Workshop 6: Body Practices

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Spirit in Practice: Ten Workshops for Unitarian Universalist Adults

In This Section

Introduction
From Spirit in Practice

Embodied spirituality views all human dimensions—body, vital, heart, mind, and consciousness—as equal partners in bringing self, community, and world into a fuller alignment with the Mystery out of which everything arises. Far from being an obstacle, this approach sees the engagement of the body…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Spirit in Practice

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Sharing Names 5 Activity 2: The Story of Mind Meets Body 10 Activity 3: Body Practices Brainstorm 10 Activity 4: Moving Meditation 10 Activity 5: Mindful Eating 15 Closing 5 Alternate Activity 1: Body Practice Demonstration 30…
Spiritual Preparation
From Spirit in Practice

Leaders are encouraged to prepare for the workshop not only by gathering supplies and reviewing the workshop’s activities, but also by engaging in a body practice….
Welcoming and Entering
From Spirit in Practice

Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet (see Preparation) Pen or pencil Name tags Bold markers Copies of Spirit in Practice Series Schedule (see Preparation) Group guidelines listed on newsprint or a digital slide (see Preparation) Workshop agenda listed on newsprint or a digital slide (see…
Opening
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Matches or lighter Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the UUA hymnbook (one per person) Optional: A piano, guitar, or other form of accompaniment Optional:…
Activity 1: Sharing Names
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Optional: Microphone (preferably cordless) Preparation for Activity Be sure that participants have made name tags. If they have not, you may pass around name tag materials while participants introduce themselves. Description of Activity Introduce…
Activity 2: The Story Of Mind Meets Body
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Story 1: Mind Meets Body (one copy for leader, plus several copies for participants who may wish to read along) Optional: Microphone Optional: Pulpit or lectern Optional: Bell Preparation for Activity Review the story in advance so that y…
Activity 3: Body Practices Brainstorm
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint Markers Easel Masking tape (or other means for posting sheets of newsprint) Optional: Microphone Description of Activity Invite the group to brainstorm ways in which the body can be an integral part of spiritual practice….
Activity 4: Moving Meditation
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Recorded music (see Preparation) Music player with speakers Bell Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Select music for use in this activity. Choose something up to five minutes in length that is accessible to adults of all ages. The music…
Activity 5: Mindful Eating
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Two types of fruits or vegetables (see Preparation) Cutting board and knife Trays or plates for serving Newsprint sheet(s) with list of body practices from Activity 3 Marker Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Check in with participants…
Closing
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Altar or centering table Cloth for covering altar or centering table Chalice and candle Chalice extinguisher Copies of the customized Taking It Home handout (see Preparation) Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Review the Taking It Home…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Spirit in Practice

After the workshop, co-leaders should make a time to get together to evaluate this workshop and plan future workshops. Use these questions to guide your shared reflection and planning: What were some of our favorite moments of the workshop? What were some of our most challenging moments?…
Alternate Activity 1: Body Practice Demonstration
From Spirit in Practice

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Special equipment as needed (see Preparation) Optional: Microphone Preparation for Activity Several weeks in advance, contact a participant in the group, or someone from the congregation or wider community, who is experienced in a body practice suc…
Taking It Home: Body Practices
From Spirit in Practice

Follow these tips for using your body as part of your spiritual regimen: Move. This means more than just exercise. Look for every opportunity to put your body into motion—to walk, dance, run, jump, stretch, reach. Move as much as your spirit and physical abilities allow. Use your senses….
Mind Meets Body
From Spirit in Practice

Once upon a time there was a head. Just a head. By sheer force of will—or maybe it was some kind of psychokinetic energy—the head was able to move itself around, open doors, pick things up. In fact, the head could do just about anything you or I can do.
Find Out More
From Spirit in Practice

Practicing Our Faith, the website connected to Dorothy Bass’s book, Practicing Our Faith. Includes sections on honoring the body, healing, and dying well. Alexander, Scott, ed. https://books.google.com/books?id=JTj3qkmoBAQC&pg=PP6&lpg=PP6&a… Little Book of Wholeness and Prayer: An Eight-Week…

Download all of Spirit in Practice (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 6: Body Practices

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