APRIL OM!
“A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimension. “
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Mindfulness is something we likely all have heard about but despite its many proven benefits may not have actively incorporated into our daily habit.
So What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is being aware of or bringing attention to this moment in time, deliberately and without judging the experience.
Mindfulness has 3 components:
1. Attention - highly focused
2. Awareness - both internal and external
3. Attitude - being open, curious and nonjudgemental
What are the benefits of mindfulness?
There are more than 10,000 published studies on mindfulness and mindful based therapies with MANY proven benefits including:
better sleep
improved immune function
increased grey matter density in the hippocampus and other areas of the brain
improved neural integration helping self-regulation, problem-solving and adaptive behavior
decreased anxiety, depression and pain
higher levels of energy and enthusiasm
greater ability to establish calm and focus
THE CHALLENGE
This month’s challenge is to incorporate a mindfulness exercise into your routine
Beginner level: try one mindfulness exercise this month
Intermediate level: try 5 different mindfulness exercises this month OR do the same exercise at least 5 times this month.
Advanced level: do a mindfulness exercise almost every day or shift this month
Want to learn more?
Copy this link to my google drive for lots of mindfulness resources
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PZGbHETxs8fp5SjQg_izmQKMF9NUqtEL/view?usp=sharing
Here’s a 3 minute mindfulness breath exercise:
Here’s a 5 minute mindfulness breath exercise:
Here’s a Body Scan mindfulness exercise:
Here’s a Kindness mindfulness exercise
Want to learn more about attention and the brain? Check out this TED talk by researcher Amishi Jah.
