Your Stories: June 2011

When did you first start practicing mindfulness and why were you motivated to do so?

Koichi: Looking back, I started mindfulness when I started martial arts in my early 20’s. I studied Shorinji Kempo in San Diego and learned how to listen to my breath and pay attention to how my body moves when under stressful situations (like punches and kicks coming your way). I was motivated to be more aware to be able to be a more effective at sparring. My reasons for practicing mindfulness has expanded a little since becoming a new parent with Lisa.