If you are looking for an article that will tell you that mindfulness will fix all your problems… we’re afraid you’ve come to the wrong place. Neither will we tell you that by practicing mindfulness, you will stop overthinking and never feel anxious again. However… we are here to share with you how living more mindfully can bring so many good things into your life… and 5 signs to look out for that may show you how much you really need it.
Do you feel anxious often and feel like you are never really present in your day to day life? Too caught up in negative thoughts about the past and worrying about the future?
You are definitely not alone.
Here are 5 signs that you might need more mindfulness in your life.
1. You worry about the past and things that can’t be changed
Do you obsess about things that happened in the past? Are you an over-thinker? Practicing mindfulness will bring your mind back to the present moment and teach you to start letting go of things that can’t be changed. No point getting caught up in past regrets right?
2. You’re fearful about the future
Are you constantly worried about what could happen? It can be quite easy to fall into this thought cycle. But what’s the use of worrying about things that are completely out of your control. This will lead to never really enjoying the present moment because you are too occupied worrying about the future.
3. You don’t allow yourself to enjoy pleasant moments
If you’re feeling happy and enjoying a moment, do you find it hard to just be happy and present because you’re worried about when the happiness and pleasant experience will come to an end? This can be so exhausting. Being mindful will teach you to actually enjoy the happy moments in your life.
4. Your thoughts race at night
Do you lie in bed at night, mind racing, finding it hard to fall asleep, and have a restful night? Do you feel like your mind just can’t shut off and you’re constantly analysing all your problems and thoughts, trying to solve everything?
5. You can’t do nothing
Do you feel guilty when you are not ‘busy’, and need to be constantly occupied and doing something? Do you find it hard to rest and take time for yourself? Mindfulness is a great practice to that will help you to slow down and release the pressure to be ‘on the go’ all the time.
You’ll be surprised at how beneficial being more mindful is on your general wellbeing. Several studies have showed that mindfulness reduces rumination (over-thinking), reduces stress, decreases anxiety, negative affect, and emotional reactivity, increases our attention and cognitive flexibility and improves our relationships.
Being mindful allows you to experience your life as it happens, rather than as a collection of memories or future concerns.
If practiced regularly, it actually has the potential to change your brain. It can help to achieve growth of new neural networks in the brain, essentially rewiring your brain to find better and new ways to handle tasks and cope with stress and emotions.
But like with anything, it is a practice that you need to work on every day, and yes, some days may feel more challenging than others. Slowly slowly though, as you start practicing mindfulness techniques more, it will become more natural to you and easier to tap into. It really does become a ‘way of life’.
Here are our top practices that will help you on your mindfulness journey:
1. Practice Meditation
Even just 10minutes a day can have a tremendous benefits. Meditation will help you gain a new perspective on stressful situations, increase self-awareness, help you focus on the present, and help reduce negative emotions. If you are new to meditation and would like a private session to help get you started, we offer private meditation at our wellness centre.
2. Join a weekly yoga class
Practicing mindfulness on the yoga mat will help to integrate your body and mind. When you coordinate movement with the breath, paying attention to the sensations in your body as you move, completely feeling the experience in that moment without judgement or expectations, respecting your boundaries with self-compassion and kindness – yoga becomes a mindful practice in itself. View our weekly yoga classes here.
3. Daily body scan
Adding a body scan to your daily routine will help you tune into your body, to reconnect to your physical self and notice any sensations you are feeling without judgement. Developing greater awareness of bodily sensations can help you feel more connected to your physical self and gain greater insight into potential causes of unwanted feelings.
4. Float
A float tank, in our opinion, is one of the most perfect places to practice mindfulness… because you are guaranteed no distractions. And the environment inside the float tank naturally promotes a meditative state. When in this state of deep relaxation, all of the thoughts and worries that usually occupy our mind fade into the distance. When we feel less and are less stressed by these thoughts, we become more and more comfortable in the present moment. Here small things can make us feel very good. Even our breath and small movements of our body become very enjoyable. Without tension it is much easier for us to connect to ourselves. And from this connection comes a sense of peace and feeling of inner satisfaction. You can read more about our float tank here.
5. Join a Tea Ceremony
A tea ceremony ritual is a practice of sitting in silence, drinking many cups of tea, that is prepared and poured in a special way. It’s a simple and mindful practice that will put attention onto your different senses, and really allow you to be in the present moment. Holding and feeling the warm tea bowl with both hands, listening to gentle music in the background, watching the steam of the hot water evaporate from the kettle, smelling the burning palo santo, tasting the earthy flavour of the tea. Joining a tea ceremony will really help to just be in the moment.. something that we very rarely get the chance to do. It is an experience of simple yet profound meditation. We hold tea ceremonies using the highest quality organic puerh healing teas at Sanya. You can view our events here.
6. Massage
When the mind is at rest and focused on the sensations and details of the moment, such as the aromatic oils in the air, the soothing motions of the masseur, and even the rise and fall of air entering and exiting the lungs, the body easily enters a deeper state of calm that can bring about relaxed physiological functions. This is especially beneficial if the mind is in a constant state of stress and anxiety symptomatic of modern lifestyles.
As you spend time practicing mindfulness, you’ll probably find yourself feeling kinder, calmer, and more patient. These shifts in your experience are likely to generate changes in other parts of your life as well.
Just remember to constantly check in with your body and mind, be aware and stop yourself when your mind starts to wander to the past or future… bring it back to the present moment.. and don’t forget to breathe.
We have a great package on offer at the moment, that will help you be more mindful, as well as help the body release any build up of stress & anxiety, by calming the nervous system and being present. The package includes an 85min Abhyanga Massage, 60min Float Session & 30min Private Meditation/Breathing Session, where you will also learn some mindfulness techniques that you can continue practicing at home. Request offer here.
