Special Guest Blog Writer: Cindy O’Connell, Monmouth University Counselor Education Professor, RYT Yoga Teacher, & Trainer for Yogacalm for Children

"Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment."    - Jon Kabat-Zinn

In our previous blog, Mindful Music Moments, we introduced you to the practice of mindfulness.  In the blog, we discussed our 21 day series in which we developed videos to help you practice mindfulness for one minute a day. If you haven’t looked at it yet, check it out.  This blog will take you to the ‘next level’ while practicing mindfulness. We have created a new 21 days series to help you.   

So why is mindfulness essential?
Once you incorporate paying attention on purpose into your life, you complain less, appreciate more, respond instead of react, and fill your life with what is most important to you. More than anything, you will learn how to be present and live in the moment.

When should I practice mindfulness?
Ideally, start out your day with a “mindfulness exercise," such as focusing on your breathing for a few minutes before you get out of bed. Notice the flow of your breath and the rise and fall of your belly.  When your mind wanders to thinking, gently bring it back to your breath. If thoughts come in, acknowledge them and let them pass by like clouds in the sky. This can help you to stay better focused for the rest of the day.

As the day goes on, try to minimize multi-tasking, as this is the opposite of mindfulness. If you find yourself trying to complete two or three tasks at the same time, stop yourself and focus your attention back to one task. If emotionally distracting thoughts enter your head, remind yourself that these are only "thoughts," not reality, and allow them to pass by without stressing you out.

How do I practice mindfulness?
You can create the space to be present through paying attention to the breath through a focused breathing practice that is a reset. In our Mindfulness through Music videos, we will help you focus on what is referred to as 4 Square Breathing or Navy Seal Breathing,

How do I do that?
Find a seated position, feet flat on the floor, palms down connected to your legs. Sit up tall, crown of your head reaches to the ceiling. Inhale through the nose, to the count of 4, hold the breath for 4, release the breath through the nose to the count of 4, and then hold again for 4.  Repeat.  We have created visuals to help you through this process. Check them out below.