- Wednesday 20 March 2019
In this series, we have explored what mindfulness is and how you can ‘be present’ in your daily life. How did you go practising ‘being present’? Was it easy or did you find it challenging?
The next step to being mindful is to tune in to your breathing. Breathing helps our body and mind to relax while providing oxygen to the brain to help us think clearly. ‘Mindful breathing’ is the art of paying attention to your breathing. Paying attention to our breathing in different situations allows us to monitor how our body reacts to these situations and allows us to identify which situations may cause physical exertion or stress on the body.
To practise mindful breathing using our ‘Be like a tree’ theme, try this activity!
Stand still like a tree. Relax your body and focus your attention on your breathing. Breathe in (inhale) and out (exhale). Don’t try to change your breathing, simply notice what is happening naturally in the present moment.
While breathing, ask yourself:
How does it feel? Is it fast? Is it slow?
How does it sound? Is it loud? Is it quiet?
Are you puffing or are you breathing calmly?
Where can you feel your breath in your body?
Are you breathing through your abdomen/chest/nostrils/throat?
Stand like a tree for as long as you can while completing the activity, without talking and without thinking about the past or future. If thoughts come into your mind, simply re-focus your attention on ‘mindful breathing’. Practise doing this in your personal life and with pupils in your class for increasing periods of time.
