Neighbors of East Windsor Article: Tips For Being Mindful
By: Tracey L. Ulshafer, Owner, One Yoga & Wellness Center, Hightstown, NJ
Mindfulness is a new movement with an old history. In today’s fast-paced, reactive world, we can certainly learn a lot of from ancient cultures about the benefits of being more thoughtful and aware. Often times our knee-jerk reactions stem from our emotions, which most of the time creates dramatic and unwanted results. Taking a moment to pause, and come from a centered and calm place always gifts more positive results.
The ancient yogis lived mindfully, and cultivated a lifestyle based around awareness. Today we see a surge of mindfulness in schools programs, as educators are seeing the benefits of mindful behavior for our children. How can we adults, with our engrained behaviors, benefit from mindfulness? In addition to reducing our stress, living mindfully can help with focus, improve general health and well-being, boost our resilience and aid in recovery from illness and, in general, create a more peaceful life.
You should be saying, “Sign me up!” Although life can be busy, we can easily create space for mindfulness in these easy steps:
1. Breath – take five minutes a day to focus on your breathing. Follow the natural flow of the breath from the inhalation to the exhalation, and notice the pause in between. After time, increase the length or join a yoga class to learn other breathing techniques to increase breath capacity.
2. Meditation – take just a minute to close your eyes, or even with them open, then focus on one thing. It could be a picture of a loved one, a statue of Mother Mary, the blue sky on a beautiful day, or word like “peace” or “love.” You can even just focus on your breath or a sensation in your body. Try it for just one minute a day, and then gradually increase to five minutes, ten, thirty or more.
3. Listen – practice listening instead of talking or reacting. Listen to the birds sing. Listen to the ripples of running water. Listen to the hum of silence. Listen to your loved ones talk. Just listen. Smile. Hold that space for someone else.
4. BE – the hard one is not filling up your time with endless doing. The old zen saying goes, “Don’t just do something, be.” Give it a try. Unplug.
5. Travel & Be in Nature – judgments arise easily when we live in a bubble. Travel and seek out other cultures and how they commune with nature. On a bit of a budget? Travel to a park or the ocean or the mountains. New Jersey is ideally situated for all of those things. Get out in nature, commune, explore, and understand that there are many paths along the journey.
6. Joy – when was the last time you had a full belly laugh? What makes you truly happy? Suffering is optional. Find the joy in life, and make time for it – even if you have to laugh at your own seriousness. Life is short = be happy.
7. Practice Gratitude – life is a blessing. What are you grateful for? Start a gratitude journal or jar and every day write down something that you are grateful for in that moment. Become more aware of the blessings in your life and stay present in them.
Mindfulness isn’t easy at first. It is a practice, but one that becomes easier the more energy that we give to it. Seek out reputable teachers and mentors for additional help. Luckily we have some right in East Windsor!
For ongoing yoga and meditation classes, private breathing lessons or mentoring, contact Tracey Ulshafer at One Yoga & Wellness Center, 156 South Main St., Hightstown, NJ – across from Peddie school. (609) 918-0963, Info@oneyogacenter.netorwww.oneyogacenter.net. For mindful traveling, visit www.SacredJourneysRetreats.comand travel with One Yoga Center on their next Sacred Journey.
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