https://video.wixstatic.com/video/aef6fd_7e989802dd0a4f06bb02ae2eff085c20/720p/mp4/file.mp4 While emotions may feel draining at times, they are necessary. One of the most basic examples is that we need to feel fear to stop us doing dangerous things. We need to feel happiness to be able to enjoy life. It's when we start to resist and judge emotions, they can become more intense and unpleasant, causing and creating emotional phobia. Resisting emotions can also cause excessive thinking, shallow breathing and muscle tension, which can all contribute to disease and illness. That’s why it is better ..read more

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/aef6fd_a31600c61ce74926b520d9a5021521f6/720p/mp4/file.mp4 We have over 600 muscles in the body made up of fibres that can shorten or lengthen. They are long and flat when relaxed, but when our nervous systems are stressed, the blood flow to the muscles can become reduced, causing them to tighten. Muscle tension is the body’s defence against injury and pain, and this tension releases when short term stress passes. However, with chronic or long term stress, the muscles in the body are in a constant state of tension. Low-grade chronic stress not only leads to mus ..read more

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/aef6fd_78861fe1293b4d558e0b8f06e7d86727/720p/mp4/file.mp4 Following the rhythm of your breath and noticing its movement in your body is one of the simplest and most effective meditation techniques to learn. Focussing on our breathing, grounds us in the present moment and takes our attention away from distracting or overwhelming thoughts and emotions related to the past or the future. This helps reduce anxiety and increase focus and clarity. Diaphragmatic Breathing (also known as belly breathing, nasal breathing or mindful breathing) When people feel stressed ..read more

Teens can be quickly bombarded with negative images from the news, movies, and computer games, and technology has become a constant distraction. Being silent and still can make them feel bored and uncomfortable or anxious and disconnected. This can make them want to distract themselves with more activity to the point their nervous systems can become overloaded. Meditation cultivates the resting response young bodies need for optimal health and healing. It also improves attention to cognitive abilities such as learning, memory and problem-solving. Teaching children to be mindful and live with ..read more

There are many benefits to attending a meditation retreat including: Detoxing from digital devices - helps you gain focus and clarity and reduce stress and anxiety Meeting like minded people and making new connections - find your tribe Removing yourself from the distractions of every day life - easier to focus on you Educating yourself - improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing Learning new skills like mindfulness and meditation - long lasting benefits Being in nature - calming and serene Experiencing new places - enhance life enjoyment Establishing new habits - align with your value ..read more

An average office worker can only focus for 11 minutes without distraction. Those distractions equate to a 20% decrease in performance. 25% of workers take time off due to stress. Mental ill health is the leading cause of sick leave. Stress-related workers' compensation claims have doubled. “It is clear that the cost of ignoring the problem is far greater than the cost of developing and implementing strategies to create a safe and healthy workplace.” The Australian Human Rights Commission Organisations such as Google, Nike, and Apple implement mindfulness practices in their employee developme ..read more

Meditation doesn’t require a unique set of skills. It works so well because it enhances what we already have – connection, mindfulness, and compassion. (Sharon Salzberg) The basic idea behind mindfulness meditation is simple - you sit in a comfortable position and focus on something like your breathing. When your mind wanders, you bring it back to its original task. The goal of mindfulness meditation is not about achieving a state of bliss (although that can be a pleasant side effect) - it's about training yourself to recognise when you're distracted from what you're doing and, in time, not b ..read more

Overcoming your initial roadblocks in meditation practice is often part of the challenge to getting started and staying committed. The most common reasons I hear why people don’t try to meditate (including myself if someone mentioned it to me!) are: I don't have time for it, I can't sit still, My mind won't stop racing. These are normal responses and should not be a reason to give up. There are also common myths like meditation is about not thinking - this is not true and impossible! Following are some possible solutions to the most common obstacles faced during meditation: Restlessness Fee ..read more

It’s easy to get distracted by our thoughts and feelings. We’re often lost in what’s not happening right now instead of focussing on what is. This leads to unhappiness, stress, depression, and an overall sense of negativity. Mindfulness is a powerful practice that forces us to be aware of the present moment – the external world and the inner world of our thoughts and feelings. It can lead to a happier life if practised regularly alongside meditation. Mindfulness is essentially about paying attention – to the NOW. Practising mindfulness brings us back into our bodies and ourselves – the only p ..read more

Having a meditation space in your home is the perfect way to relax, unwind, and practice mindfulness. However, many apartment dwellers find it somewhat difficult to meditate in their unit because of various distractions, loud noises, and lack of space. The good news is there are several ways to practice mindfulness - and many techniques don't require a lot of space. To help get you started, here are some tips gathered by Redfin from me and other mindfulness and meditation practitioners worldwide in their blog post Meditation Spaces in Small Apartments. 1) Ask for quiet time It can be challeng ..read more