World Mental Health Day: How to Weave Mindfulness Practices into Daily Life

Before I joined CorePower as CEO in January 2020, I already knew the healing benefits of yoga. The mind-body connection that yoga provides has been incredibly beneficial to me in my personal and professional life. As so many of us do, I spend a lot of time in my head and can easily become stressed or anxious. Yoga allows me to connect my body to my mind and my emotions.??

As the pandemic continues to impact our lives, so does the mental health crisis. Many of us are struggling with the grief and trauma COVID-19 unleashed, as well as stressors such as mass shootings, climate change, and racial injustices. The World Health Organization has called attention to a “massive” increase in anxiety and depression globally and Clubhouse International reports that “1 in 4 people around the world suffer from mental disorders—more than cancer, diabetes or heart disease.”?

My true belief in yoga’s transformative power has led me to where I am with CorePower Yoga and the deep desire to bring moments of grounding and self-awareness to everyone, everywhere. As a company, we take our responsibility to support students’ mental wellness very seriously, and this includes reducing the stigma around mental health conditions and making mindfulness tools a routine part of everyday life – at work and at home. With World Mental Health Day approaching this Monday, October 10, I wanted to share some of my personal mindfulness practices.??

First, it’s important to note that mindfulness is not meditation. It is not about quieting the mind, but about focusing the mind. Mindfulness tools, like remembering to breathe, can bring us back to the present moment and improve our focus, attention, and emotional regulation of difficult feelings like anxiety, stress, and disappointment. Applying mindfulness practices to your daily life doesn’t have to be hard or take a long time. It can be as simple as taking time to:?

• Breathe: When I have an important meeting, or am feeling tense or stressed, I take time to breathe deeply and decrease the tension throughout my body. Sometimes it’s not a long, formalized meditation, but just sitting calmly and breathing with a count or simple mantra that I repeat. When I connect with my breath, I can tap into my compassion for myself and others rather than fear and anxiety. A few minutes of this can impact how I show up, leaving me more present, engaged and less stressed.?
• Move: Movement stimulates the release of endorphins and bond-building hormones, which combat stress. We are not meant to be stationary all day. Our musculoskeletal makeup is meant to move, and this improves circulation, encourages the flow of the Lymphatic system, gives us more energy, enhances our mood, and keeps our gut in check – which is where 70% of our immune system is. Whether you get off Zoom and step outside for a walking meeting, or do a few easy stretches from your desk, give your mind and body a moment of movement.?
• Find Connection: One of the things we hear most from our students at CorePower is how the pandemic and the lockdown have made them realize the importance of their community and of the power of human connection. Standford Medicine found that “people who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression.” When you can’t meet a friend for a group yoga or fitness class, set up a phone date with them instead. Find time to disconnect from technology and be intentional about scheduling time for people.??
• Practice Gratitude: Gratitude can also lessen stress, anxiety, and depression. In a study on gratitude and appreciation, participants who felt grateful showed a reduction in the level of cortisol, the stress hormone. They had stronger cardiac functioning and were more resilient to emotional setbacks and negative experiences. At CorePower, we start many of our meetings with a gratitude practice, and all CorePower classes start with setting an intention, as a way of practicing gratitude by dedicating your practice to giving and receiving what you need in your life. Practicing gratitude can be as easy as starting or ending your day by writing down 3 specific and new things you are thankful for.?

Start small. Spending ten to fifteen minutes every day exercising mindfulness can make a positive impact on your overall wellbeing. The consistency is key. Practicing mindfulness over time will foster self-compassion and, in turn, greater compassion for others. We may not be able to change, or even influence, the current conditions we are living in, but we can change our response to them.??

What mindfulness practices do you use when you're stressed or overwhelmed??