What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.
Who can practice Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is for everyone parents, kids, young, adult, elderly people, working professional’s etc. Mindfulness is for all those who want to live emotionally balanced and focused life.
What are the benefits of Mindfulness?
Mindfulness improves well-being. Increasing your capacity for mindfulness supports many attitudes that contribute to a satisfied life. Being mindful makes it easier to savor the pleasures in life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in activities, and creates a greater capacity to deal with adverse events. By focusing on the here and now, many people who practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past, are less preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem, and are better able to form deep connections with others.
Mindfulness improves physical health. If greater well-being isn’t enough of an incentive, scientists have discovered that mindfulness techniques help improve physical health in a number of ways. Mindfulness can: help relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, , improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.
Mindfulness improves mental health. In recent years, psychotherapists have turned to mindfulness meditation as an important element in the treatment of a number of problems, including: depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, couples’ conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A greater connection with the body, thereby being able to act better in its interests.
Improved personal relationships, as mindfulness help place a check on automatic reactions; it also enables us to listen more effectively
A rise in productivity brought about by being able to deal with distractions more effectively.
Increased creativity brought about by being able to let go of doubts that otherwise might be a hindrance to creativity.
The Best Time to Practice Mindfulness
Mindful meditation can be practiced anytime and anywhere. You can begin with your mindful practice in between your work or while you are eating, bathing, dancing, singing or doing any other activity. Also, you do not necessarily have to sit in a cross-legged position. Just sit in any comfortable position but ensure that your spine is straight. If you are sitting on a chair, then your back should be straight, and your feet should lie straight on the ground. While sitting on the floor if you need some back support, you can put a pillow behind. Once you have chosen your comfortable position, focus on your breaths. If you can carry this out in between your work, you will be able to focus better.
You can also practice mindfulness in installments. For example, if you devote 10 minutes to mindfulness, then you can practice it 2 minutes in the morning, 3 minutes in between your work and so on. Just ensure that you do it with complete dedication to get the best results.
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