5 Practical Places To Practice Mindfulness

In this busy world, the mind is constantly under pressure from external sources, disrupting our thoughts and emotions which can leave us feeling stressed and at times quite anxious.

Most of us don’t or won’t make five minutes to sit down and relax, let alone 30 minutes or more for a meditation session. But it is essential for our mental and physical well-being to take a few minutes each day achieve a positive mind-body balance.

So if you are a busy bee like me, try using these places to find some calm amidst the chaos of your normal day.

1 In the shower – The shower is the perfect place to start your daily mindfulness routine, as you have privacy and some peace and quiet. Pay attention to the feeling of the water pouring over and down your body. Listen to the sound. Breathe in deeply and let the steam clear your airways. Now is also a good time to do a full body scan. Start at your feet and working slowly upwards, pay attention to each and every individual body part.

2 A mindful Journey – While driving, switch off your talk radio or music and experience the silence. You may feel like something is missing at first, but you’ll soon learn that the silence can  give you an opportunity to fill your awareness with other perceptions, some of which are rewarding. This should leave you calmer and more focused.

3 At the end of your work day – Pay attention and enjoy the walk to your car or bus. Breath in the crisp or warm air. Listen to the world around you. Try to slow down and walk at a pace where you aren’t rushing. This is a great way of relieving tension that may have built up during your working day.

4 In conversation – Become a better listener. When engaged in a conversation, really listen! Notice if you find yourself wanting to prematurely end a conversation. Focus on where your mind is – are you thinking about something else? We have a tendency to think about everything but what a person is telling us while conversing. Make an effort to fully listen and then respond mindfully.

5 While exercising – Whether you’re running, lifting weights or in a yoga class try to be fully in the present moment– not thinking about what you’re going to do after you exercise or how you look compared to others around you. Try to focus completely on yourself. Everything else can wait. Bring awareness to your breath and the physical capabilities of your body. Feel every stretch and commit to giving every move your all.

Join Sophia Pallaro who will host a 4 weeks course on a ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ starting Thursday February 18th. This course will explore different mindfulness practices that can help us be more present in and aware of ourselves and our surroundings.

Here’s a guided 5 minute mindful mediation to get you started: