Mindfulness Basics
Guided Meditation
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a mental training practice which allows you to interact with yourself and others in a more skillful way. This allows you to reduce stress and bring more joy and connection into your life.
The key to mindfulness is to be open to whatever unfolds moment by moment. And then developing an attitude of non-judgement and acceptance with the present moment thought, sensation or situation.
The idea is to not get overwhelmed with an unpleasant thought or physical pain, but also not deny the pain or suffering that may be part of the present moment experience. By developing an attitude of acceptance with the way things are, we can then cultivate a skillful response to the situation rather than react habitually.
Why do it?
Improves focus, attention. Better grades at school, better job performance
Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
Facilitates positive behavior change
Opens the gateway to awareness, compassion, and inner peace
You can start off with simple breathing exercises, such as belly breathing
Click on the link below for a short video on the practice of Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness can be practiced on the cushion, while washing dishes, being in nature… You can listen to music or weed your flower garden mindfully. The key is to be in the present moment and completely open to what is happening in the present moment.
What can help?
Mindfulness Apps: Calm, Headspace, Balance
Learning from others: Guided Mindfulness Meditation bimonthly: https://embeelifestyledocs.com/events/#meditation
Online meditation course: MBSR Training at the UMASS Center for Mindfulness — Online 8 week course
Immersive meditation retreat: https://siri.dhamma.org/