Why Mindfulness? you may ask. It’s the latest thing. Are you just jumping on a bandwagon?
Well, that’s what I’m trying to find out myself. I first came across the term in relation to buddhist studies many years ago, probably as part of yoga. It wasn’t something I ever thought of as a subject on its own. Yet I’ve been intrigued to discover recently that many of my Taiji and Qigong friends and colleagues have qualifications in or teach or practise mindfulness, sorry Mindfulness, since it has now clearly become something in its own right.
I don’t believe it is possible to practise Taiji or Qigong without being mindful – at least as I understand the term – focused and aware of the consequences of one’s actions. Yet if so many people I respect are offering Mindfulness as something of value to clients who are looking for a way of dealing with stress, and getting more out of life, then I have something to learn.
Too many choices?
We have many choices available to us these days in terms of therapies and self-healing practices so how do you choose which one is going to see you through? Do you try them all or concentrate on one?
It partly depends on whether you want something to enhance your lifestyle and ability to get things done well, rather than just survive, or whether you have developed a condition of some kind, say, depression, which needs to be supported. I suspect all these options are beneficial. The choice will be down to the teacher, the availability of classes, and, most significantly, your own self discipline, because, let’s face it, unless you’re going to practise at home, you’re asking an awful lot of an hourly session once a week. So find something you enjoy.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with dabbling until you find something that works for you, but when you do find that something, the benefits of practising in depth and thoroughly, are manifest. I am looking forward to finding out how Mindfulness can help my Taiji and Qigong .
So I’m joining forces with Amanda Scott on Saturday 12th October to deliver a joint Mindfulness and Qigong workshop.
Mindfulness is designed to show new ways of relating to our experiences that enable us to handle thoughts and feelings differently. Instead of either becoming sucked into problems, or trying to avoid them at all costs, we learn to break free from habitual patterns and see things from a different perspective.
Amanda will take the introductory breathing exercises and close down at the end of the day with a Mindfulness with Compassion Body Scan. I hope that you too will be interested in coming and finding out a bit more.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/move-and-soothe-qigong-and-mindfulness-tickets-68813102843
