First let’s start with meditation which has been around for thousands of years. When we hear the term meditation, we think of someone sitting in a lotus position – cross-legged on a cushion, eyes closed and hands resting on their lap, perhaps with their pointer or middle finger touching their thumb and just breathing. One of the common practices of a basic meditation practice is to focus on our breath – why the breath? Well it is something we have and do naturally, so we do not need any special equipment or gadgets to meditate just our breath. By focusing on our breathing, we bring our attention to the present moment as a way to relax and calm our mind – reducing or managing the constant chatter that goes on in our head – sometimes known as “monkey mind”. Focusing on our breath, brings peace and balance that benefits our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and overall health. The benefits of even 5 – 10 minutes of meditation every morning can stay with us through the day and help us manage and clear stress and information overload that leads to feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

Mindfulness is a type of meditation (other types include Guided (imagery / visualization), Mantra, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Yoga, Transcendental). Being mindful is about having an increased focus and awareness of the present moment and experience of an action or an activity. We broaden our conscious awareness of what we are doing in the present moment in a focused, calm and relaxed way enjoying with all our senses – like mindful walking, mindful eating, mindful gardening, even mindful dish washing!