Pausing for Presence
Slowing Down to Notice, Feel, and Be With Our Experience
Happy Summer Everyone!
Summer is my favourite season. With longer days, warmer temperatures, and often a gentler pace, summer invites us to soften. This season I invite you to practice pausing for presence. Some of our deepest healing can emerge when we slow down enough to notice, feel, and simply be with our experience.
One of my best loved mindfulness practices is the simple yet powerful STOP practice. Try using it two or three times a day to cultivate mindful awareness. As one of my teachers often said, "Notice what you notice." Perhaps you try it midday, before a meeting, or before walking through your front door at the end of the day.
The STOP Practice
S = Stop
T = Take a few slow, deep breaths
O = Observe your entire being with curiosity and compassion
P = Proceed from this place of intentional pausing
Viktor Frankl, psychiatrist, neurologist and Holocaust survivor wrote:
"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
I return to this quote often. It reminds me that even a brief pause can reconnect us to choice, wisdom, and intention.
This summer, consider taking a walk without your phone. Sit quietly with your morning coffee, perhaps outdoors. Feel the warmth of the sun or the breeze on your skin. Notice the rhythm of your breath. Listen to the birdsong around you.
Time in nature, meaningful connection with others, and gentle self-compassion all help create the conditions where healing can unfold. Small moments of restoration, practised consistently over time, have an impact.
Yoga News - Farewell and Hello
After many years of teaching at 889 Community, I have decided to step away. I leave with gratitude for the experiences, friendships, and connections I have made over the years.
As one chapter closes, another begins. I am delighted to share that this summer I will be teaching at The Practice, a new multi-modal wellness space in Toronto.
What is The Practice?
Founded by Sara Jackson MSW, The Practice is a unique wellness and community space designed to support personal and professional growth. Bringing together therapy, movement, coaching, energy work, and other healing modalities, The Practice exists to foster connection, healing, and growth.
New Summer Yoga Class: The System Reset
This class is designed to quiet the mind and support nervous system regulation. Through mindful movement, breath work, restorative postures, and meditation, this class offers an opportunity to release stress, reconnect with yourself, and cultivate greater ease.
First Class: Tuesday, July 28
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
Location: 360 Davenport Road (at Dupont)
To learn more and to register, visit The Practice Toronto.
Special Restorative Yoga
& Red Light Therapy Event
I am excited to be offering a special evening 75 minute restorative yoga experience incorporating red and near-infrared light therapy mats.
Date: Wednesday, July 22
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm*
*Please arrive 15 minutes early to get settled and enjoy the space.
Stay after for refreshments and socializing.
Red and near-infrared light therapy pairs beautifully with restorative yoga. Together, these practices support relaxation, restoration, and the body's natural healing processes. Red and near-infrared light therapy can help with:
boosting circulation
supporting collagen production and skin health
reducing inflammation
easing muscle and joint discomfort
Tickets available through The Practice Toronto.
Therapy News
I am pleased to share that I now have additional availability for in-person therapy sessions on Wednesday mornings at my midtown Toronto office. I continue to see clients in person on Mondays as well.
If you are curious about working together, I invite you to reach out for a complimentary 20-minute phone consultation.
To learn more about my approach and practice, visit: Lisa Mitchell Healing.
What I’m Reading
I recently finished How to Share an Egg by Canadian author, journalist, and fellow Toronto yogi, Bonny Reichert.
This beautifully written memoir explores the intersections of food, family, belonging, and survival. Reichert reflects on her experience as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, weaving together personal history and culinary storytelling.
The book was awarded the Dave Greber Book Award for social justice writing, and I highly recommend it.
A Summer Blessing
I'll leave you with a few lines from Mary Oliver's beloved poem, The Summer Day:
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields.
May you find moments this season to slow down, pay attention, and be fully present to your life.
With warmth,
Lisa
P.S. If you enjoyed this newsletter and think someone else might find it helpful, I would be grateful if you shared it with them. 🌿☀️