You’ve probably heard of Mindfulness, as it has gained popularity over the past few years, thanks to studies that show it has significant benefits to mental health. With SynxBody’s over-arching philosophy being that a healthy lifestyle leads to a happy mind, we practice what we preach with our team being mindful at work and at play, with some of us even meditating every morning!
In case you’ve missed the boat, here is everything you need to know about practicing mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the idea of being fully present and engaged in the moment, being aware of your thoughts and feelings without distraction or internal judgement. When we practice mindfulness, we are creating space for ourselves to think and breathe freely. Take our lovely Michelle as an example... she’s doing some soothing yoga in a park in between meetings... now she’s got the right idea!
You can practice mindfulness anywhere, anytime and you don’t need any equipment to start, all you need to do is take a seat or lie down in a quiet, calm place, set a time limit (if you’re just starting out, 5 or 10 minutes is perfect), close your eyes, feel your breath and focus on your breath as it goes in and out of your body, feeling the rise and fall of your chest.
Your mind will wander but when you notice it has wandered, bring it back to focus on your breath. A wandering mind during mindfulness is common and not something to judge yourself by, just bring your attention back and refocus on your breathing and remembering that mindfulness isn’t about turning off your thoughts.
Many studies show that practicing regular mindfulness can reduce stress, improve focus and boost memory.
There are a lot of great mindfulness apps that can help you, especially when you are starting out. They’re often guided and help you to stay focussed on your breathing. Our favourites are Headspace and Smiling Mind apps.
Why not try it today and see how quickly you’ll feel the benefits.
