Mindfulness teaches us to be more present in the moment, to savour every second of life. Whatever you are doing – making a cup of tea, sitting down to supper – the idea is that you mindfully appreciate each and every moment. This brings with it a sense of calm, ease and wellbeing, as you move beyond the everyday distractions of the mind and the minutae of the day.
Of course, that can be a great challenge when the pace of life is so hectic and your brain is being pulled in so many directions - problems at work, health issues, money worries. Reading a book is a classic example. If you are present and engaged in the story, then it’s possible to become totally immersed in your book. For the busy, chaotic mind, however, it’s equally possible to read the same page five times over and still have no idea what’s going on.
The increasing popularity of mindfulness in recent years is no accident in our permanently switched on culture of digital technology and social media. The chances are that if you are already into yoga, then you’ve already discovered mindfulness. In fact, yoga has been described as a kind of moving mindfulness, where we honour our body, mind and spirit on the mat, diving into the present moment to experience true joy and greater connection with all that is around us.