Mindfulness doesn’t always mean meditation
Have you heard the term mindfulness recently? It’s been popping up in conversations a lot more in the last several months of the pandemic as we try to nurture our mental health in a mindful way.
Mindfulness looks different for each and every one of us. While mindfulness is rooted in meditation and breathing, it could be any number of things. For one person, it could be a fast-paced trail run. For another, it could be reading a book. For yet another, it could be painting or colouring.
Whatever your chosen activity, practicing mindfulness is a way to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. And then look at incorporating the breath.
While you’re out for your run, or reading your book, pay attention to what one, simple breath feels like.
Take a mindful breath
Notice the sensations of one breath...flowing in through your nose or mouth...
It touches the back of your throat, moving down your lungs and all the way to the bottom of the belly...
Slowly follow the breath as it moves up and out into the space where you are in this moment…
Maybe notice the tiny pause at the bottom of your in-breath and the tiny pause before you take another breath in…
Sometimes, the most important pause in any day is the rest we take between two breaths.
Mental Health Week
Mindfulness is just one of many ways you can practice self-care for Mental Health Week. Start by just recognizing how you feel and then consider opportunities to accept that feeling and find a way forward.
Not sure where to begin on the mindfulness front? We’ve compiled our top list of mindfulness activities! Let us know which is your favourite!
Paint/colour by numbers (not just for kids anymore, check out adult options online!)
Exercise
Healthy eating
Meditation
Yoga
Spend time outside
Deep breathing
Journaling