Mindfulness and meditation are ways to practice being present in the moment. Much of the time our minds are focused on the past (what’s already happened and how we feel about it) or the future (what might happen and if we want it or not). When we practice paying attention to what is happening instead, there are many benefits:
- Decreased stress
- Increased immune system functioning
- Increased flexibility in dealing with situations of daily life
There are many different ways to practice including:
- Focus on breath–simply paying attention to your breathing
- Walking meditation–conscious movement
- Seated meditation–observing your breath and thoughts
- Guided meditation–following along with an audio guide
Here is a guided meditation to try
WATERFALL MEDITATION © 2011 Naomi Tucker
Resources about the benefits of meditation: