Who wouldn’t want to feel more focused, sleep better, and be more relaxed?
The promises of what leading a mindful life bring sound amazing, but let’s be honest, when you have a million things to do, sitting in a quiet space is the last thing you on your mind.
You might be thinking: “I don’t have time to sit quietly when I have to return-all-of-these-calls-and-emails-and-go-to-the-store-and-make-dinner-and…”
During the moments of highest stress and chaos, it’s difficult to remind ourselves that these are moments when we can benefit from meditation the most. Here are just some motivating reminders on why you should start your own practice.
Meditation will:
- reduce stress and anxiety
- increase memory and concentration
- help you sleep
- help you reach your weight and health goals
- increase serotonin levels, and lift your mood
- help overcome bad habits
- increase compassion with yourself and others
The thing is, these things don’t just happen overnight. You cannot sit for an hour a month and get upset when your insomnia returns with a vengeance. To really get the most out of these benefits, you have to build a practice.
Beginners might like starting their regular practice in a group setting. Being with others in a new environment provides a focusing energy. At 8branches, we encourage this sort of practice and offer several styles of meditative practice. Check out the Mindfulness Series and try one of our many classes to see which mindful method is the best method for you!
Adriana Kowal is currently a student of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She has become increasingly inspired by a holistic approach to the art of medicine and loves participating in, and keeping an ancient tradition alive. She believes that the connection between the mind and body interaction is a powerful one that needs nurturing and attention. In addition to Chinese Medicine, she enjoys other healing modalities like meditation, and exploring the I Ching (The Book of Changes). She holds two Master’s degrees in philosophy from Gonzaga University and Marquette University where she focused her studies on the mind-body interaction from a phenomenological perspective of the lived-body. She is also certified in methods of contemplative pedagogues. When Adriana is not studying or working, she enjoys process painting, meditating, exploring local life, and making a home in Milwaukee with her partner, Andrew, and their dog, Virgil.