Mindfulness

Mindfulness and Relaxation

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.


Please visit this link. UCLA teaching hospital offers this site to use guided meditation. They only take moments -lasting between 5 and 13 minutes. This site is used and recommended by Mr. Robert Dougherty, Physical Education Teacher. He shares these in his classes, so they may be familiar to you.

http://marc.ucla.edu/mindful-meditations


Many guided meditations can be found for free on Youtube. These are some of them:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyy0ra2WcQQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpiw2hH-dlc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR57rug8NsM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utfw-rJUvy4


Many people find comfort and relaxation through art and distraction. Adult & Adolescent coloring pages can calm the mind and relax you. The links below are to free printable mandala pages:

https://www.thebalance.com/free-mandala-coloring-pages-4027232

http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/arts-culture/mandala

https://printmandala.com/

Ways to relax your mind (From WEB-MD)

Write. It may help to write about things that are bothering you. Write for 10 to 15 minutes a day about stressful events and how they made you feel. Or think about tracking your stress. This helps you find out what is causing your stress and how much stress you feel. After you know, you can find better ways to cope.

Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to. Talking with friends, family, a counselor, or a member of the clergy about your feelings is a healthy way to relieve stress.

Do something you enjoy. You may feel that you're too busy to do these things. But making time to do something you enjoy can help you relax. It might also help you get more done in other areas of your life. Try: A hobby, such as gardening. A creative activity, such as writing, crafts, or art. 
Playing with and caring for pets. Volunteer work.

Focus on the present. Meditation and guided imagery are two ways to focus and relax your mind. Meditate. When you meditate, you focus your attention on things that are happening right now. Paying attention to your breathing is one way to focus. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is one form of meditation that is very helpful with managing stress and learning how to better cope with it.  
Stress Management: Doing Meditation   
Use guided imagery. With guided imagery, you imagine yourself in any setting that helps you feel calm and relaxed. You can use audiotapes, books, or a teacher to guide you.

Exercise. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to manage stress. Walking is a great way to get started. Even everyday activities such as housecleaning or yard work can reduce stress. Stretching can also relieve muscle tension. For more information about becoming more active, see the topic Fitness.

Try techniques to relax. Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and yoga can help relieve stress. Breathing exercises.These include roll breathing, a type of deep breathing Stress Management: Breathing Exercises for Relaxation Progressive muscle relaxation. This technique reduces muscle tension. You do it by relaxing separate groups of muscles one by one. Stress Management: Doing Progressive Muscle Relaxation Yoga, tai chi, and qi gong. These techniques combine exercise and meditation. You may need some training at first to learn them. Books and videos are also helpful. You can do all of these techniques at home.