What Is Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness meditation is the practice of being aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment, thought to create a feeling of calm.
Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing. A daily practice of mindfulness meditation can help to ease stress, anxiety and depression.
How Do I Do It?
Mindfulness meditation involves sitting silently and paying attention to thoughts, sounds, the sensations of breathing or parts of the body, bringing your attention back whenever the mind starts to wander. Follow these simple steps:
Find A Quiet Space
It’s best to practice mindfulness meditation in a quiet, solitary environment. It will help your mind to take in the moment.
Decide How Long
You’ll need to set aside 10-30 minutes for your meditation. If you’re not following along with a pre-recorded guided meditation, set a timer to prevent you from wondering how long you’ve been meditating.
Get Comfortable
Get into a comfortable position that’ll allow you to focus on your meditation.
Find Your Breath
Before you begin your meditation, close your eyes and just listen and feel your breath. This gives your brain the signal that you’re ready to be calm, relaxed and focused. Just breathe normally and experience it.
Watch Your Thoughts
During your meditation, you may find yourself experiencing many thoughts and feelings. Observe them like clouds passing in the sky, you are training your brain to see them come and go.
Return To Your Breath
When you feel yourself getting distracted by your thoughts, simply return back to the rhythm of your breath that you observed at the beginning of your meditation.
Practice Everyday
The more you practice mindfulness meditation, the better you’ll get and the more you’ll benefit. Morning mindfulness meditation tells your brain how you’d like to handle the day ahead. Evening mindfulness meditation helps your brain detach from the day and stay in the present moment.
Photographs of Flora at The Buddhapadipa Temple; 14 Calonne Road, Wimbledon SW19 5HJ
Find out about the meditation activities at Wat Buddhapadipa here >.
Written by Flora Firth
Instagram: @feelgoodflora
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About The Author
Flora Firth
Flora is on her wellness journey and hopes to encourage you to join her. She’s proud to be voicing the importance of mind health in a world where we’re striving for unrealistic perfection.