I first learned about mindfulness under the willow tree at Gillson Beach in Wilmette 15 years ago.
A 
former colleague and longtime friend of mine was studying yoga and offered classes to her friends and neighbors. I joined her because I love the outdoors and thought it might be a nice complement to my regular workouts.
As a member of the “sandwich generation,” I quickly learned it was a great way to alleviate some of the stress I was experiencing caring for an elderly mother and 2 teenagers.
My friend never referred to her teachings as “mindfulness.” But, as I developed my own practice over the years, I learned how yoga fits under the mindfulness umbrella. We started by learning simple yoga poses, then breathwork, and finally, meditation.
I’ll be the first to admit that learning to meditate was difficult for me; at the time, I didn’t know how to sit still and was always itching to get up and move around.
However, as the summer progressed, I learned how to glance up at the blue skies overhead, then close my eyes as I listened to the sounds of the branches of the willow tree moving in the breeze; felt the warmth of the sun on my face; and smelled the lake…a scent familiar to me from my childhood. A sense of calm came over me as I started to feel more centered.
As winter set in, we moved indoors to the park district building overlooking the lake. Each time I entered the room, I sat down on my mat and gazed out the window, noticing the changes in the colors of the water from week to week. Soon I began to pay more attention to the wonders of nature every time I walked my dog around my neighborhood.
This is mindfulness…noticing how we fit into the world around us without any thoughts of changing any part of the experience.
It is about staying present, which allows us to calm our bodies and minds by learning not to dwell on the past or worry about the future, thereby alleviating feelings related to depression and anxiety. We use our breath to help us maintain
our focus, and movement to create the connection between our bodies and minds to regulate our nervous systems, which is becoming increasingly important for all of us.
Between the global pandemic and other forms of trauma we’ve witnessed as a society over the recent past, our stress tolerance has collectively increased dramatically.
Both as individuals and as a community, we have become emotionally reactive to events to the point that for many of
us, it has become difficult to handle daily stressors. Developing a mindfulness toolkit gives us resources in the moment when we become activated. However, adopting a mindfulness practice where we use these tools every day helps us achieve a calmer presence, so we don’t become quite so emotionally charged in stressful situations.
I encourage many of my clients to experiment with mindfulness, starting with something simple, such as taking a restorative yoga class at a local studio; using an app to guide them through some breathing exercises; practicing a simple form of meditation; or writing for 20 minutes when they first get up in the morning, allowing the thoughts and feelings swirling around in their minds overnight to pour out on the page.
I stress that it is important to be gentle with ourselves, avoiding any judgment. Mindfulness is called a “practice” because it requires repetition to create new neuropathways to achieve the desired result. It is not easy for most people and requires a commitment. But when it becomes a natural part of our day, there is often a spillover effect on our overall health and sense of well-being, impacting our relationships with ourselves and others…and our lives.
I invite you to join me to learn more about Mindfulness and how you might integrate it into your own life.
I am offering a pilot program called “Mindful Mondays” in our Kenilworth office every Monday in October from 9:30 to 11am. If there is sufficient interest, classes will be offered in Northbrook and Lake Forest in January as well.
All proceeds from these workshops will go to Inspire Change for Mental Health, our new nonprofit designed to make therapy accessible to those lacking insurance.
