Mind Full or Mindful?

In  each day there are millions of thoughts dancing around your head, so of course it, the mind, may feel full! however have you every thought about emptying the mind… probably a tall quest, however being mindful is a tool to help you empty some of those thoughts processes.

you get to choose….

do I attach to that thought process, going round in circles or then another tangent comes into being and the thought process has gone down a whole new avenue all by itself 
or 
do i choose to obSERVE… and by observing I become more aware and then this action of self awareness serves me to a great depth of being…

In Yoga the tools we learn, pranayama, mantra, asanas all prepare the body and mind for meditation, and meditation means to reflect, contemplate, become aware. Meditation isn't just about emptying the mind, the pulse of the mind is endless as i've described, but the wave of thoughts, you choose which one to ride. 

Our thoughts tend to take us from the hear and now, away from the present. the thoughts can make up stories about what is going on, judgements may be placed on yourself or the situation and the more this happens the mind becomes fuller and the more you are taken away from the present moment.  Then it is more difficult if not impossible to respond consciously and skilfully to the present moment.  

does this sound familiar? 

in these times you are cutting off the opportunity to the possibilities of learning, evolving and indeed healing, the "I'm possible"conquers rather than "impossible" judgements because your thoughts, your stories led you away from something revealing potentiality if you are present and conscious.

In my yoga classes, I lead a dynamic class and often students say they are focussing so much on the class and the vinyasas that they didn't have time to think about the million other things that were stressing them prior to class - perfecto! they were present. of course the opposite is true - have you been in a class in a forward bend ladies and thought "oooo my pedicure needs doing… shall i do it or shall i go get it done? what colour?…. blah blah blah!" haha

My own practice is very ritualised and I teach what i practice, so at the beginning of a class I teach centring, it's an opportunity to observe what each of of us is bringing to the mat, the intention to let it go if it's not serving us in that moment…It's a beautiful time to become more aware of the inner and outer experience, or as i like to call it the inner and outer altar.  How is your inner altar being revealed in front of you in your outer experiences. I invite everyone to to step into the sacred to go beyond the body and mind and step into the sacred heart space, the heart fire that burns away that which isn't serving and fuels you to ignite what is present, that wants to be seen, that wants to be heard and wants to matter!

isn't this something you desire?

• to be seen?
• to be heard
• to truly matter?

the inner you, I'm sure is desiring this and mindfulness helps you to become more aware of this and know how to live it. - Give yourself the permission to receive… and then it will be revealed on your outer altar of you life!

when you begin to be more mindful it's about:

• pausing
• awareness
• observe
• feel
• listen
• acceptance
• liberation
• freedom
• surrender

so I invite you to simply start to obSERVE, serve yourself. Observe your life, life situations, your mind, your thoughts, when they arise try not to get attached to the thought process, observe the judgements placed. Observe whether you begin to think negatively about a situation and pause, see if you stop that judgement and see if you can start to re-write a different story. when you find you are following the endless path of a thought…. breathe inhale the word "let", exhale the word "go"... and observe the breath, or chant a mantra so you are focussing on something else. you will find the more you do this the less the tangents will come in and then in observing the new potentiality arises… the ah-ha mOMents! 

when you are out walking like the picture above is it a cloud of thoughts or do you see the trees, the buildings, the landscape, feel the beauty of the wind caressing your cheek, or the rain cleansing your soul… there are endless ways to think… you choose - positive or negative, judgement or how can i change that process and write another story...

What I love about teaching, coaching, the therapies i offer, is I utilise skills to encourage each person to self-regulate, to observe themselves, to let go of the judgements and I empower them to plant new positive, strong liberating seeds that grow into a new story, a new way of being that they then remember and tell themselves when and if they find themselves in that situation again!

their memory has a positive to recall to mind, they can let the thought go and be aware… be mindful nor have a mind full!

this week november 11 2013 - more or this on yr mats at YogaRelax!

hope you observe

namaste
michelle x