Doing simple daily chores with mindfulness can be an effective therapy to detox oneself
Mona
‘Unease, anxiety, tension, stress, worry and all forms of fear are caused by too much future, and not enough presence. Guilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness are caused by too much past, and not enough presence…’ writes Eckhart Tolle, the bestselling author of The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment.
Right from Gautam Buddha to modern spiritual guru Tolle, it’s the ‘mindfulness’ that’s been hailed as an effective tool to deal with stresses and strains of life. “It’s now, in corona-inflicted times, that one can best put this very powerful tool to use to navigate the new normal,” says Sanjeev Tyagi from Everest Yoga Institute, Ludhiana.
What is mindfulness?
To be present in ‘the now’ is mindfulness. Not a difficult feat to achieve but honestly speaking do we actually live in the present or in the moment? “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly,” one can quote Buddha and while Buddhism lists four kinds of mindfulness—body, feelings, mind, and Dhamma, the ancient concept has made a huge comeback in its slightly watered down version but nevertheless effective in current times.
How to live mindfully?
Just by being present in whatever you are doing. If it’s meal time, eating mindfully, being aware of textures and tastes, taking into consideration every morsel and not be distracted by work or something random on screen. Turning your walks to an exercise in mindfulness is equally easy. “When practicing mindful walking in public places, always breathe normally. Walk slowly, but not too slowly, because you do not want others to think you are too unusual. Walk a little slower than your normal pace, a little faster than indoor walking. In this way you can enjoy peace and serenity as you walk without making the people around you uncomfortable, lists down Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in Walking Meditation: Easy Steps to Mindfulness that he’s co-written with Buddhist teacher Nguyen Anh-Huong. Similarly, whether it is washing dirty dishes, folding laundry or weeding one’s lawn, each step can be rightfully a practice in mindfulness. The only trick here is to just live it and not be stuck in events happened in past or the fears of future.
How it helps?
“Yog is the link between our body and our mind,” says Tyagi. “By following mindfulness, which is one significant aspect of it not only we are de-cluttering our mind but also taking the right step towards healthy, able bodies.” Right from reducing stress, better focus, increased creativity to improved physical well being, benefits of mindfulness are ample. “Mindfulness is minding our mind. And a simple, effective way to negate the toxic from our body and mind,” says wellness coach Malvika Kapoor.
A recent study at Griffith University points out that classroom-based mindfulness for young children can aid the development of skills that nurture academic and social thriving.” Whether young or old, learning to take the reins of life in one’s hands is one powerful tool, and mindfulness could be the first step towards it.
mona@tribunemail.com
