Dear Friend,

The other night, I was rocking my littlest one, Ruby, to sleep. Ruby has a classic second child energy. Confidence beyond her years, always down to party and as such, never quite ready to sleep.

With the freezing temperatures keeping us largely indoors lately, bedtime has stretched later and later... most nights 9pm has become the norm.

As I held her, I let out a big yawn. Right on cue, she looked up at me and asked, “You tiwahd (tired)?”

I smiled. “Yeah, mommy’s tired.”

Then, I got really curious. I thought about the long exhale of the yawn, similar to the “shush," and wonder why it wasn't working in that moment to calm her body down.

I decided to make a little game of it. As Dan Harris said recently, “Action absorbs anxiety.”

So I exaggerated my next yawn. Mouth wide, long sigh, fully committing. Ruby burst into giggles, nuzzled into my arms and copied me. We went back and forth, physically and audibly yawning together, for about 45 seconds.

And something shifted.

Don't get too excited, she didn’t fall asleep nearly soon enough after that...but Isoftened. My shoulders dropped. I wasn't thinking about national politics or my tax filing to do list. I was present and smiling. My breath slowed. And it got me thinking, why do we yawn?

Turns out that research suggests yawning isn’t just about being tired; it often shows up during transitions in alertness, when the nervous system is shifting states. In other words, yawning can be a sign that the body is recalibrating and moving toward regulation. Slow, deep breaths work similarly. They stimulate the vagus nerve, signaling safety to the brain. So recognizing and seeking even these brief moments of shared regulation with others can support the reduction stress and increase feelings of joy and connection.

That tiny moment with Ruby reminded me:

Our bodies are constantly telling us what we need: rest, air, reassurance, connection. Mindfulness helps us catch our minds up to those signals.

It also reminded me of what our team sees every day in Community Mindfulness Project's program shared circles.

When we create space for one another’s humanity: naming exhaustion, joy, fear, or grief...something powerful happens:

Nervous systems settle.

Shame loosens its grip.

People remember they are not alone.

As we reflect on this past year at Community Mindfulness Project, celebrating our joy and acknowledging our hardships, I’m struck again by how powerful and energizing it is simply to be witnessed with compassion.

👉 CMP's Year in Review

With gratitude for the kindness and presence of this community, we hope to see you soon,

Ella

What's Happening at Community Mindfulness Project

New:

1️⃣ Virtual 4 Week Course “Building Resilience through Self-Care & Compassion” (Mar-Apr only!)

2️⃣ Programs series for Parents in Norwalk(monthly) & New Canaan (Feb-May only!)

🌅 Coming soon: Interested in a “Good Morning” sunrise meditation? Automatically sign up for waitlist by clicking here!

Oldies but Goodies:

3️⃣ Sessions for folks who like weekly evening meditations

4️⃣ Sessions for Public Library lovers weekly Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk

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