Mindful Pose

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On & off the mat: How to achieve your goals through meditation Each time we meditate, whether 5 minutes or 45 minutes we change our perspective. Meditation and awareness of our self go hand-in-hand. When we become more aware of our bodies, and our minds, curiosity grows if we learn non-judgment. Where our attention is focused, is where we grow, heal and learn from each experience.   Focusing our attention, and creating this space for this awareness can help us achieve goals such as a healthier attitude, foster loving relationships, perhaps even being successful     Goals need to be SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time bound. Clarification, focus, and time management are key to making and achieving your goals. Meditation has been shown to give practitioners the ability to stay calm and focused in stressful situations. The more we practice, the easier it becomes to stay present and keep our attention on the moment as it is. ...

Our lives are too often bombarded with negativity and stress. I feel it is important to address ways to manage it so we can be mindful of our Selves in the craziness. The following article from APA offer tips on how to manage your stress: In today’s fast-paced and ever-connected world, stress has become a fact of life. Stress can cause people to feel overwhelmed or pushed to the limit. The American Psychological Association ’s 2007 “Stress in America” poll found that one-third of people in the U.S. report experiencing extreme levels of stress. In addition, nearly one-in-five report that they are experiencing high levels of stress 15 or more days per month. While low to moderate levels of stress can be good for you when managed in healthy ways, extreme stress takes both an emotional and physical toll on the individual. With the consequences of poorly managed stress ranging from fatigue to heart disease and obesity, it is important to know how to recognize high stress levels and...

H ow would you like to try a meditation where you seem to float between sleeping and waking? Or rather a sleep-based meditation technique. So, you do not actually sleep in this meditation, it is more a state of awareness of the guide's words and the state of your body and mind. I like to think of it as a combination of savasana (a favorite part of yoga class) and guided meditation. By going to the deepest level of relaxation, Yoga Nidra allows the body to deeply restore itself and bring an overall sense of peace. This may sound simplistic, but it can have a profound effect on our physical and mental health. Sometimes, we feel fearful, helpless or perhaps, overwhelmed by stress. Other times, the mundane, day-to-day stress can wear on us on, dragging us down. By learning to stop and place our minds into a more peaceful, and less reactive state, we can learn to disengage from negative thoughts and behaviors, and over time reduce stress. How?   Yoga Nidra. In this...

What is awe? The Oxford English Dictionary defines awe as "a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder." Picture in your mind a time when something amazing stopped you in your tracks - maybe something that took your breath away.  In that moment, you were fully present, aware of that moment and not the past or the present - mindful.  I can recall of few of these times - like hiking around Jordan Pond in Maine and the lovely smell of the balsam firs, strong and clean, stopping to take in the silence, the firs and the stillness of the pond near dawn. In an article by Kimberlee D’Ardenne , she explains how professor Michelle “Lani” Shiota, at Arizona State University Department of Psychology, studies awe and its effects on cognition and behavior.  "Experiencing awe can dampen the body’s stress response and can change how people process information.  An awe-evoking scene or experience is one that is profoundly unexpected, and not already contained ...

Kelly McGonigal's video from my post 2 weeks ago explained why these are myths. What do you feel is your go-to (healthiest) stress technique? I would love to hear from your comments. resource: https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-myths

Happy Spring!  Cherry Blossoms, Jennifer Lindsey Spring officially arrived yesterday, slowly stretching its toes to awaken and bring us healing sunshine. It is a season of change, renewal and balance as day and night are equal in length. As we move into Spring and dust off the cobwebs in our minds and around the house, perhaps we can take a moment to notice the changes going on around us. What do you notice? Are the trees starting come out of hibernation? Is the sun a little brighter? As we notice the small changes happening around us, maybe we notice some small changes happening within us. I have noticed a feeling of eagerness within lately, an itch to get out and enjoy being outdoors. It is funny how the same view out of the same window can suddenly look so different, so inviting. Our perspective truly shapes how we see the world, and maybe we don't realize how those views are changing what we see until we have already arrived at some conclusion. This is where mindful...

How will you frame your next stressful situation? Perception. Perspective. Awareness.   What if we shift ours, just a little, so that we can live with ease. We all have some degree of stress in our daily lives, so the more we learn about it the better we can learn ways to adapt. Each of us handles stress differently; some ways are healthy and, well, some not so healthy. Whether it is daily life or major stress events, the cumulative impact of stress affects our health. Our perception of stress can ultimately be our greatest ally. Understanding stress and maybe adopting tools like meditation and mindfulness could help us. The Greater Good Science Center at Berkley explains, "Psychologists have identified key variables that determine whether stress ultimately affects us positively or negatively are: Our Perception of stress The meaning we attach to it Our ability to cope with uncertainty and ambiguity The degree of control we have over the circumstan...

JenniferLindsey® How to Meditate? Since we looked at the benefits of meditation, I thought it might be a good idea to include a quick meditation. This breathing meditation is based on part of what I just learned in my Mindfulness Certification training at Dallas Yoga Center. You can sit, lie down, walk, or even practice yoga postures to meditate. There is no one right method for everyone. Some people find it frustrating to start with a 20 minute session, so  most suggest starting with just a few minutes a day. Our minds begin to wander, our bodies are not used to sitting quietly and reflecting causing all sorts of emotions and responses to bubble to the surface - this is a natural part of the journey - if this happens, just notice your response without making any judgments and return to your breath. Here is a basic 1 minute meditation break that you can do (almost) anywhere. I have found that setting a timer, perhaps a quiet one on your phone, is the best ...

I thought a good way to start was to share some of the benefits to meditation. Each time we meditate, whether 5 minutes or 45 minutes we change our perspective, and our brain. This is a great graphic showing the benefits of Meditation. What benefits have you noticed? If you do not yet have a practice, what are some of the benefits you feel would help you? by HuffingtonPost . From Visually .

I do not remember the exact moment or specific class that turned me on to yoga. Over the course of 10 years or so, I took several classes sporadically (and sometimes consistently) from studios to gyms, finding my way slowly and steadily. I loved the relaxed, peaceful feeling I left with after most classes. In 2007 I started taking classes regularly from a teacher in Miami, Steven Herbst. His teaching style is playful and caring, and he challenges each student to go at their own pace without any judgment. I had not come across this in a class before. I could go to a class to strengthen, breathe and relax while enjoying myself. There was no loud music or pushy instructor, just me and my practice. I was able to fully immerse my Self in class and let go of the outside world for that hour each day. After about a year and a half of consistent practice, I decided I wanted to teach others to feel this joyful and peaceful. S o, in keeping with my personality, I went full speed ahead an...