Wise souls tell us that time and space are great healers. Slowing down and waiting patiently, they teach, can allow stress to slip away and feelings of wellbeing to re-emerge from deep within.

Moving mindfully in slow, simple, steady ways can help us find our way back to these feelings of ease and peace. Little by little and stretch by stretch, our bodies grow calm. And as the body settles, the mind begins to steady, too. It turns out that we don’t need to head to the far ends of the earth - literally or metaphorically - in order to recover feelings of spaciousness and ease. Sweet, slow and simple works!

In the moment it may feel like not much is happening. If you are the high achieving type, your brain may even wonder why you aren’t doing more. But there is beautiful magic at work here and when we emerge, we feel restored. Time, space and presence have shaken loose our ill-will and aggression, and have restored our clear-minded, warm-hearted way of being in the world.

Those of us who have befriended these gentle, attentive and unhurried practices sometimes wonder how others make it through the day without them. These easy stretches and gentle movements - accompanied by patience and presence - become good friends that help us reclaim our steadiness and ease, each and every day.

Get full access to At Home in the World at claudiacummins.substack.com/subscribe