Beginners Mindfulness The simple practice of mindfulness has been around for thousands of years; Mindfulness is meant to be simple, yet a profound way to live. So, what exactly is mindfulness and how do you apply it? Mindfulness is a specific form of meditation or simply put - awareness of the moment. Mindfulness involves directly participating in each moment as it occurs with complete awareness of your present experience. Life only exists in the Here and Now when practicing mindfulness.Some simple, but effective Mindfulness Exercises are: Candle Meditation - this is great when we need some peace and quiet and only needs a quiet, darkened room and a candle. Sit in a comfortable position and focus on the flame not pondering on the chemical reactions as the candle burns - but instead simply focus on the candle in a pure way. Eating Meditation - take a minute to savour the food we eat it. Look at the meal, smell it, feel the textures as we chew it and notice how it tastes. This exercise doesn’t have to be used through the whole meal - just occasionally. Take a Mindful break - instead of checking emails etc in our break, we should take some time to notice the sensations in our body and mind - listen to the sounds we can hear, feel our heart beating and be present in our body for a few moments, letting go of everything we are thinking about.
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Mindful walking - we can take at least 15 minutes a day to walk in a quiet, peaceful environment, listening to all the sounds around us and focusing on the present - focus on the thud of our feet on the ground and the rhythm of our breath. When we’re walking in the wood, we should listen to the birds chirping, the trees rustling and the leaves crackling under our feet. It is easier to focus on these simple sounds first when we have problems concentrating, focus on the feeling. There is a saying, “yesterday is in the past, tomorrow is the future but today, this precise moment, is a gift and that is why it is called the present.” This present is in our possession, but it has a rapidly approaching expiry date. If you can learn to enjoy all of it, that will be enough, and it will last your whole lifetime. Now, take a moment for a mindful break… Richard Welch www.richardsyoga.org
WOKINGHAM LOCAL • JAN / FEB 2022
