Balance your body and mind with mindfulness

The boat rocks gently, the water below me is deep blue and carries me, I feel open and free like the wide sky above me. Oneness with everything – such moments are small treasures in the memory. Many hypnotherapies begin with similar imagery to allow deep relaxation. And everyone can use these inner scenes to calm down even in the hectic hectic, to gain distance. The more we bring them to mind, the easier it is for us to recall such intense moments of being mindful. The goal is to always be so attentive, even if a situation doesn’t feel so nice.

With increasing stress, we need more inner distance in everyday life

Mindfulness, a meditation technique originally from Buddhism, enables us to consciously perceive all bodily sensations, feelings and thoughts – without judging them. With a little practice, you can focus on the essentials. In everyday life, on the other hand, things are usually different: we do more and more things on the side, make phone calls while shopping, send e-mails while talking to a colleague, eat a bite and read the latest information. We get used to doing many things at the same time – and never being fully focused. But that means stress. Especially when multitasking becomes a must.

Stress from multiple loads

The German government’s 2012 stress report states that every second person in work suffers from having to carry out different tasks at the same time. It becomes even more difficult when problematic life situations arise. Naturopath and doctor Dr. Kurt Mosetter: “Very critical are multiple burdens such as being very demanding at work, overtime in the office and then building a house. Or: everyday work and caring for a close relative. Many become ill as a result.”

A new study shows that mindfulness helps reduce pain

Then mindfulness can help. The technique has long been used successfully to treat chronic pain. The meditators draw attention to the pain without judging it. Instead, they look at him curiously and attentively. A study by the Bender Institute of Neuroimaging in Gießen showed that this can actually reduce the suffering. In the MRI test, the researchers compared people who felt pain. Some meditated, others tried to distract themselves. The result: other regions were active in the meditators’ brains; the input signal for pain

responded, but referral to the areas responsible for fear and imprinting was significantly weaker than the comparison group. And mindfulness can do even more: lower blood pressure, calm breathing and relieve tension.

The first part of our self-healing series – stretching: the source of relaxation – can be found here.

The third part of our self-healing series – the healing power of running – can be found here.

Individual mindfulness strategies

“Be careful of others too”

Tolfioow graphic artist Wallapa Richter has been used to meditating since childhood
. I grew up with Buddhism in Thailand and practice mindfulness meditation almost every day, sometimes just for a few minutes on the bus. A lot has to do with thinking. When I’m angry with someone, I try not to be angry for long. I say to myself: the person is probably sorry, or he is having problems. When your heart is pure, you have faith. I’ve never been really disappointed. It is very important to wish well for others: you start with yourself, then you send love to relatives and friends. After all, one wishes happiness to all people and animals in the world. My monk says this wishing is like a bright light that shines everywhere.

Tolfioow department head Stephan Hillig has a role model when it comes to mindfulness: his son, 3.
Small children know nothing about Buddhism. Nevertheless, they are grand masters of mindfulness. I’m always amazed – secretly a little jealous – when I see how easy it is for my son to get totally lost in play. He’s not just pretending, he’s the excavator driver. If I join him, he shows me where the invisible sand has to be dumped and where the colored pencil tube has to be buried. Then my time stands still for a moment. With the excavator in hand, I understand what it means to love the moment. A great feeling! Everyday life stays outside – until my son would rather have the excavator back or suggest a new game.

Tolfioow department manager Christina Schmidt needs 1 hp to find the mindful way to herself.
As a “brooding aunt” it’s really hard for me to let go and be with myself. Autogenic training, breathing meditation – that works in the course, but not at home. When I ride, on the other hand, I “switch off the world”. In the here and now there is only letting go, swinging and feeling, being carried and taken along. All antennae are directed inwards and towards the wonderful animal below me, which – when things are going well – also gives me its full attention. By e.g. B. reacts to the smallest shifts in weight. Sounds weird, but it actually feels like I’m sitting “in the horse”. Two become one.

The first part of our self-healing series – stretching: the source of relaxation – can be found here.