Are you thriving or just surviving?

When our body is diverting energy to neutralise the cocktail of chemicals that stress floods into our blood streams, we are not in a state of wellbeing.

In the mind gym sessions we train our nervous system return to balance quickly. We use the breath to access the body and train the mind to pay attention to the body and the breath.

We often associate “happiness” with external circumstances: things are going well and we feel good. But mindful living nourishes a different type of happiness. Our awakened awareness of the present moment, without judgment or the need to fix, opens us to new ways of seeing. We notice more things that inspire gratitude. We pause more before reacting. We feel less critical. We are kinder to ourselves. And we start to realise that all these things can happen whether or not things are going the way we want them to.

Daily life isn’t necessarily changing — but our perceptions, responses, and interior stories are shifting.

It's the little choices we make every day that add up to the big changes we want to see.

From December 2021 the 15 minute drop-in mind Gym sessions will have a slightly different flavour. On Mondays and Wednesdays we will be focus on embodiment and incorporating new breath tools. Fridays will be a deepening your practice session.

Are you belly breathing?

I recently interviewed an inspiring human Lisa Upton for the mindful being podcast. Lisa's personal journey to discover the power of her mind is unique to say the least. Undergoing brain surgery whilst awake, and the short term impact the pioneering surgery had on her brain and ways of being is more evidence of the importance of training our minds to access higher states.

What else can we do to cultivate and maintain a state of well being?

• Movement. Move each day to improve your cardiovascular system, increase your strength, bone density, and maintain a healthy weight.

• Nutrition. A healthy gut biome is critical for a healthy immune system and keeping inflammation down. Whole foods, low refined sugar and quality fats all help bolster your immunity and reduce inflammation associated with chronic disease, cancer and cognitive decline.

• Community. Healthy relationships boost the sense of connection which us humans are hardwired for.

• Purpose. Having a sense of meaning and contribution is critical for our wellbeing. This can be found in all aspects of our life, from the roles we play, to our job and our hobbies.

• Rest. Meditation can radically transform your sleep. Lack of sleep (defined as 6 hours of fewer) can have serious consequence. According to sleep expert Matthew Walker sleep deficiency is associated with poor concentration, memory, impaired immune system and may even shorten lifespan. In addition, prolonged lack of sleep is linked to depression, anxiety, weight gain, disruption in blood sugar and can double your risk of cancer.

Learning to master your nervous system with a regular meditation practice leads to a sleep that is deeper and more restorative. There are many other far-reaching benefits of a regular practice but if getting off to sleep or staying asleep is an obstacle for then learning to meditate is a must.

Meditation is the medicine that is needed most right now.