I have been teaching and facilitating meditation and mindfulness since 2014. I hear many different excuses on why someone can't meditate or do mindful activities. There has been claim they simply are not able to meditate. That being mindful is super challenging. That it is impossible to sit that long and meditate because they can't shut off their minds....
In the Oxford Languages dictionary, to meditate is to "think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation." Mindfulness is "the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something." Neither of those descriptions speak about sitting for hours or for shutting off the mind. It's fascinating to me how little people understand meditation and mindfulness practices. What's super interesting is you probably have been doing some of these practices without even knowing it.
I am sure you have tried a few of these activities below at least 1-2x in your life. It might seem crazy, but they are all mindful activities and even can be meditative. Which one's are you going to try to do on a regular basis?
Breathing Exercises - There are many different breathing exercises you can do. It can be as simple as taking 3-10 deep breathes in and out. Or you can get all into it and do kundalini breath of fire. You get to choose. There are a ton of options on YouTube for you to experiment with and see what works best for you.
Be in Nature - Spend time in nature. Take your shoes off. Breathe in the natural elements that surround you. Take it all in. Take a walk if you can. Open your eyes and see the beauty that surrounds you. Open your ears and hear the noises. Take a deep breath in through your nose and smell all the glorious scents (even the stinky ones). Soak it all in.
Journal - Take out a piece of paper or journal and a writing utensil. Then start writing. It doesn't have to make sense. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular. Just write your thoughts down. Anything at all. Again, doesn't have to make any sense to anyone, including you. But I bet it might make perfect sense once you read it back to yourself. I dare you to try it.
Dance - Did you know that dancing is a mindful activity...Well guess what? It is! Dancing not only is a fantastic workout for your body, it helps you release happy feel-good endorphins. Plus, it is so easy to get in the zone when you are dancing. You don't have to be good at it to have a good time.
Yoga - Get your stretch pants on, grab a mat and head to your nearest yoga studio (or beach if you live in a tropical paradise). They will most likely have a variety of yoga techniques to try out. They have classes for beginners all the way up to advanced. And if you aren't able to get out anywhere, there are a ton of videos available online to choose from. Let your inner child out, laugh and have fun!
Sing - I am sure you have done this either in your shower or in the car alone at one point in your life. Truly the best way to help open up your throat chakra and express your inner diva. Like dancing, you don't have to be good at it to do it. So, turn up the music and sing your heart out! But, be mindful, dancing might happen too.
Stretch - Who knew stretching could be mindful...I did. Get yourself on the floor. Put your legs out in front of you and stretch your arms out and touch your toes. At least try to. And while you are doing this, feel each and every part of your body during each stretch. Let yourself understand their connections to each other. Again, so many choices of ways to stretch your body. Play around and see what works for you.
Chant - This is one of my favorites. I love chanting and making different sounds with my voice. It is simply singing or speaking words or sounds repetitively in one or two different tones. I personally love playing around with different tones and pitches. Let's try it together. Namaste would sound like this....Nääääääää Məəəəəəəə STāāāāāāāā. You got it, give it a go.
Play Music - Ok, I mean who doesn't love music? At least we all have heard music playing at one point. Now try listening to music mindfully. Put on your favorite tune. Sit with your eyes closed. Listen fully to all the sounds of each instrument and voice. Feel the vibrations running through you. And if you want to go deeper...Ask yourself how this piece of music makes you feel within your body. Then Rock Out if you need to!
Pray - Most people consider this something that is only done by a religious person. Well, it's not. Praying does not have to be connected to any religious faith. Try this. Sit with your eyes closed. Put your hands into a prayer position or on top of each other over your chest. Let your mind wander around thinking about all the things you are grateful for. Even if it's simply having clean water to drink and a tooth brush to brush your teeth with. Think of all that you are thankful for. Let this feeling run through your whole body.
Create Art - Have fun with this one. There are many mediums to choose from. You don't have to spend a bazillion dollars on supplies. It can be as simple as a box of crayons on the back of a recycled piece of paper. Be a child again. Let yourself explore and have fun. You don't have to be good at it to give it a go. Let your heart shine through. Create through your heart.
Guided Meditation - Letting someone guide you to your calm place is probably the easiest way to start meditating. Like many of the other activities, there are many to choose from but, don't let it be overwhelming. Go to google and put in 'relaxation guided meditation' and try the first one. If you don't like it, go to the next one. Keep trying until you find that person's voice and style that screams calm for you. Or better yet, try my 11 minute meditation. Can't hurt to try.
There are so many other ways to be mindful within your life. Find what works for you and keep doing it until it doesn't work any longer and move to the next. Keep exploring and learning about yourself.
How about adding some extra pizazz to your activities and download your own guide to the 7 Power Stones & Crystals.
If you want a more in depth journey through mindfulness and meditation, sign up for a coaching session. Or if you are ready to know yourself fully and discover your true magick, sign up for my Elite Coaching Program today