Mindfulness, Martial Arts, and Human Trafficking

This Sunday, October 9^th First Defense Martial Arts is hosting a mindfulness workshop benefiting Bridge to Freedom Foundation.

What do mindfulness, martial arts, and human trafficking have in common? An Esoteric might argue the Quantum theories of connectivity, that whole ‘everything in the universe is connected’ business.  There is also a more straightforward connection.

Mindfulness creates an internal place of Center. In a centered state, I am much more aware of my surroundings and my own body.  This particular brand of awareness takes on the feel of an observer. In a centered state, we can solve our problems more easily and we get the huge benefits of increased physical health, which is a medically proven side-effect of mindfulness practices. 

In practices of self-defense, the more centered I can be--the more aware I am. The more aware I am, the easier it is for my mind to observe my own physical training and refine, improve my skills. With mindfulness and martial arts practices, my body trains better and I am more aware of my surroundings. Doing the math…increased awareness and better training equal an increase in personal safety.

When I feel safe in my own body, my eyes look up from navel gazing (contemplating all my own problems) and I realize there are other people out there.

Mindfulness is essentially the art and practice of learning to live consciously. In conscious living, we get to see things from a more neutral perspective. From a more neutral perspective, we notice that maybe those Quantum physicists in all their esoteric theories are on to something: we are all connected.  When I realize I am connected to everyone else out there, human trafficking is no longer so easy to ignore.

So at last we come to it: what do Mindfulness, Martial Arts, and Human Trafficking have in common? Self-defense is about the basic right to personal safety. So is human trafficking. Learning to live more consciously increases my capacity to be human. As I am more fully aware of my humanity, it becomes impossible to ignore the thousands of people who denied their essential human right to safety and freedom. 

Join us this Sunday for Falling Awake at First Defense Martial Arts Center from 10 am to noon. The cost of the workshop is a donation to Bridge to Freedom Foundation with a recommended starting point of $10.00 per person. You can register through First Defense at http://firstdefensemac.com

If you join us…you might want to bring a pillow! We will spend some time sitting on the floor (among other fun things!).

Tammy Yard-McCracken, Psy.D., LPC, A-CHT
Transformational Coaching
Integrative Psychology
Mind-Body Medicine

 

To learn more about the post author and facilitator, Tammy Yard-McCracken, please visit her website: www.thewellmind.com 

See more on First Defense Martial Arts and the Event Page here