trmworkshops@gmail.com
www.sharigeller.ca
Mindfulness Everyday
Toronto-based Mindfulness Everyday, a registered charitable organization, has assembled a dedicated team of professionals, experienced in conducting mindfulness programs. Mindfulness Everyday offers MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) workshops, in non-clinical settings, as well as programs for youth, parents and educators. mindfulnesseveryday.com
The Centre for Mindfulness Studies
The Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto provides mindfulness-based therapies for conditions such as anxiety and depression, eating disorders, ADHD, substance abuse and chronic pain. The Centre provides accredited professional development in mindfulness-based interventions for physicians and allied health professionals.
www.mindfulnessstudies.com
Thank The Now - a Lovely online resource to remind us to enjoy the present.
www.thankthenow.com |
Click Here to view past newsletters. |
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