Mindfully Mortal or as seen on Jeopardy: "I will take thanatology for $500, Alex"

“How do I savor the time I have left?”

- Alex Trebek

Recently, Alex Trebek the long time host of the TV game show “Jeopardy” announced his terminal prognosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  With grace and courage, he has invited each of us to experience one of the most compelling questions his legacy could leave us: “How do I savor the time I have left?” Each of us must find an answer to this thanatological koan on our own.  Confronting death, coping with one’s aging process, pondering about our ever evolving world, and contemplating life’s purpose all can bring us to a place of deep existential sensitivity.  And gathering together to support one another in this self-inquiry can lead to some incredible discoveries. 

The upcoming workshop “Mindfully Mortal” focuses on just this search for a deeper understanding on living life fully with a key component being the courage to acknowledge impermanence.  While the workshop does not require any previous yoga experience, it will offer an experiential exploration of our somatic wisdom which arises when we contemplate our existence.  Insights from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book “No Death, No Fear”will be integrated into the yoga movement and breath practices.  And finally we will explore the power of deep relaxation in svasana (corpse) pose accompanied by Tibetan and Crystal singing bowls to serenade the mind/body/spirit into a intuitive state of understanding how eachprecious moment offers us the key to being mindful in our own mortality.  

Me: “Mr. Trebek, I will take “Mary Oliver for $300, please.”

Alex: “Let me answer this one for you…”Tell me, what are you is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Here is an update from Mr. Trebek where he offers his gratitude to the countless number of people his legacy has touched! 

Join Ken in the first MINDFULLY MORTAL workshop on Saturday, June 15th.  Click here for more details.