Mindfulness

Noun - a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

   Mindfulness refers to the practice of being ‘present’ - an active awareness of what is happening right now including your surroundings, thoughts and feelings.

Mindfulness is ‘knowing directly what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment’.

Studies show mindfulness to promote positivity, relaxation and better overall health and wellbeing.

With practice, the brain’s structure can actually be altered by mindful thinking.

Mindfulness can be utilised as a tool for managing emotions and becoming more aware of our own state and habits, including weight-management behaviours like emotional eating or binge eating.

Practice

Becoming more present has a multitude of benefits.

Allowing you to experience more of daily life and the things often taken for granted, as well as focusing the mind on the present rather than on any future worries. Mindfulness can lead to a drastic increase in day-to-day happiness levels.

"It's about allowing ourselves to see the present moment clearly. When we do that, it can positively change the way we see ourselves and our lives.”

Establishing this outlook lets us become aware of our thoughts and start see their patterns.

With practice, we can train ourselves to notice when our thoughts are taking over and realise that thoughts are simply 'mental events’ and choose when to act and engage with them.

‘[Mindfulness] has everything to do with waking up and living in harmony with oneself and with the world. It has to do with examining who we are, with questioning our view of the world and our place in it, and with cultivating some appreciating for the fullness of each moment we alive. Most of all, it has to do with being in touch’ (‘Wherever You Go, There You Are - Jon Kabat-Zinn)

Hormonal Impact

Mindfulness meditation and the practice of paying more attention to the present moment has been shown to lower stress hormones such as cortisol and decrease inflammation in the body, both of which will positively influence body composition and weight management

Regular mindfulness practice in the form of mindfulness meditation practice was shown lessen the release of cortisol and lower anxiety and fatigue levels.

In turn this relaxation response can help to reduce cravings and over-eating habits.

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