what do you know about mindfulness?
What do you know about mindfulness? Do you even practice it?
This question was posed to me by a loved one recently, when I was explaining a new offering coming to m naturopath next month. I’ve been thinking about this question ever since, and this morning, walking along the beach it came to me. OF COURSE I know what mindfulness is. My practice may not be conventional, but boy oh boy do I practice it.
Mindfulness is defined as the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention to the present-moment experience without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or other training.
More often than not we get so caught up in how to do something, and forget to just do it.
For me mindfulness looks like
COOKING! This is one of my favourite ways to practice mindfulness. I know it’s not for everyone, I know people loathe it. But for me it’s the whole process, scouring cookbooks or recipes on line, writing a list, grocery shopping, following the steps (or not!) and creating a delicious and nutritious meal for myself or loved ones. For me it’s calming.
Music. My second love after cooking. Putting on your favourite tune or artist, and closing your eyes and enveloping yourself in the words and the music. Or driving in the car with the windows down and the music up loud and signing to your heart’s content.
Breath work. I honestly believe there is a magic in this process. Allowing yourself to reach calm through breath. Noticing how the air feels breathing in through your nose and breathing it out through your mouth. Following a count with the breath. Just sitting and being with yourself.
Meditation. I once did a six week introduction course to learn how to meditate and it was fabulous. I don’t practice much, but this tool is powerful. It is something I will work into my life this year.
Swimming. Be it laps, or floating in the ocean in calm waves, ducking under a more powerful wave and looking above to see the sky. This is one of my favourite ways to be with my breath, and just be in the moment.
Reading. Whilst it’s not conventional mindfulness, it is a calming process for me, an escape into another world where I can dim my thoughts.
It doesn’t matter how you practice mindfulness, it matters that you do it. I look forward to being more present with you all and creating a new offering for you this year, where mindfulness will be part of your treatment plan.
