Funzing TeamOver the last couple of years mindfulness is seen everywhere – from apps, to world leaders & artists openly talking about their practice, to the NHS prescribing it. So what do you need to know about mindfulness before you book yourself on one of the workshops offered by The Expand Approach? Gaelle, its founder, gives you some insight.
1.Mindfulness is not about emptying the mind
The function of the mind is to think, so trying to get rid of thoughts or clear the mind is like trying to push away a puppy who’s trying to play with you – it simply won’t work! In mindfulness, we first bring our awareness to an anchor – the breath, or the body. We notice when the mind wanders, and we gently bring it back to the object of focus. Doing that, we become more aware of the activity of our mind. By becoming aware, you’ll find that the activity of your mind naturally slows down.
- Everyone can do it. Yes, even you!
The great thing about mindfulness and meditation is that there is no such thing as ‘doing it right’. The aim in mindfulness isn’t to become calm, it is to notice when our mind has wandered and to bring it back to the object of focus. Even if your mind wanders off every 2 seconds and you notice it once in the whole sit, that’s already a start. This is when going to a guided group is helpful – the facilitator guides you through the practice, which encourages you to notice the activity of your mind. You also get to meet likeminded people, and share your experience in an inspiring setting.
3.The benefits are many.
Many scientific studies have been done on the benefits of mindfulness.
On my courses, people have reported the following improvements: sense of work-life balance +59%, stress -41%, feeling effective +34%, and many more.
I run workshops focus on specific areas such as how to release stress and tension, how to become more focused, mindfulness for creativity, how to develop patience, etc.
- What you need to do
Book! And come with an open mind. The key is to have an intention in mind as to why you are coming, but let go of any specific goal. Mindfulness can lead to profound personal change, so be open to whatever might arise.
Check out the upcoming events which you can join today: http://uk.funzing.com/search?q=gaelle
