MINDFULNESS JUST GOT BETTER WITH TECHNOLOGY

When thinking about meditation, technology is the last thing on the mind. Because meditation is probably regarded as losing all worldly possessions. And technology is considered more of a distraction than anything to link with serenity.

Making a balance between mindfulness and technology was a colossal task a decade ago, but not anymore. The availability of numerous meditation apps like Yours App and gadgets like VRs enabled humans to practice mindfulness and promote well-being. 

What is Mindfulness? 

Mindfulness is a state of regaining awareness of the present moment. If you know where you are, what you are feeling, and what you are doing, you are in a state of mindfulness. It is a fundamental human ability, and we do it all the time, though passively.

It is not something you have to learn from scratch by meditating in a lotus position for years. But, as simple as it seems, it requires some practice to master. Once practised daily, it can have tremendous benefits for mental health and well-being. 

For Whom Mindfulness Can Be Helpful?

Mindfulness is helpful for everyone and not necessarily practised by only those with mental health problems. It helps you be more productive, happy, healthy, and aware. However, it can be a blessing for people suffering from the following conditions. 

• Stress 
• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• Anger Issues
• Emotional Issues
• Attention Deficit Disorder 
• Chronic Health Conditions

Mindfulness Practices

Anyone can employ several mindfulness techniques according to their preferences. Some of the practices are discussed here. 

Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is a simple technique to be attentive and mindful of the present. Following are its steps. 

1. Sit in a comfortable posture. Select a spot and sit on the ground or a chair. 
2. Relax your body. Straighten your body and flex your muscles. All stiffness of the body should be released. 
3. Close your eyes. Disconnect yourself from the distractions and close your eyes to feel your sensations. 
4. Feel your body parts. Focus on your arms and legs, and feel what they are doing. Rest your feet on the ground. Relax your arms on the legs in a natural way. 
5. Focus on your breath. Feel the air going into your lungs and coming out. Pay attention to the air passing through your nose and mouth and going up and down your chest. 
6. Observe your thoughts. Let the mind wander, don’t try to control your thoughts. Embrace them rather than ignore them. Just pay attention while sitting comfortably. 

That’s it. This is a session of mindfulness meditation. After the session, you will feel more mindful of the present and enlightened. 

Good Sleep

Mindfulness sleep meditation is easy to practice. Following are the basics. 

1. Lie Down. Lie in a comfortable posture by placing your legs hip-width apart and resting your hand on the thighs or belly. 
2. Notice Breathing. Pay attention to your breathing, just like the physical movement of your chest and belly. Focus on the air going in and out of your nose and mouth. 
3. Acknowledge Thoughts. It’s normal to have thoughts. Your brain may be recapping the day, so embrace your thinking rather than ignoring it. 
4. Feel the Body. Start your physical sensation slowly from your feet, legs, buttocks, belly, abdomen, back to neck and face. The process should be slow enough to let you fall asleep before reaching the face. If you are still awake, repeat the steps. 

Physical Activity

Mindfulness during physical exercise can make the experience unique and rewarding. Following are the steps. 

1. Select a purpose for the exercise. It should be different for each exercise session and be achievable. The goal can be strength training of a particular muscle group rather than losing weight. Because the former is more achievable during a session than the latter. 
2. Pay attention to each exercise. Focus on your body during each workout and feel every movement, contraction and relaxation of muscles. 
3. Remind yourself of the purpose of the exercise. Paying attention to the reason will stop you from rushing through the session and slows you down. 
4. Remember breathing. It is the simplest way to return you to the current moment. Remind yourself to breathe and keep it steady. 
5. Lie down at the end. It is recommended to lie down for a few minutes to maximise the effects of the exercise. 

Breathing Exercises

These are simple mindfulness techniques. Just focus on your breathing. Feel how the air passes through the nose and mouth to fill your lungs. Focus on the movement of the chest and belly. It will bring you down to the present. 

Technology: The Mobile Therapist

Technology has changed the concept of a traditional meditation instructor into a mobile therapist. You have your therapist in the palm of your hand, everywhere, anytime. This is revolutionary and very convenient. 

How does Technology Assist Us?

Technology is helping us in practising mindfulness in every possible way, from mobile apps to VR headsets and from smartwatches to health monitoring gadgets. Applications of technology are only limited to human imagination. If you can imagine it, you can have it. 

Mobile Apps

If you face difficulty practising mindfulness alone, you can always download a mobile app. There are a variety of applications available for Apple and Android devices. The best applications include Yours App, Calm, Buddhidy, and Unplug. Yours App is overall best due to several tailored-made programs for all of your meditation needs. 

Virtual Reality

If you want to escape from the world around you, look no further. Gear VR (Samsung) is a worthy investment if you are looking for a better headset. It is compatible with almost all meditation apps. Just put on the headset, open a meditation app, and you are good to go. 

Smart Watches

Smart Watches are another revolutionary product for meditation seeking individuals. It provides you with time management, tracking of breathing, heart rate monitoring, and complete instructions to perform meditation. There are a lot of models and companies you can choose from, such as Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, Fitbit Charge 4, and Polar ignite. 

Other Gadgets

Several other gadgets are helping people to take better care of their physical and mental health. That includes muse (a brain-sensing headband), Thync (a wearable neuro-stimulating patch), spire (a health tracker), and a lot more to choose from. 

Final Thoughts

Whatever technology you choose for your mindfulness meditation, make sure it deepens your awareness of the present. Anything that distracts you from the present and does more harm than good is not worth trying.