Sitting down on cushions and chairs for us to meditate is not for everybody and it can be quite difficult at first,
Especially if we lead a busy lifestyle.
Actually sitting down and doing nothing can be particularly threatening to the whole body,
The whole psyche.
It really does wonder what on earth is going on and it may feel almost like a threat and not very safe and it can be quite unsettling and so put us off from continuing on our mindfulness journey.
So here we can find that movement of any sort can be turned into mindfulness meditation practice.
So things like yoga,
Qigong,
Tai chi,
Even working out at the gym,
Running,
Walking,
Any kind of exercise,
Any kind of movement can be of real benefit,
Not just in the early days of creating your own practice,
But throughout your whole life.
Because it brings you back to the present moment.
It prevents you from thinking too far into the future.
It helps us stop dwelling on things that might be negative from our past,
Stops us worrying about things we've got to do and places our attention and awareness directly in the body while it is moving so that we can begin to appreciate what it is that it does for us.
Also,
We can start to notice all those little niggles and aches and pains that we might not have ever noticed before and so that we can pay some attention to,
We can get some help and support for that.
Just imagine if we never noticed the niggles in our body and,
You know,
Months,
Years,
A lifetime later,
We come towards the end of our lives and we're going to be wrapped and riddled with aching bones,
Degenerated muscles and a body that is not supporting and an unsupported body,
Which is not very good for anybody.
So learning to appreciate the smallest things within our movement can be of real benefit to our health and our well-being.
A small exercise to point out just how difficult it is to stand there and do nothing.
Perhaps you could walk into your kitchen or dining area next time that you want a hot beverage and to put the kettle on.
Now,
If you were just to stand there and wait for the kettle to boil,
It's a useful exercise in mindfulness to just watch what the mind does,
Because there is a huge tendency for the mind to be completely restless.
While the kettle is boiling,
You will want to do various other tasks in the kitchen or the dining area and make the most of your time.
We will be able to see very clearly in that moment while we wait for the kettle to boil,
Just how difficult it is to stand around and do nothing.
So if we are going to get lost in this space while we wait for the kettle to boil,
Then at least if we're going to do something,
Then let's do it mindfully.
Let's pay attention to opening cupboard doors,
Let's pay attention to putting crockery or cutlery away,
Let's listen to the sounds in the kitchen or the dining area,
Let's pace quietly up and down and notice the weight of the body on our feet.
Using every moment that we can to bring attention to what's going on right now.
And these can all supplement our mindfulness formal practice.
So in a sense,
Standing in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil is a very informal way of practicing mindfulness.
So give it a go.
In all your tasks and activities,
Walk slow,
Pay attention to every step.
If you have stairs in your home,
It's taking one step at a time and noticing how the body is balanced on each leg as we walk.
Take the time and be curious as to what's going on in the moment.
And that is the attitude that we take with all our mindfulness practice.
Taking the time,
Going slow,
We are our own experiment.
We're becoming interested in ourselves and how we are.
And eventually we can open that up to others and be interested and curious about others too.
