NikithaThe past few weeks have been testing for India. I won’t describe the entire pain and remind you of the grim situation around. But I will be honest with you. Despite all the positivity talk I do, I have been struggling too. But what kept me sane and sailing through these tough times is Mindfulness.
Everytime I read some news of suffering, my mind craves chocolate. I don’t go grab one.( Thanks to the detox cleanse, I haven’t had chocolate in more than a month now). Instead, I label it as my need for emotional comfort through food. When a friend talks about how their relatives are suffering, I am afraid of what if something happens to me or my immediate family. Then I catch myself as Overgeneralising the situation and call up everyone and remind them to be extra cautious.
When I keep hearing sirens of ambulances around me, I have two choices. The first is to get stressed over it and feel sad about the grim situation around us. The second is to stay in the present moment. I have been trying to choose the latter. I call it trying because it is a practise which you do with an intention everyday until it becomes your natural way of living.
If I were to summarise how I am coping with the pandemic, ‘Mindfulness’ is the word.
What is Mindfulness?
According to Jon Kabat Zinn, who developed mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy,
“The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”
Another definition by my favourite author Thich Nhat Hanh
“Mindfulness shows us what is happening in our bodies, our emotions, our minds, and in the world. Through mindfulness, we avoid harming ourselves and others.”
Why a Mindfulness workshop?
I am already doing my part in this pandemic by staying home. The next best thing I can do is help others find a healthy way to cope with pandemic. That’s my reason to conduct the workshop.
If you want to stop reaching out for comfort food, binge watching, screen addiction and over working, practising mindfulness can do wonders.
With the current day stress levels, our adrenals are over pumped and there is cortisol running in the body without a break. This leads to hypertension, diabetes and immune disorder issues. Research shows that an intervention to relax with mindfulness will help you get a break from stress, thereby activating anti-ageing.
What will you learn from the workshop?
1.Tune into your body and senses
Do you know what happens in your body just before you start stressing out? Body sends out signals before your brain tells you that you are anxious. Learning to tune into your body and senses helps you prevent stress and anxiety.
2.Identify your thought patterns
According to Cognitive behaviour therapy, most of the mental health problems and psychosomatic disorders occur due to distorted thought patterns. Your reaction to an event happens in 5 steps. By being mindful, you will learn how to reframe your thoughts in each of the steps and ultimately change how you feel.
3.Understand which type of mindfulness practice works for you
When I first wanted to expand my meditation to mindfulness, I was overwhelmed with the choices out there. In this workshop, I will help you choose what works best for you. You will also understand the common challenges and how to overcome them.
4.How to make mindfulness a part of your lifestyle
A 90 min workshop shows you the taste of relaxation. You got to go back into your daily life and do the easy work (instead of hard work) by learning the framework to adopt.
Workshop Details
Time : 10 AM IST
Price : Pay Rs 500 INR for one participant and bring any number of participants with you.
The amount you pay is just a nominal fee to show commitment to the learning. This workshop’s main aim is to spread calmness during the storm.
Bonus : You will be added to a whatsapp group which helps you with accountability and you can discuss your challenges when you go back and practise.
Register for the workshop here. I will message you with the details once I receive your enquiry.
If you can’t make it to the workshop and want personal guidance, you can enquire here.
Happy Mindfulness!