Happy Monday, everyone! At least the sun is shining, right?? As promised, I am posting up the information about the second Stress Management Series Session (Mindfulness) for your enjoyment and relaxation. I have also included some selected links and resources as requested, which are listed at the bottom of the post.
What is Mindfulness??
"the intentional, accepting, and non-judgmental focus of one's attention on the emotions, thoughts, and sensations occurring in the present moment."
Ok, so I am completely aware that, that can sound a little new-agey, hippy, vague, or just generally abstract. Think of it this way, being mindful is focusing on the present moment, and trying not to judge the circumstances. Much like a tree in a storm, mindfulness teaches us to be calm and steady even when surrounded by chaos. Our society has done an excellent job of pulling us away from this concept with constant connection to technology and increasing glorification of living in a very fast-paced way. Meditation is a great way to take a few minutes for yourself to practice being mindful, and you may be very pleased with the impact it has on your mood and life.
Regular meditation for only a few minutes a day (I am not talking about having to take an hour to set up candles, incense, and re-modeling an entire room with only silk pillows....unless that is your thing, by all means go ahead) has been shown to have the following positive effects:
marked & lasting decrease in overall stress
increased focus & mental clarity
freedom from detrimental thoughts (or a better ability to cope)
increased learning & memory
greater sense of calmness, well-being, and inner peace
We could all use a bit of those, huh?
How can I try it??
In the session that I lead, we did a few breathing exercises, a guided mindfulness meditation, and an imagery exercise. Now I know that imagery in a way takes us away from the present moment, but it is an excellent way for a person to get in touch with what relaxes them and take their mind off of stressful things.
Breathing Exercises:
1. Breathe in for a count of 5-6, breathe out for a count of 5-6. This simple counting exercise can keep your mind focused on slowing down the breath.
2.As you breathe in think of the word "let" and as you breathe out think of the word "go." The same can be done with "just, relax" or find your own mantra.
Guided Mindfulness Meditations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEzbdLn2bJc (5 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGZhGkfm9BQ (5 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmD9zFSTNwk (10 minutes)
You can find many more, with different lengths and focuses on youtube!
Guided Imagery Exercises:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIkJZ49DjIY (10 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBYYFbStfHM (4 minutes)
I hope some of these tips and examples help you to have a relaxing, stress-free, spring!
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