Taking a Breath with Mindfulness

The current state of today is a time of stress and with that stress it is good and quite frankly essential that we regularly check-in with ourselves. Regularly checking-in will allow you to know in what areas you are doing well and what areas need a boost for your wellness. This can be in the form of mindfulness practice. The word “mindfulness” has been a buzzword for quite a while and actually is a really valuable self-care practice. The practice of mindfulness is being attuned and aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and body in the moment without judgement. Often as a people, we primarily focus on looking ahead towards the future and the list of tasks that need to be completed before the day is over. Similarly, people are constantly on the go rarely pausing to take notice of how one feels in the moment. The goal of mindfulness is to stay in the present. Mindfulness has been beneficial in targeting stress as well as helping foster self-regulation (Brown, Ryan & Creswell, 2007).  As many individuals are currently staying home, now is the perfect time to check-in with mindfulness. Departments of Colorado State University are readily making helpful tips and resources available for people staying at home including Colorado State University Extension. 

You can join Sue Schneider, Ph.D. with Colorado State University Extension in Larimer County, Colorado and practice mindfulness in your own home.

·       Morning Meditation: Thursdays in April (April 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30), 9:00 – 10:00 am

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/560109111

·       Authentic Connection, Thursday April 16, 10:30 – 11:30 am:

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/536167806

·       Morning Meditation: Join us for regular morning meditation sessions. Basic instruction will be offered as well as guided meditations and time for silent practice. Our practices will vary week to week. The sessions will conclude with reflections on how to make and maintain space for everyday mindfulness. All levels welcomed!

•    Authentic Connection: How often are we truly present with others? How can we deepen our connection with those we love? We will explore four elements of authentic connection — presence, mindfulness, attunement, and compassion — and practice mindful listening as a foundation for extending the gift of presence to others.

·       If you haven’t downloaded the zoom app, please do so beforehand (https://zoom.us/download).

Brown, K.W., Ryan, R.M., Creswell, J.D. (2007). Mindfulness: Theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry. 18:211–237. doi:10.1080/10478400701598298.