The Pause workshop is highly experiential and interactive. A number of simple and easy to do exercises have been developed to provide participants with the opportunity to re-connect and experience in their bodies the difference between pausing and not-pausing. The exercise below can give you a glimpse of the intricacy of the natural pause. Try it for yourself ..
EXERCISE: ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS
You are going to be asked a series of questions. Please answer each question†as FAST as possible: (make sure you answer and not simply think or read the questions) What is your name? Where do you live? What is the name of your father? What is the name of your mother?
OK Now lets repeat one more time. Give the answers aloud and fast. What is your name? Where do you live? What is the name of your father? What is the name of your mother?
Now lets try with one of the questions Maybe the last one:
What is the name of your mother? (ANSWER IMMEDIATELY)
Now one more time. (but this time wait for 10-15 seconds before you answer)
What is the name of your mother?. (WAIT A LITTLE) and then give the answer.
Did you notice any difference when you tried to answer immediately and when you waited for 10 seconds?
This exercise can be used with individuals or in group settings. The facilitator can ask the person to answer the question after he/she gives a signal with his/her hand. (holding a fist and releasing the fist in around 10 seconds)
With this exercise we can simply and easily feel with our bodies the distinction between responding quickly and pausing. We can experience the richness that emerges when we 'pause'. We can bodily sense the 'more' that the pause can naturally bring forward.