"The challenge is that because we are human beings living in society we’re influenced and conditioned by all kinds of forces that can lead to us developing biases that are particularly destructive… and that cut us off from wholeheartedly connecting to others." ~Alison Cohen, MST and Certified Mindfulness Teacher/School Coach Join The OHMazing® Way podcast creator, producer and host, Beth Reese, PhD, E-RYT, RCYT, YACEP, and guest Alison Cohen, MST and Certified Mindfulness Teacher / School Coach, in conversation and practice with the critically important and meaningful topic of implicit bias. Alison first leads us through clear and concise definitions and examples of bias, explicit bias, and implicit bias. After skillfully laying a foundation, she then offers suggestions and leads practices to support us in increasing awareness of our own biases so that we can curate the wholehearted lives we wish to create. "In terms of implicit bias, research has shown there are really only a few ways currently to work with it meaningfully. One of those, interestingly enough, is loving kindness practice, as well as mindfulness meditation." ~Alison Cohen, MST and Certified Mindfulness Teacher/School Coach Connect with Alison: Email: alisonc@soundstrue.com Web: www.mindfulchangefromtheinsideout.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisonecoh Twitter: @1984AliCo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohenalison/ Connect with Beth: Email: elizabeth@yoginos.com Web: www.yoginos.com Facebook: personal: www.facebook.com/elizreese Facebook: Yogiños: Yoga for Youth®: www.facebook.com/yoginos/ Instagram: yoginosyogaforyouth: www.instagram.com/yoginosyogaforyouth Twitter: @yoginos: twitter.com/Yoginos LinkedIn: Beth Reese, PhD
"The challenge is that because we are human beings living in society we’re influenced and conditioned by all kinds of forces that can lead to us developing biases that are particularly destructive… and that cut us off from wholeheartedly connecting to others."
~Alison Cohen, MST and Certified Mindfulness Teacher/School Coach
Join The OHMazing® Way podcast creator, producer and host, Beth Reese, PhD, E-RYT, RCYT, YACEP, and guest Alison Cohen, MST and Certified Mindfulness Teacher / School Coach, in conversation and practice with the critically important and meaningful topic of implicit bias. Alison first leads us through clear and concise definitions and examples of bias, explicit bias, and implicit bias. After skillfully laying a foundation, she then offers suggestions and leads practices to support us in increasing awareness of our own biases so that we can curate the wholehearted lives we wish to create.
"In terms of implicit bias, research has shown there are really only a few ways currently to work with it meaningfully. One of those, interestingly enough, is loving kindness practice, as well as mindfulness meditation."
~Alison Cohen, MST and Certified Mindfulness Teacher/School Coach
One of the mindfulness tools Alison shares is a practice known as HALT. HALT stands for:
H: hungry
A: angry
L: lonely
T: tired
While the origination of this may be from Alcoholics Anonymous, neuroscientists, like Dr. Dan Siegel, recommend this practice for parents and others. Using HALT can be integrated into daily living in a myriad of ways. For example, before picking up your kids from school or entering a personal or professional conversation, pause and scan the mind and body for signs of being hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Without making yourself right or wrong, notice if any of those exist. If one or more do, name a way you can take care of yourself in the next moments so that you cultivate responses instead of habitual reactions. When you notice one or more of the "HALTs", a practice could be to pause and notice the breath, then feet, then belly, then hands. You might also choose to name aloud what you’re experiencing and share what you need before moving forward: In this moment I want to name that I notice I am tired and would like ________ (ie, to get some water, have a hug, take a walk, etc) before we continue.
"What we are really talking about is love. And what are the barriers to really loving each other…. And if some of those barriers come from what we’ve breathed in and what’s been imprinted—the thumbs of culture—then each of us can make a courageous commitment to chip away at those in the name of love, connection, and ultimately what comes to mind, both individual and collective liberation."
~Alison Cohen, MST and Certified Mindfulness Teacher/School Coach
Connect with Alison:
Email: alisonc@soundstrue.com
Web: www.mindfulchangefromtheinsideout.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisonecoh
Twitter: @1984AliCo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohenalison/
Connect with Beth:
Email: elizabeth@yoginos.com
Web: www.yoginos.com
Facebook: personal: www.facebook.com/elizreese
Facebook: Yogiños: Yoga for Youth®: www.facebook.com/yoginos/
Instagram: yoginosyogaforyouth: www.instagram.com/yoginosyogaforyouth
Twitter: @yoginos: twitter.com/Yoginos
LinkedIn: Beth Reese, PhD