In April, Toronto was surprised by an unexpected snowfall. Yet the sudden drop in temperature did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of those who joined the event. Inside a room at Hart House, we gathered under warm lights, surrounded by the gentle scent of aromatherapy, and began a journey into mindfulness.
This was an inward practice—an invitation to pause amid busyness and stress, to reconnect with ourselves, and to listen to what our bodies have been quietly asking for.
We began with a word cloud activity, where shared feelings of anxiety and stress quietly surfaced. Through anonymous participation, a sense of resonance emerged—“I’m not alone.” As the slides unfolded, the facilitator explained, from perspectives of psychology and neuroscience, how mindfulness affects our fight-or-flight response, and how it helps the nervous system step out of prolonged hypervigilance and return to a state of safety and calm in the present moment.
Next, we lay down on soft yoga mats, closed our eyes, and followed guided instructions through breath awareness and body scan practices. Surrounded by gentle music, we began to truly feel ourselves—tightness in the shoulders and neck, the rise and fall of the chest, and even long-neglected vulnerability and sadness.
During the reflection sharing, there were tears, insights, and moments of recognition. One participant shared, “I didn’t realize how tense my body had been—I’ve just never stopped long enough to notice.” Another reflected that in that brief moment of stillness, they finally encountered emotions buried for a long time: “That sense of loss and sadness—I don’t think I’ve allowed myself to acknowledge it for a very long time.”
In this quiet and held space, we practiced slowing down, practicing awareness without judgment. Perhaps this is the power of mindfulness—to carve out a gentle, spacious pause beyond daily demands, where softness and presence can exist.
Thank you to everyone who came through the snow to be here. Thank you for choosing to care for yourself, and for allowing space to explore your inner world. May the gentleness and awareness you touched today find their way into your daily life—even five minutes of mindful breathing can be an act of kindness toward yourself.
If you’re interested in participating in future self-care and mental wellbeing workshops, we warmly invite you to stay connected with us. More public mindfulness and emotional regulation workshops are on the way.
Special thanks to InnerSight UofT for the invitation—we look forward to meeting again soon.
