AWESOME. That's it. That is how I feel once I give just 10 minutes of my day to my own self. This might mean having breakfast 10 minutes later, or making that not-so-important phone call or delaying the house chores by barely a few minutes. I read up on some book for mindfulness as a meditation technique a few days ago and I tried it for a few days and it made me feel pretty good and in control of things.
I had thought of doing some campaigns for yoga a couple of months ago and did not do anything about it. Suddenly yesterday I decided to do something using Adobe Photoshop for creating something for this blog and I thought of doing a banner. I started of with the same central idea but a different visual for this. I wanted to create a message for myself, while I am trying to discipline myself and everyone who is dealing with some or the other stress related issue that we run after discounts because it saves money which supposedly will help us lead a better life (or whatever). But mindfulness does not cost a thing! It is free and it ACTUALLY helps you lead a better life, reduce stress, improve focus, control your response and reaction towards your surrounding. Thinking logically, you might not find a single reason to not practice mindfulness.
If I have succeeded in creating curiousity in the mind of those not aware of this technique or not too sure where to start from but are willing to give this a try, here is your starting point. Before we start, a BIG round of applause for you for this fantastic decision! And without further ado, here are the steps:
- You will need a timer and just 10 minutes of your time. If you are using the timer on your phone, please turn off all the volumes that can distract you.
- Find a peaceful place to sit down - a chair or directly on the ground but make sure you are comfortable. Also, you are required to sit straight - so if you cannot sit straight for too long, find a back support but do not throw your weight on your back support, use it to stop you from stooping.
- And if possible, just warm up a little before meditating - like shake your hands and legs for a minute, move your neck in circular direction for a few seconds and sit down.
- Set the timer for 10 mins. If you think you can do better than that, be my guest :D
- Close your eyes and start taking notice of your breaths. Take five deep breaths by inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
- Next step is to scan your entire body internally just to notice how each of your body parts feel. But avoid moving or shifting. The idea is to start being mindful about how you are feeling.
- Now till the timer goes off, all you have to do is pay attention to your breath. Inhale and exhale normally without trying to change anything from your regular way of breathing. Just be a silent observer of your own self. Observe but do not judge. Also, keep counting your inhales and exhales from 1 to 10. Start again from 1 after you reach 10 (obviously). But what if you exceed 10 by mistake? Or forget your count? Or just drift away and start thinking about random things? Does not matter. The moment you realise you are lost, get back on track and start your count from one again. Just go with the flow.
- Once the timer goes off, try to turn off the timer with your eyes closed. If not, does not matter, open your eyes but remain seated and calm. Once you turn off the timer, again scan your body internally about how you feel.
- Take a deep breath and complete your meditation.
Mindfulness means being in the present and being mindful of your self. If you simply just notice how you are breathing in the middle of something, that can help reduce stress and make you feel slightly more in control of things around you. Please try it.
Enough said. Now it's time to draw the curtains on my creation for the 7th day... The banner that argues in favour of you practicing mindfulness.... Take a look and give it a thought!
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