Think of mindfulness meditation as a brain gym. It is literally training your brain to be in the present moment, by focusing on your anchor point, which, for most people, is their breath. By Dr. Saliha Afridi The world that we live in today is not conducive to mental health or wellbeing. We are constantly bombarded with images and information through our multiple…
By Shilpa Dubey If you’re frequently feeling tired, overwhelmed, and emotionally drained, you may be suffering from mental fatigue. When left unchecked, persistent stress like this can result in burnout. And we want to avoid that stage. Because not only would our motivation levels, productivity, and performance decrease; even our symptoms would take a more physical nature, such as headaches, nausea,…
Creating a Family Mindfulness Practice Mindfulness, or the act of being fully present and accepting our own emotions without judgement, has been practiced for thousands of years. With roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, it’s often connected to meditation, yoga, and even spiritual enlightenment. And the benefits are wide-ranging: It can help rewire negative thought patterns, decrease stress levels, and increase…
By Gabrielle Garrett I see Ava Johanna, a spiritual business coach and meditation coach, on the other side of my Zoom screen. She looks like Malibu Barbie and has a charming, purposeful glow. As we begin our interview, her husband pops in and asks if she’d like a sandwich. She peers up and says, “Just a half one.” The ease with which she accepts…
BY SARAH DIGIULIO Twenty-twenty has been a lot to swallow. But in terms of how to cope and carry on, the best first step may indeed be accepting the realities we’ve faced, however difficult or grim. In Japan, the concept of acceptance is fundamental to the traditional culture. There are many Japanese words that translate to “acceptance” – “ukeireru” is just one of…
When we are fully present, we offer our whole selves to whatever it is that we are doing. Our attention, our integrity, and our energy are all focused in the moment and on the task at hand. This is a powerful experience, and when we are in this state, we feel completely alive and invigorated. This kind of aliveness comes…
5 Reasons to Practice Mindfulness in 2020 Of all the ancient and modern practices designed to wake us up, why has the simple practice of mindfulness and mindful meditation arrived at the forefront of our cultural sensibility? Why is it taking hold so strongly in our American health care, academic, and business institutions? What makes mindfulness so compelling, grabbing our…
3 Mindful Questions to Explore Every Day As you’re going about your day, putting out fires at work and home, trying not to freak out over the latest headline, it’s easy to spend your days unaware of what’s happening inside your own mind and body. It’s easy to overlook your physical sensations and thoughts. Because you’re trying to keep moving and…
The phone rings – again – just as you are starting to make progress on that project that’s been hanging over your head all week. It’s that boss (or coworker or client or customer) who just won’t leave you alone. You curse and answer with an abrupt, impatient “hello?” Your chest feels tight, your breathing gets short and shallow, and…
It is well-known that there are many benefits to having a regular yoga practice. We all have the best intentions for fitting yoga into our daily lives, but sometimes a busy life can get in the way. We are in all phases and walks of life, whether juggling work, school, kids, errands or household responsibilities and sometimes, yoga is the…
