Before we begin, we have to define what mindfulness actually is. I like the explanation from the book “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness” by Dr Stan Rodski, he explains, that “once upon a time we used words like relaxation, hypnosis, meditation, yoga . . . Well, mindfulness is a relatively new term that’s plucked out of what is the essential aspect of all of them
Tap in. Notice. Breathe. Move. Repeat. This is yoga.
“If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t ever have to hear it scream.”
Joyce Meyers
We’ve all been there. Been at the point where your body is screaming at you. Screaming so loud that we either fall ill or we are at the point of feeling exhausted and are burning out. If you haven’t felt like your body is screaming at you, then you’re lucky and are very in tune with your body and overall physical wellbeing.
Meditation, a witness to the mind.
By Marzena Wojcik September 2019
“Your goal is not to battle with the mind, but to witness the mind.” Swami Muktananda
I love this quote which I think explains the practice of meditation in a simple way. Well it describes what is supposed to happen when we meditate. As we aren’t supposed to try to control or fight a thought, feeling or emotion that may come up, while we sit quietly and breathe. We are supposed to just witness what arises and refocus the mind to our breathing. This practice is meditation.
What is Being a Witness in Meditation?
My Yoga Journey. How my practice all started…
It all started when...
I hurt my back during a weight training session at a ladies only gym when I was 21. It happened while I was trying to put away a 45lbs heavy free weight, I all of a sudden felt this intense shooting pain in my lower lumbar. I knew instantly something wasn't right. All because I insisted on taking the heavy weight off, all so I could use the leg press machine, thinking I can lift this no problem, even though the weight was clearly way too heavy.
My stubbornness was unimaginable, and I was not self aware of my actual strength or lack there of, in order to avoid injuring myself. I was reactive, did things without thinking, rather than responding mindfully, slow and with ease. Reflecting back on that moment and who I was at the time, led me to hurt myself. My mindless, cocky and stubborn action lead to my herniating three discs in my lower lumbar (the L3, L4, L5 specifically), which I confirmed by an MRI 5 years post injury.
Immediately post injury, I was forced to take care as I had so much pain in my low back.