That’s right…you practice!  It’s like exercise. You can talk about it until the cows come home, but the cows will come home and you will see no change.

You don’t need to learn anymore, you don’t need to know anything special, you don’t need a special spot or place or time. You don’t need to be smart, healthy, young or relaxed. You don’t need to be able to meditate, you already can. You don’t need to empty your mind, that’s a myth. If you are alive and breathing you can do this. You just need to practice.  Mindfulness is 1% theory and 99% practice. Pattabhi Jois also said that about yoga 🙂

I have been to a lot of conference and workshops over my career and I have learned a lot. I have gained a lot of knowledge, facts, and useful information, tools and techniques. But unless I am a mindfully attuned, practicing therapist and yogi, it all means nothing. We need to be what we teach.  

Everyone has someone in their life who would benefit from mindfulness. But dragging them to a class or telling them to calm down… has it worked? Of course not because:

No-one in the history of being told to calm down and relax has ever calmed down and relaxed.  Am I right?

So, stop what you are doing. Pause. Take a deep breath. Now 2 or 3 more. Close your eyes (well, you can read ahead first) and without judgement, just notice:

How are you feeling?

How is your body today?

What is the feeling tone of your mind? Is it stressed and racing or at ease today? No judgement.

Breathe deeply. Feel into your body from your toes to your fingertips. Love this moment.

… and proceed from there. Have a wonderful day being you, in your body, breathing.

If you want more, try this short audio practice: It’s called the Three Minute Breathing Space but it’s actually 4 minutes: 

IMPORTANT: Mindfulness classes are changing from Thursdays to Tuesdays. There is NO class this Tuesday. We will break for a few weeks and then resume classes on Tuesday April 3rd. 12-1pm, Askews Community Room.

Warmly,

Madeleine