29 Dec GUEST POST: MINDFULNESS – PAUSING FOR PRESENCE BY ISABELL BRITSCH
In light of her upcoming Mindfulness to Manage Stress course, Isabell shares her insights on the benefits of Mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness means that we’re present with and interested in the mind. [...]We don’t need to be able to focus really well or concentrate hard – this is an inclusive, open awareness. And it takes place right here - not in the future or the past.
Many of us live fast paced and busy lives, surrounded by a lot of noise, movement and constant stimulus. We are constantly catching up with challenges we face at work, in our private lives, pressure we put on ourselves, expectations and ambitions. This can be exciting, and it can also be stressful, tiring and emotionally draining.
Often our bodies are doing one thing, and our minds are somewhere completely different, thinking about the past or worrying about the future. This is life on autopilot. We’re doing what we’re used to, but we’re disconnected from our body, and we’re not present to feel our experience at all. It’s a distracted state of mind, with attention constantly flicking from one thing to the next.
Harvard scientists have found that on average we spend 47% of our time thinking about something other than what we’re doing. They found that this makes us unhappier, while engaging with the present supports happiness. And this is mindfulness.
Mindfulness means that we’re present with and interested in the mind. And we start by simply giving attention: to the present moment, to life as it unfolds – taking in what we see, hear, taste, smell or touch. We don’t need to be able to focus really well or concentrate hard – this is an inclusive, open awareness. And it takes place right here – not in the future or the past. We let go of judging ourselves and cultivate an attitude of natural curiosity and an inclination towards kindness.
Essentially, mindfulness is a skill that keeps our minds healthy, just like exercise helps to take care of the body. It helps us to better navigate the inevitable ups and downs of life.
There’s an ever-growing body of empirical evidence showing that mindfulness helps us to make better choices in life – we are able to act from a wider perspective and understanding. Then we can be more productive, focused and creative, and respond to challenging situations with more resilience.
A lot of peer reviewed clinical trials have been carried out over the last few decades and mindfulness has been found to alleviate a variety of medical conditions incl. asthma, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, PMS, chronic pain, and improves psychological health incl. depression and anxiety.
With mindfulness we develop self-reflective awareness to see the patterns that are present in our thinking and the habits that are present in our interactions with other people, so that we can get a clearer view on how our mind influences all aspects of our life.
Then we’re on the pathway to live with less stress and anxiety, and more clarity, appreciation and contentment.
Isabell will be hosting a 4-weeks Mindfulness to Manage Stress course at Yogahome on Thursdays, from January 27 to February 17, 2022.
This 4-weeks course will explore simple and effective tools and techniques to help us live our lives with more openness, kindness, resilience, and less reactivity, frustration, anger and stress.
Isabell teaches mindfulness and self-compassion in regular meditation classes, dedicated courses and privately across London. She has been practicing Vipassana (Insight) meditation since 2003.
Isabell has been teaching meditation since 2009 with an emphasis on deepening self awareness and understanding of our internal psychology – our patterns of behaviour and how they influence our lives. She encourages the cultivation of an open, non-judgemental and kind relationship to ourselves, so that over time our lives can be infused with more acceptance, patience and contentment. Her teaching is inclusive, and infused by warmth, care and humour.
Isabell has trained in mindfulness and self-compassion at 200hr level with MindfulnessUK, and in mindfulness and yin yoga with Sarah Powers. She teaches yoga at a senior level and is involved in training new teachers.