Mindfulness in Motion

The author of this beautifully produced book is a clinical psychologist, martial artist, neuroscientist and teacher of mindfulness, all of which disciplines are reflected in this book. She describes a body centred meditation as a form of secular mindfulness so as to get out of your head and into your body. The five keys are pausing, intention, attention, self understanding and compassion. Each of these is clearly explained, with illustrations, diagrams and instructions. As with all such books, the key is the practice itself rather than just reading about it. The reader gains a deeper understanding of the topics discussed and practical insights for their own development. Slowing down can be a real challenge, but it enables us to connect growth with our body and the environment. I enjoyed the variations on the monkey mind including the daydreaming monkey, the judging monkey, the comparing monkey, the planning monkey, the should monkey and the analytical monkey - these are all present within us but we can become more aware of these mental and also emotional patterns. The book is laid out so that the reader can follow it sequentially, culminating in the loving kindness compassion meditation. At the end, reader is encouraged to go back to the beginning and start again.