CityView Magazine

48 | January/February 2017 A s the new year begins, a natural sense of renewal is in the air. As a life coach, I relish in this process—and this time—of starting anew. I love collaborating with others. I enjoy helping people set personal goals paved with good intentions and finding the mindful and magnificent glow of a more hopeful and healthy individual. e pivotal point of focus of this process of beginning again is being mindful. Being mindful is the best way to stay successful, so let us explore this mindfulness thing a little more. By definition, mindfulness is the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. Being mindful means that we purposefully pay attention, without judgment, to what's happening in the present moment. It is most oen achieved with a calm focus. Why is such awareness important? Our ability to self-regulate is at the heart of all healthy outcomes, especially when it comes to resiliency, adaptability and successful management of life stressors. Backed by research So how does one achieve this level of mindfulness? Practice. Mindfulness practitioners understand that the greatest of intentions are meaningless without presence and conscious action, all of which hinge on a mindful state of awareness. Personally, I have studied and practiced mindfulness for over 20 years, but it wasn't until I completed the Duke University's Integrative Medicine Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program that I discovered the incredible amount of research backing this emerging body of work. Research shows that people who practice mindfulness experience a more healthy and balanced life overall. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), more than 18 million Americans participate in a mindfulness practice. e positive effects of a strengthened immune system, more resilient mindset and sustainable capacity of energy and performance are simply too real to ignore. ese statistics have been driving the rapid growth of our nation's mindful industry making the practice more and more attainable through programs like corporate wellness and wellness membership plans. Most insurance companies are even reimbursing policyholders and offering special rates for those participating in wellness plans. It is truly an exciting time for living well! Mindfulness practices are sweeping through our community culture by improving more than just our mood; it is addressing our chronic stress and our declining health head-on. Mindfulness is redefining our education, military and corporate environments. Specific stress-reducing therapies like yoga and meditation are being incorporated into the classroom and work environments to support the achievements of balance and productivity. ese holistic approaches utilize the breath, the simple act of inhaling and exhaling, to regulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, which supports the achievement of the present and centered calm we spoke about earlier. Being mindful can help individuals have an increased ability to relax, a greater enthusiasm for life, improve self-esteem and increase their ability to cope more effectively with stressful situations. As you begin the new year setting goals and ambitions, explore and try to incorporate these mindful practices into your own life. Yoga: Back to the mat Let's start at the very beginning and let me answer a common question I oen encounter. No, you do not have to be flexible to try yoga. Flexibility is one of the many added benefits once you begin a regular yoga practice. Meaning "union" or "to yoke," yoga is a physical practice of postures used to harmonize breath and movement to quiet the mind. e physical postures are also practiced to strengthen the body and prepare for meditation. Yoga is recognized for improving muscle strength, energy and increased flexibility as well as weight reduction, improved cardiovascular health and overall protection from illness and injury. For thousands of years practitioners have come back to the mat to improve and maintain their health and well-being.

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