mindfulness

How to chill out and improve your health while you’re at it.

Meditate more, stress less— easier said than done, right? We could all use a little meditation in our lives, but when do we find the time to simply sit and be? Research shows that meditation is good for the body and the brain, but it can be intimidating if you don’t know where to begin. The good news is you can do it any time and anywhere. With this in mind, we turned to two meditation teachers to share mini mindfulness meditations for everyday scenarios, from your morning shower to your end-ofthe-workday commute.

What is mindful meditation?

Mindfulness is less about spirituality and more about the ability to quiet your mind, focus on the task at hand and dismiss distractions that come your way. According to Emily Thring, founder and director of Torontobased meditation studio The Quiet Company, “mindfulness is focusing on one task at a time, being engaged in a conversation or even paying attention during a simple chore, like washing dishes.”

One way to practise mindfulness is by meditating. “This [mindfulness] is a modern, secular strand of meditation that is often defined as cultivating a sense of moment-to-moment, nonjudgmental awareness,” writes London-based meditation teacher Emma Mills in her book Inhale,

Exhale, Repeat. Modern science has confirmed the potential benefits of meditation, including improved brain function, energy levels and mood; reduced blood pressure; and better sleep, among myriad other wins. All the more reason to take a deep breath and prepare to relax.