Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the act of being present and engaged in the moment, free of distraction or judgement, and fully conscious of our thoughts and feelings. When we teach our minds to be more present, we are teaching ourselves to slow down, seperate ourselves from stressful thoughts and reactions, and to live each moment with a complete awareness of our current environment.
There are many ways in which we can practice mindfulness in our day to day lives.
Breathwork
Breathwork is an incredible tool that we can use to quieten the mind and quickly bring us into a meditative state. It is a very powerful practice, and when consistent with it, we can notice a huge shift in our state of being. We are all born with the natural, subconscious instinct to inhale and exhale, but it takes practice, concentration and skill to get slower, deeper and really connect with our breath. When we can observe our breath, sense it, return to it, and eventually gain control over it, we can unlock it’s remarkable power.
Meditation
The first step to meditating is to just start. To create the routine, it’s helpful to put aside some time each day to sit and be still- even just a few minutes can make a difference. Meditation practise is a tool that we can use to bring ourselves back to the present in overwhelming and stressful situations. Mindfulness meditation isn’t about letting our thoughts run rampant and it’s purpose isn’t to empty the mind. Instead, the practise involves paying close attention to the present moment- especially our own thoughts, emotions, sensations, and whatever may be happening around us. Focusing on what we can think, feel, and sense in any given moment allows us to feel more grounded, less consumed by overwhelming feelings, and in control.
Yoga
Mindfulness is considered an essential aspect of the practise of yoga. Bringing mindful awareness into any physical activity creates a heightened awareness to exactly what we are doing in the moment. When we focus on the present moment whilst doing yoga, we are able to combine physical alignment and movement with a unique form of meditation. Whilst we pay close attention to the movements of our body, also observing our thoughts, feelings, and breath whilst doing so can significantly reduce our stress and help us feel centred.
Beach
One of the best things about practising mindfulness is that it can be achieved almost anywhere. One of the greatest places to do so is at the beach. Mindfulness activities discussed above, such as breathwork, meditation, yoga, and so on, can all be practised at the beach in order to heighten our awareness and get more in touch with our senses by engaging in the environment around us. For example, tasting the saltiness of the ocean, feeling the sand beneath our feet, hearing the wind and the waves. Acknowledging each of our senses in a certain environment is a quick way to become present and disengage from any feelings of worry and stress. Another great mindfulness tool at the beach is to revel in sunrises and sunsets. It’s not only beautiful to the mind visually, but it allows us to engage with the present moment as we watch the day begin or end, observe the colours and the patterns, notice our thoughts, and so on.
Walking
The practice of mindful walking is the opportunity to give ourselves a break from the constant mental chatter. We actively arrive in the present moment with each step we take- connecting with our breath, the sensations in our body, the fresh air, and the nature that surrounds us in the environment.
Mindful Eating
Put down your phone, turn off the television, sit down at the table without any distractions and fully focus on the food you are about to eat. Practising mindfulness when eating means not only knowing the food you are consuming but being engaged in the whole process- feeling the taste and texture, observing how you chew, noticing the emotions or thoughts that may arise and how they change as you eat your meal. When we are fully aware of the experience of eating a meal, we can also learn to appreciate and enjoy the act of eating.
