Mindfulness What is it? 

Mindfulness When you wake up in the morning, do you immediately start running through today’s mental to-do-list? Shower Eat breakfast Brush your teeth Go to school If this sounds like you, you’ve just experience the stress of mindlessness.

Mindfulness Is simply being present in a given moment Rather than thinking about what happened 2 minutes ago or what you’re going to do in 5 minutes You are right here right now physically and mentally It means living in the present moment, not stuck on the past or worried about the future.

Mindfulness It sounds relatively simple, but with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, our minds can often be everywhere but here Mindfulness involves both awareness and acceptance Pay attention to what you are doing Observe your thoughts Listen to your emotions Accept all that you observe non-judgmentally (don’t judge what you think is a good or bad feeling) You have control over how you react to your thoughts, observations and circumstances.  IT SUGGESTS THAT THE MIND IS FULLY ATTENDING TO WHAT’S HAPPENING, TO WHAT YOU’RE DOING, TO THE SPACE YOU’RE MOVING THROUGH. THAT MIGHT SEEM TRIVIAL, EXCEPT FOR THE ANNOYING FACT THAT WE SO OFTEN VEER FROM THE MATTER AT HAND. OUR MIND TAKES FLIGHT, WE LOSE TOUCH WITH OUR BODY, AND PRETTY SOON WE’RE ENGROSSED IN OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED OR FRETTING ABOUT THE FUTURE. AND THAT MAKES US ANXIOUS.

Mindfulness Overtime, mindfulness can help increase your understanding of yourself and the world around you. Help you learn to have more control over your thoughts and actions

Benefits Spirit Mind Body Improve relaxation Better Mood Improve learning Increase mental clarity Boost memory Body Improve sleep Boost immune function Improve chronic conditions and complications Spirit Improve relaxation Better Mood Less stress and tension Reduce depression and anxiety Increase happiness and satisfaction

Still not convinced? Mindfulness has be used to promote Healthy eating habits Exercise habits Weight loss Improves overall health

A Mindful Moment Lets take a moment to practice Allow thoughts to enter your mind Don’t label them as “good” or “bad” Don’t judge your thoughts Simply dismiss them As each thought enters your mind, take a moment to process it, accept it and then let it go.

Mindful Eating Pay attention to what you eat How are the foods you eating making you feel Mentally Emotionally Physically Be present when eating and engage all your senses Pay close attention to: The food you are eating The environment you are in The thoughts you encounter The Senses you experience

Mindful Eating Step-by-step Mindful eating Sit down Remove distractions Slow down Engage your senses Listen to your hunger After each bite, how do you feel, still hungry, full, satisfied

Mastering Mindfulness It does not come easy to most us Takes time and effort Focus on your breath Tune into your senses Start small Move slowly Go with the flow Be persistent Get creative Practice

The raisin meditation WHY IT WORKS By increasing awareness of internal mental and physical states, mindfulness can help people gain a greater sense of control over their thoughts, feelings, and behavior in the present moment. Paying closer attention to the sensations of eating can increase our enjoyment of our food and deepen our appreciation for the opportunity to satisfy our hunger. Mindfulness can also help people become more attuned to hunger and fullness signals and therefore avoid overeating or “emotional eating.” In the words of mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn, "When we taste with attention, even the simplest foods provide a universe of sensory experience."