Juggling - Ice Cream for the Soul by Joy Koenig, MD - Personal Growth, Wellness, Healthy Lifestyle, Meditation, Inspiration

JUGGLING FOR JOY
CATEGORY

        Meditation Game

DESCRIPTION

        Teach yourself how to juggle -- the floating bags become the mental focus point .

INSTRUCTIONS

        Once you learn how to keep the objects in the air, juggling becomes a form of moving meditation similar to Tai Chi. Make your own bean bags by painting words and pictures on them. Choose words and images that match what you want to juggle into your life, or what you want to learn how to juggle more efficiently. Let your spirit help you find more time for that new boyfriend or wood shop class, or even help you juggle more assertiveness into your behavior.

        Basic Juggling Instructions:

        Choose objects that fit easily into your hand. Make sure they will not break, cause a mess, or harm yourself or others when dropped (notice I said, when not if!) Bean bags work best. You can try tangerines, but I find they start making a mess after awhile. Another option is rolled baby socks. If you can't grasp well, use bean bags. With a little practice, you can balance them on the back of your hands instead of gripping them.

        Practice some of the basic steps before trying to juggle multiple objects. For instance, toss one object repeatedly back and forth between your hands. Then, try the same thing but with two objects. Get comfortable with two objects before adding a third.

juggling

        Remember to keep your hands at waist level, while keeping your point of focus at eye level (the top of the object's arc). See, juggling helps you keep your chin up -- physically, emotionally and spiritually! If you find yourself running forward all the time, add training wheels by standing in front of a wall. The wall with gently push the objects back to you. Remember that juggling involves patience. You need to wait for the object to come back to your waist-level hand, rather than reach up and grab for it.

        Want to make this even more prayerful? Use the lazy way to learn. Practice on your knees and you won't have to reach so far to pick up the ones you drop. If you have a physical disability that keeps you in a wheelchair, you can make the objects easier to retrieve if you practice this skill while in the bathtub. Consider using objects that are light and that float.

JOY'S JOURNEY

        I learn best by watching then doing, so I found a friend to show me the basics. However, if you learn well from reading step-by-step directions, there are books that come complete with bean bags. The world wide web has many web sites devoted to juggling, including some with instructions and listings of local juggling clubs that offer lessons.

        I admit that I've not mastered this skill yet. Okay, I haven't even gotten beyond two rotations. Sometimes the fun is in the failure, though. It has been more than a little amusing to notice which word I drop. Some days, I keep dropping the same word. Very interesting, indeed!

QUOTES

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling
some five balls in the air.
Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back.
Family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass.
If you drop one of these they will never be the same.
Brian Dyson, CEO Coca Cola Company
(paraphrased)

Dr. Joy is available to present playful workshops (playshops) at your corporate training retreat, non profit organization gathering, or club membership meetings. She is located in Denver, Colorado, and travels throughout the US to deliver Serious Fun ™ Programs for personal growth, wellness, and inspiration. Please see the program pages for details and contact information.

This playful meditation activity is COPYRIGHTED. If you are a professional trainer, coach, human resources person, counselor, or therapist it is not ethical nor legal for you to use it or share it with your clients or those you supervise/train as part of your job. See the copyright notice on the front page of this e-book. Remember, character is what you do when no one is looking. Please take the high road, and pay me appropriately to use these materials professionally, even if you work for a church, school, non-profit or the government.