What is Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness is an invitation to come back into the moment with a kind attention. It is the awareness that emerges through kindly paying attention to the unfolding of your moment- to- moment experience.
When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. This tuning is a whole body experience sensory experience that is not limited to the mind.
As we cultivate our ability to remain mindful without interfering, judging, avoiding, or clinging a wellspring of insight and wisdom has the chance to surface.
“Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and alive, body and mind united. Mindfulness is the energy that helps us to know what is going on in the present moment. I drink water and I know that I am drinking the water. Drinking the water is what is happening. Mindfulness brings concentration. When we drink water mindfully, we concentrate on drinking. If we are concentrated, life is deep, and we have more joy and stability.”
-Thich Nhat Hanh-
Developing a mindfulness meditation practice centers us in the wisdom and compassion of our true nature.
Can we learn to do just one thing in the age of short attention span and multi-tasking? What if uni-tasking was your goal?The goal was to be present with this moment and to return again and again with kindness to this moment. How would that change your life?
The mind is busy for everyone, it is a practice to take refuge on the inside and not hitch your well being to external factors.
Slowing down to be quiet and listen to your life is not what our American culture is modeling or respectful of.
We each know that what we practice grows stronger. We can train in prioritizing a state of being vs a constant state of doing. If you are practicing judgment, than your ability to judge self and others will get stronger. And If you are practicing mindfulness, your ability to kindly be in the moment your attention will get stronger.
The four main aspects of Mindfulness practice
- 1. Seeing things as they are-pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.
- 2. A willingness to be present with this moment
- 3. Noticing how things change from moment to moment
- 4. Cultivating a friendly kind and curious attention with yourself.
Why do you practice Mindfulness meditation? Your reason will be unique to you, but is beneficial to be clear about why you want to practice.
Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation
- -less mental reactivity, to feel calm.
- -to lower blood pressure or other health related concerns
- -to relax and feel happy
- -Reduce anxiety and depression swings
- -learning to not believe your thoughts
- -cultivating compassion for yourself and others.
- -seeing the beauty in others more easily
- -turning inward for peace vs outward for peace.
- -enjoying your life, just because.
- -freedom to have a choice in what you believe.
- -for insights and awakening to your deeper potential.
- -What is your reason??
We are all here for a reason. Sometimes we hide from ourselves. Mindfulness meditation is a practice that lifts the veil from your mind, so that you are able to truly know yourself and live the life that you are here to live.
In over 20 years of practice as healers, we have come to believe that Mindfulness meditation is the single most powerful tool to achieve and maintain peace and balance in the mind, body and soul. We hope you will join us in one of our classes or weekend retreats!
“The human mind can create conflict. It can create peace. To find peace in the world we must find peace in ourselves. There is no higher happiness than peace”