Who's in the shower with you???

Many of our daily activities are done on auto pilot.  We do them every day without thinking about them or noticing anything about them. Take having a shower, most of us end up thinking about what we are going to do later or start thinking about work.  Instead practice mindfulness and get your day off to a calm and focused start.  Mindfulness helps us step out of auto pilot. It helps us create more space for awareness.  When we are more aware we can change our response to our thoughts, habits and feelings.

So next time you are in the shower, check who is in the shower with you.  Are you already in a meeting at work? You may be having the whole meeting in the shower, going through conversations that you imagine you will have. You could find that you start to experience stressful responses or emotional responses to something that has yet to happen or may never happen.  But your body does not know that you are not in the meeting therefore you could already be stressed and having a full blown anxiety experience before leaving the shower. When in reality it hasn't even happened.

Who's In The Shower With You????

Try to just be in the shower, in that moment and not anywhere else.

Feel the temperature of the water and the sensation of the water hitting your skin, maybe its tingling?  Become aware of the water as it flows down your head and onto your body.  How does the water feel around your feet?  Notice the sensations of shampooing your hair, the scent of the shampoo and shower gel. Be mindful of where you are and experience the moment.

If you mind wanders to the day ahead, and it will! Gently bring your mind back to the shower and what you are aware of.

Just bringing mindfulness into one of your daily activities can help you begin your day calm and focused.  Once you have experienced a mindful shower perhaps choose another daily activity to do mindfully.  The more time spent being mindful less time being spent feeling stressed and with a busy mind.   

 

Keep your body tuned up and functioning at a higher level

Today I took my car for its MOT and as I waited for it to be tested I began to think that many people look after their cars much better than their own bodies. Your car needs to be serviced regularly to keep it going and functioning at a higher level. By having regular services you can maintain a healthy engine and prolong the life of the car. Just like your car needs servicing your body needs servicing too so it can maintain its health and well-being and pro long your life.

If the oil warning  light comes on , you fix it and fill or change the oil. You do not leave it otherwise it could lead to more serious engine trouble.  Likewise, if you ignore warning signs of stress they too could lead to more serious problems such as heart disease and depression.

So just like you look after you car why not begin to regularly maintain your body, help your body to run smoother and last longer, don’t wait for an annual MOT or health check to find out what needs fixing.

Massage therapy goes a long way to helping you maintain a healthy body, along with a healthy diet and exercise regime.  A good routine to get into is at least once a month for a massage.  Many of my clients have a relaxation and stress relief massage every week and some have said they would like a massage every day.  Bob Hope knew the benefits of a daily massage; he lived to be 100 years old. Although a daily massage is probably not affordable how often you should get a massage depends on your needs, your budget and your stress levels.

 Massage has significant health benefits that are best experienced when you get massage regularly.

Keep your body serviced, boost your circulation, reduce blood pressure, and help reduce stress and anxiety, relax your body and calm the mind with regular massage.

Don’t wait for the warning signs that something is wrong, be proactive about your health and well-being.

Joanne

http://www.joanneturnermassagetherapies.co.uk/

Cup of Tea Meditation

There are many opportunities during your busy day to bring in some awareness. It is good to get in the practice of stopping and having a few moments to yourself, just to sit quietly and just be.  One way to do this is the tea meditation.
Often when we make a cup of tea we do so while thinking of what we are going to do next, busy planning, and when we drink the tea we are not aware we are drinking it as we are doing something else at the same time.
It’s a simple meditation in which you bring awareness to the whole process of making and drinking the tea and being present in the moment.

Begin with the kettle, become aware of the sounds as the water begins to boil, the steam and the patterns it makes as it escapes from the spout.
Feel the warmth of the cup or mug in your hands, the warmth of the steam as you raise the cup to your mouth.
Pause and become aware of how you feel, as you wait expectantly for the first zip and then savour the taste and warmth as you sip the tea.
Be aware of the tea as it goes down the throat, the feeling and sensations
Feel your body relaxing
Take your time and savour the whole cup of tea one moment at a time.

This quiet moment is an ideal time to recharge your body and calm your mind.