What does it involve to fully experience the present as it is?

I started my third year of The 4-year Comprehensive Hakomi Therapist Training in April. In two years, I will be graduating as a Hakomi therapist. 

Mindfulness, which is an essential part of the Hakomi method, is a state of conscious self-inquiry — a practice of presence, where attention is directed to the here and now. Sensations, bodily feelings, memories, emotions, and thoughts are met as they are, not as we wish them to be. The work is grounded in a shared and bi-directional mindfulness between two people — the therapist and the client. In Hakomi, this is known as guided self-study.

When life is observed through the eyes of a curious explorer, it begins to slow down. It unfolds with more richness, diversity, and complexity. At its best, this reflective state brings into awareness memories, thoughts, or insights that can be gently explored and nurtured within the therapeutic process.

Training weeks are also filled with joy. Together with colleagues, we rented a house with a beautiful garden of orange and lemon trees. Being present outside the therapeutic setting felt deeply nourishing also — breathing in the scent of blossoms, picking sun-warmed oranges, and making fresh juice during lunch breaks. It was a way of savoring life exactly as it is, in this very moment.

Blooming starts from grounding to the present moment!