Practicing Mindfulness for Your Health

Mindfulness & Your Well-being

Practicing mindfulness is as straightforward as it sounds. Mindfulness is the “basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are, and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.” This practice allows the mind to fully attend to what is happening, what you’re doing, and the environment you’re in.

Luckily practicing mindfulness is a quality that you already possess, you just have to learn how to tap into it!

Benefits of Mindfulness Practice:

Improves Physical Health: studies have shown that mindfulness techniques can relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.

Improves mental and emotional health: Regular mindfulness meditation has proven to reduce negative symptoms due to various disorders. Mindful exercises have also been used with the treatment of several mental health problems including depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, couples’ conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

How to practice mindfulness:

Eating Mindfully: Practicing mindfulness also works while you’re eating with the goal of reaching a full state of attention to your experience and cravings while eating. In fact, studies have shown that practicing mindfulness while eating can be useful in reducing overeating and emotional eating. When you sit down to eat a meal, sit your fork down between bites, chew slowly, and savor your food's sight, taste, and smell. While mindfully eating, pay attention to your hunger cues t

Mindfulness before bed: Be intentional about preparing yourself for bed. Wind down with dimmer lighting, a warm bath, calming lavender essential oils, and Epson salts.

Anytime, anywhere mindfulness: Truthfully, mindfulness can be practiced anywhere at any time. Throughout the day you can find opportunities to practice mindfulness by simply focusing on one task at a time, practicing active listening, and appreciating your environment.