Mindfulness

[Wallywobbles]

Can anyone recommend a way of going about getting in to mindfulness please? Is it all it's cracked up to be. What will the real benefits be? I want to know if I'm going to be able to talk myself into doing it and sticking with it.

Thanks

Follow with interest

I receive a daily mindfulness exercise link to my email every day from mindfulnessexercises.com/ I think if I remember correctly it started as a 28day challenge that just rolls over if you don't opt out. I've done 107 days so far

They're approx 15mins in length audio clips, some longer some shorter.

It really helped me because it actually teaches you from the first 'lesson' how to actually sit yourself comfortably, visualise properly, even which rhythm to breathe in!

I rolled my eyes when I saw it recommended before but having done a few little snippets in my yoga class it really opened my eyes to how calming it can be. Helps me no end to control my emotions and calm my own mind when I'm overthinking.
I can't explain it clearly but yes, I feel it helps better my life in some small way and for the 15min investment I am pleased with this.

I was actually prescribed it for pain management and was sent on an NHS sanctioned course. I thought it was a load of bollocks at first but was asked to persevere. I'm glad I did.
At the same time I saw something on the news where a person with chronic pain like me did a mindfulness exercise while having an MRI. They were obviously very experienced because MRIs are pretty horrible. In short, the MRI showed the bits of their brain that spark up with pain episodes actually going a bit quieter.
Done properly and with an open mind, it works. I now do not have to turn to anti pain meds so quickly. It doesn't cure stuff but it helps you lessen its impact.

Have a look at the app / website Head space. It's quite expensive but they have a free trial to see if you think it will be worth it. I recently found out I get access to it free via my work but I'm battling with them currently over verifying myself 🙄

The app daily calm is fantastic! I use it everyday for about 5yrs now.

See if there is a local MBSR course. Did that and loved it.

Mindful Based Stress Reduction.

Still practise. Best ones are mindful walk, mindful movement, hourglass, body scan, think there is a visualisation one which I find hard.

If you can, when lockdown is over, find a local retreat. Two hours of bliss!

benefits - better focus, awareness, emotional self regulation.

You just need an open mind, it clicked after about 3 weeks for me.

Before that I laughed at myself a bit for doing it. We actually listened to a raisin in the first class (if you squeeze them close to your ear...)...

Just to add - does everyone practice mindfulness at the same time every day? Does it benefit you?
I added it to the end of my daily walk during lock down just to get into the routine of actually completing it so not sure if this is the best time as it's smack bang in the middle of the day

I've never been keen on trying it, but I suffer from stress related migraines and crap sleep and think it might help. Has anyone found it beneficial for those things specifically?

I find rolling my neck on a pilates roller helps. Yoga helps a lot with migraines too.

I can only manage guided mindfulness but find it very helpful. You can find examples on YouTube. You need to remember if you find your mind wandering it’s ok, just bring your focus back to the tape, app whatever your using. Many people start with the body scan but I’m not too keen on that.

I've recently started reading A Monks Guide to Happiness by Gelong Thubten. So far it's a really good explanation about mindfulness, why it's helpful and how to do it. I've tried mindfulness meditation before with various apps (Smiling Mind and Buddhify are free apps with guided meditations) and found it really helps with anxiety. I go through patches of doing it a lot and then patches of not at all; I really need to stick with it daily as it does help me.