Steadying the Mind in Presence

This practice will bring mindful attention to thinking, and then use simple phrases to help the mind stay present. This is important because our thoughts create our experience of life, so if we have a habit of judging ourselves frequently, it’s likely we’ll live with a sense of uneasiness or distrust in ourselves. All thoughts, whether positive or negative, need attention to grow just like a plant in the garden. So, when we notice we’re getting swept away by negative thoughts, we can mindfully acknowledge them and then shift our attention to something more supportive, like our breath. This way, we no longer live inside of our thoughts and their power lessens.

Kyla Pearce, MPH, RYT, CBIS, PhD serves as the Senior Director of the LoveYourBrain Yoga program, overseeing the design, implementation, and evaluation of the program on an international level. She has been part of the Pearce family for years, and, following Kevin's accident, played an integral role in the launch of LoveYourBrain. Kyla blended her expertise as a yoga teacher and researcher to develop the evidence-based LoveYourBrain Yoga curriculum, which she has trained over 1,000 yoga teachers and clinicians to deliver across the country. She is also a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Dartmouth College investigating the impact of yoga and meditation for people with neurological conditions. She lives in Vermont with her husband Adam, and their sons, Bear and Owen.