How Mindful Movement Improves Your Health

What is mindfulness?  Oftentimes people equate a mindfulness practice to meditation. And while meditation is an important component that teaches awareness in the moment, mindfulness is so much more than just a mental practice.  Mindfulness integrates greater self-awareness of both the mind and the body, and helps us process emotions.

Science tells us over and over how powerful mindfulness is for improving health, sleep, mood, creativity, and brain function.  Mindful movement alleviates stress and anxiety and helps us stay calm and balanced no matter what life throws at us. 

I encourage you to make mindful movement a part of your daily routine.  Here are a few ways you can start today. 

1. Take a daily walk. The next time you go for a walk, set an intention of being aware of your movement.  Pay attention to your posture, your stride, your pace, and your breath.  What do you notice?  How does your body feel? 
   

2. Nighttime Routine: Meditation and relaxation through breathing and stretching before bed helps you wind down and let go of the day and is proven to improve the quality of your sleep.  To get started, check out Headspace. It offers many different meditations to help you unwind.
   

3. Establish a regular Yoga practice: The gentle movement of Yoga breeds mindfulness.  It is one of my favorite activities to connect the mind to the body because it focuses on presence and awareness first and brings the mind, body, and spirit into alignment. One of my favorite free Yoga routines is Adriene’s Mindful Morning Yoga for Mental Health.