Mindfulness – What? Why? and How?
In my earlier blog about stress and anxiety, I mentioned that mindfulness can be a useful practice to help with the effects of these issues. We hear a lot about mindfulness, and I just wanted to take a closer at the practice, thinking about what it is, the possible benefits and how it can be achieved.
Mindfulness is a state of awareness achieved through mental practice which involves paying deliberate attention, in a non-judgemental way, to the present moment. When being mindful we are fully engaged and although our minds may wander, we bring them back to the present moment.
When practiced regularly, mindfulness can:
promote relaxation by reducing the impact of stressful thoughts.
lead to improved emotional regulation which can help with issues such as anxiety, depression and even addiction.
enhance focus and concentration. By improving the ability to stay focused the mind is trained to reduce distractions.
improve relationships by encouraging active listening and being fully focused and present. The quality of some relationships can be improved.
lead to greater self-awareness by being more in touch with our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, this can lead to personal growth.
help us enhance our overall wellbeing by appreciating the simple joys of life, finding contentment in the present moment.
Some studies even suggest that our perception of pain can be altered through mindfulness, and this may help people suffering with chronic pain.
So how do we ‘do’ mindfulness? Mindfulness can be achieved by practicing meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga or Tai Chi, as a few examples, where the mind is fully concentrating on the task at hand. Mindfulness can also be achieved by more everyday activities such as knitting or just walking in the countryside. The key is to practice regularly and develop a non-judgemental and accepting attitude to your experiences.
Mindfulness can be a valuable tool to manage the challenges of daily life, promoting mental and emotional well-being.
Further resources:
Meditation
There is lots of information about mindfulness, meditation and, breathing exercises on the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-wellbeing-tips/
Another resource is Headspace, they have a really useful app which, again, has lots of information about mindfulness and includes some guided meditations and tools to promote sleep. They charge but there are various plans available, and they offer a free trial period.
https://www.headspace.com
Yoga
There are numerous places to find a yoga class that suits you in Surrey. Try looking at www.yogahub.co.uk to find a comprehensive list.
Tai Chi
There are also several places in Surrey that offer Tai Chi classes. Surrey County Council offer a course for beginners as part of their adult learning programme:
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/adult-learning/courses/overview?id=32464
Knitting
Finally, if knitting is something that you’re interested in, then have a look at this site which lists several groups in and around Surrey.
http://www.ukhandknitting.com/why-belong-to-a-group/knitting-groups?f=&c=31&p=1