I love Spring it is my favourite season! Do you ever stop in the street to admire the wonderful gifts of nature at their best, when they return to life? I have to confess that I do, often several times a day :-) Well when we talk about Mindfulness in Yoga, this is the perfect example. Mindfulness is the simple practice of engaging all our senses and bringing full attention to whatever is there for us in the present moment.
How can Mindfulness help?
Practicing Mindfulness is a powerful tool that helps deal with the stress of everyday life, but it will also help you identify stress symptoms in your body, increase your awareness of stress “triggers”, stress-creating thoughts and their affect. We often under-estimate the extent of the sources of stress in life:
** Social – Relationships, Life Changes, Work
** Physical – Health Problems and Environmental
** Psychological – Intense Emotions
Of course, stress is not always a bad thing, stress can be a good thing (flight or fight response), stress can be energizing and challenging in a way that is motivating and useful. Stress only becomes problematic when it accumulates, takes our energy away and we become exhausted and depleted, sometime leading to serious health conditions. Symptoms of stress are very physical as well as psychological, involving the autonomic nervous, immune and endocrine systems. When a person is anxious they become preoccupied and distracted, thoughts become repetitive, automatic. Consequently our muscles tighten, sleep may be affected. Often we deal with stress in ways that are not helpful; we tend to “soldier on”, become focused on externals and unaware of the impact of stress on our body and mind, we may avoid exercise, drink too much coffee, alcohol, and eat poorly. Prolonged stress can predispose to depression, impact on physical health, work performance, safety and relationships.
How does Mindfulness work?
Practicing Mindfulness consists in bringing your attention on the sensations of the present moment, first focusing on the physical sensations of the body and the breath, and then over time with more practice, on the thoughts and the emotions. We simply observe, not judging or reacting, just sensing and accepting. As the mind settles into the moment, thoughts become just one sensation amongst others that come and go. We fall into a space where the body and mind ‘let go’ and relax, we are at ease in the moment. As we become familiar with this space it creates a place with-in, where we can be at ‘home’ with ourselves. Through regular practice we learn to manage day to day challenges and to regain calm and balance on a daily basis.
How is Mindfulness practiced?
Mindfulness can be practiced in day to day activities: while walking, running, gardening, sitting still or doing yoga! All it involves is paying attention to your experience from moment to moment. It is sometimes easier to experience Mindfulness after working your body as it can be conducive to move into relaxation poses after cardiovascular exertion. In that case combining yogic movement, breathing and Mindfulness is particularly helpful. But there are as many ways as there are people! You just need to be armed with discipline, perseverance and an open mind :-)
Practicing Mindfulness is like a breath of fresh air, offering you moments of peace in life. And if you can’t wait to start your journey, go for an evening stroll and… “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Source: www.homeofyoga.com
