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And the rest really will follow.
For many, the term “mindfulness” brings to mind ancient yogis sitting in lotus pose Ommm-ing. While this interpretation may seem very far away from your current state of being, mindfulness is a practice everyone, and I mean everyone, can and should adopt into their daily lives. (No flexibility or chanting needed!). Let’s be clear: mindfulness is not meditation. However, meditation is a form of mindfulness.
When we practice mindfulness, we are doing something with intention. If we’re cooking, we feel the knife slicing through the vegetables, smell the sizzling garlic and onions hitting the heated pan. If we’re painting, we feel the paint brush in our grasp, the tip as it makes contact with the canvas, take in the vibrancy of the colours. Mindfulness is the exact opposite of zoning out within your thoughts, or multi-tasking. It is one thing at a time, with your full focus and energy. The most common excuse to not practice mindfulness is “My thoughts are too busy.” If you’re not thinking, you’re dead. Your brain is designed to think! However, we can learn to control our thoughts, which will lead to higher levels of concentration, help relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, and improve sleep. Because don’t we all want to live a little easier?
Photo by Trevor Drudge
Try incorporating mindfulness into one or more of these areas of your life: Eating: Turn off the TV and put down your phone. Focus on the taste, texture, and temperature of your meal. Gauge your level of hunger. Walking, running or working out: Notice how your body feels both before and after your session. Be aware of your breathing, the effort your muscles dispense. Feel the contact of your feet against the ground. Painting or drawing: A personal favourite. Become aware of the pencil or brush in your hand. Let the lines and colours move fluidly. Spend the time to build up contrast, texture and details. Yoga: This one may seem obvious, but there’s a huge difference between casual stretching and a yoga practice (and it’s not just the length of the session). With yoga, we focus on how our breath affects our movement, so tap into what the inhale and exhale does for the depth of your stretch.
Photo by Trevor Drudge
What can you do today to bring more attention and awareness to your activity, body and breath? Close all the open tabs in your brain, and give it a try. Don’t be surprised if it’s not “easy” the first time – training the mind takes practice just like training your muscles. Keep coming back!
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Rachel Henry
Rachel Henry is our guest blogger.
Main Photo by Trevor Drudge
Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
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