Greetings meditators! This week's practice is in response to some listener questions about feeling very worried regarding the inauguration of Donald Trump tomorrow. For us Canadians, if tariffs are illegally imposed as suggested, this could lead to great economic hardship for many Canadians and increases in prices at a time when inflation makes daily expenses like food, utilities, and rent hard for many.

It's primal stress, fear for survival, worry that we cannot any longer care for our loved ones. Due to this worry, some people have been letting me know that they are not sleeping well, they are short tempered, and aches, pains and usual sicknesses we collect at this time of year seem worse.

One first step as meditators is to be mindful of the way worry and stress manifest in our bodies. Perhaps we are more stiff, perhaps we are stuck in a state of chronic tension, unable to breathe deeply, unable to relax the shoulders and face. In today's practice, we review the body, and give ourselves the freedom and time to care for ourselves by deliberately relaxing those areas that may be feeling the impact of chronic tension.

To watch this podcast live on youtube, and Kuma being a silly giant Akita, please go to https://youtu.be/_fhZZDoE3Ug.

To join our practice live, please write Rosanna D'Agnillo at CalgaryMindfulness@gmail.com. My apologies for no practice last week; I was winter camping and unable to record and broadcast in the mountains. Wishing you an excellent week!

Kind regards, Rosanna D'Agnillo, Founder and Lead Facilitator, Calgary Mindfulness www.CalgaryMindfulness.ca