Presence: April 2026
Practicing Presence at Moonflower Yoga & Ayurveda Studio in Brookfield
I spent Sunday afternoon with Daisy, a sweet and sassy Labrador puppy new to my extended family.
On a day I needed it most, Daisy reminded me to settle into the present.
My mind has been popping off lately—
never-ending to-do lists, decision making, planning for the future.
This weekend, Daisy became a metaphor for my mind:
her zoomies,
her constant desire to play,
her curiosity taking her in all directions.
Watching her, I noticed how gently she needed to be guided back:
Back to the yard,
back to her play pen,
back to rest.
Not forced or scolded. Just gently redirected.
And maybe my mind isn’t so different.
“Treat your mind like you would a puppy. When it runs off, gently call it back.”
— Jack Kornfield
This is the practice of presence: not keeping the mind perfectly still or getting it “right.”
But noticing when it runs off—and calling it back. Again and again.
Everyday Practice
There are so many ways to practice presence in our daily lives.
Arriving to your yoga mat
and allowing the practice to become a moving meditation.
Creating space
to sit quietly for three minutes and trace the natural rhythm of your breath.
Walking slowly, feeling each step.
Resting in savasana, noticing the subtle rise and fall of the body.
Or simply— washing the dishes without rushing, noticing the scent of the soap, feeling the warmth of the water.
Presence in Spring
Nature is one of our greatest, constant teachers of presence. As we move deeper into spring, presence lives in the quiet shifts around us.
Spring doesn’t rush. It unfolds:
The light lingering a little longer.
The first signs of green returning.
The warmth of the sun on your skin.
We’re invited to notice the gentle shifts of spring, to notice the subtle changes between the days. To practice presence with Mother Earth.
When Presence Feels Difficult
And still—
The practice of presence isn’t always as simple as it seems.
There are moments when we arrive in the present and don’t like what we find.
A heavy thought that won’t let go.
A body that feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar.
A season of life that feels uncertain or difficult.
“I’m not asking you to like the present moment; I’m just asking you to notice it. ”
— Judith Hanson Lasater
And that’s where the practice reveals itself.
Presence is becoming a witness to yourself.
Meeting yourself just as you are.
Becoming compassionately aware of sensations in the body, the breath, the mind.
Watching these sensations as they ebb and flow.
Noticing when the mind wanders.
And gently calling the mind back to the present moment–to yourself–again and again.
Returning
This month, whether you’re drawn to presence or resisting it entirely, may you practice returning.
Gently.
Patiently.
Like calling a puppy back home.
Again and again.
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu ~ May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
With compassion,
Katie