I was tuned into a podcast with the host interviewing Jon Kabat-Zinn, if you are new to the mindfulness field he's basically the pin-up, idol, guru, super-cheese of awesomeness personified. If I were to meet him, I might have a hugely embarrassing meltdown. He has a knack for getting to the nub of the moment in ways that many of us simply look upon in awe and wonder. I presume it's because he embodies his practice, because he's committed to his own mindfulness endeavors, I don't know, it's a reflection. However and to the reason for today's thoughts, he was able to display his skillful approac ..read more

Someone got me pondering on how we often start off, or sign off on conversations, messages, emails etc with…hope Hope you are well Hope you are okay Hope things feel better soon Hope you don't mind What does hope mean for us? Is it a word we can reflect on? It may mean going back to what the word means. Hope can bring with it a sense of optimism, wanting something good to happen; I hope to score a goal this week, or I really hope I get a place on the course, desire for something to happen for us – I hope the world gives us a break, to us, or for others – I hope you get the results you want ..read more

The practice of Gratitude might seem a ju ju style, hookie, hippy soft and fluffy practice, but on a physiological level it rewards us with a little serotonin hit, which is the very chemical we need to support our immune system among a host of other things. It is believed to help regulate mood and social behaviour, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire and function We can increase our serotonin levels through gentle exercise such as walking, or through eating certain foods such as nuts and seeds, salmon, milk, cheese, and pineapple! But if food and exercise are not readily a ..read more

Posture – it's often subconscious, we slump when we feel tired, or defeated, upright when we are curious, interested…and did you know, posture can alter not only mood, but cognition and how effectively you process information? There is much correlation between the posture of the body and the attitude of the mind. So, in my best sergeant major voice - sit up! If you want to absorb information more effectively, or to improve your self-esteem or general mood. This may be especially important for many of us right now, if our mood is erring toward the lower end of the spectrum, try and consider if ..read more

Humans and in-fact other mammals sigh automatically once every few minutes in order for us to maintain proper lung function, we do it naturally in our sleep too. We may notice sighs in relation to emotional states, such as when we are feeling stressed, the moment passes and relief strikes, or when we feel sadness, helplessness and pleasure, 'ooh my that sticky toffee cake oozing butterscotch sauce' type sigh. Sighing has benefits, and neuroscientists have been looking into the positive impact that a good old sigh can have on an agitated nervous system. If you are having a moment in the day whe ..read more

I am a big advocate of the work that a long-time friend is doing in the sporting wellness space. He's recently employed a bright, smart young woman Deanna Niceski to take on the role of General Manager for Global Wellness Tracker. He asked me to share her story. Why? Because it talks to every single thing that I as a Mindfulness practitioner can invite of you the reader to consider when you weigh up the challenges that life will invariably throw at you. Life can turn on a dime, but how many of us know how to roll with the punches, come out smiling, stronger, changed, and be a force for good? A ..read more

How often do you observe the habits of your own mind? It is not something many of us even begin to consider. I mean it is not the most charismatic or energetic, life affirming or even practical thing we can do, right? Well.... My invitation to you today is to bring it to the top of your to-do list. Set the intention to find 10 minutes to honour a meditation practice, then use the time to observe the habits of your mind. I inadvertently did this, not intentionally but I had one of those fractious moments where life doesn't quite go the way you plan and I could sense a level of emotional overwhe ..read more

So, this morning full of positive intention I settled into my meditation practice, a guided 25 minute practice. I was feeling settled, nothing to race out and do, no to-do list rattling around in my head, no noises from the great outdoors to challenge my zen. And then wham, mind wander, epic mind wander, off on its own little tangent and fully embroiled in a story I'd made up. I also realised that this little journey of thoughts that I'd gone on, I'd actively chosen, I chose in the moment – bored with the meditation, to continue off in this little whimsy world I'd concocted in my head. The voi ..read more

If any of you have heard of Mary Oliver you will know what an absolute wonder she was with the written word, her poetry has such a quality mindful attention to them, and her poems are often used to provide reflection and insight in the mindfulness space. Here is one written for this time, inspired by her poem 'Wild Geese' By Adrie Kusserow You do not have to become totally zen, You do not have to use this isolation to make your marriage better, your body slimmer, your children more creative. You do not have to “maximize its benefits” By using this time to work even more, write the bestse ..read more

Some days you can simply have a mind that is full to capacity, that has no new space for thoughts, ideas or creativity. Today is that day for me. I've spent it mulling over what I can share today, how to engage, what might be helpful insights or wisdom in this current time. I'm left with nada, zip, nothing left in the bag. I could trot out something rote, but I know it wouldn't be thoughtful. So i feel it's important to honour where I am, where we often are but will not put our hands up and own – fear of retribution, judgement, letting others down – the list can be long. Instead I'm using this ..read more