5 FACTS ABOUT MINDFULNESS
We all know that the practice of mindfulness is on the rise. It’s found its way into offices and schools. People travel far and wide for retreats and wake up early each morning to practice mindfulness meditation before starting their day. Mindfulness offers not only spiritual benefits, it also helps you to grow emotionally, mentally and even physically. Read on to find out 5 interesting facts about Mindfulness.
1. Being more Mindful can help decrease stress
After 8 weeks of practicing mindfulness, the Amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for reacting to stress) seems to shrink and the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that controls concentration) grows thicker.
2. Mindfulness helps increase compassion
Mindfulness allows the brain to respond to a situation rather than react. When you are reacting to a situation you blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, which can lead to hurt feelings and misunderstandings. When you respond to a situation, you give yourself the time to mentally access the situation before speaking. This leads to having more compassion and understanding for the way others act in certain situations.
3. Being more Mindful can give you better focus
A study conducted at UCLA in 2012 found that those who meditate long term had larger amounts of folding of the brain’s cortex. This folding increases the surface area of the brain which enhances neural processing. This would improve the brain’s ability to process information, make decisions and focus.
4. Mindfulness physically rebuilds your brain
Being more mindful literally changes the brain’s physical structure! According to a study conducted by Britta Hölzelof Harvard Medical School, people who practiced mindfulness meditation for 30 minutes a day over 8 weeks had an increase in grey matter in the hippocampus where a lot of learning and memory function happens.
5. Being more Mindful helps you be more creative
Mindfulness practice can help let go of thoughts that create “mental chatter” and takes away from your ability to think creatively. Once the mind begins to let these thoughts pass by without holding on to them, creative ideas have the opportunity to surface and be seen!
Mindfulness can be practiced in a variety of ways. Incorporating yoga and meditation into your daily routine is a great way to increase your mindfulness. Taking the time to slow down while eating your meals and focusing on your meal (not your phone/ the computer / the tv) is another great day to day practice. Receiving healing therapies such as reiki or acupuncture as well as spending more time in nature and journaling can all increase the level of mindfulness you have in your life. Ready to dive deeper into your mindfulness practice? Check out our Signature Yoga Vacations and get ready to experience mindfulness like never before.
About the Author:
Brooke Kathleen – Also known as the Unicorn Yogi, Brooke began practicing yoga in 2009. She moved to New York City for work in 2013 and her practice faded out due to the inconsistent hours. In 2017 she re-discovered her practice during a very intense and difficult series of events. After devoting herself to practice for another year she realized that she wanted to learn how to share the tools that yoga had given her to heal and grow with others. She found Vikasa online while researching and fell in love with the curriculum and location. The rest is history!
New York, USA
