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“Urban meditation” can help you “reset” your body and end the day with energy
Meditating may seem like a very distant thing, but, although it is not easy, it is something that everyone, with a little effort and training, can do. We must put aside prejudices, demystify the idea of being able to “leave the mind blank” and approach this relaxation technique with interest, enthusiasm and an open mind.
Taitasi taga faamamaina benefits of meditation are multiple and the idea is shared by Carla Sánchez, yoga instructor and co-founder of «The Holistic Concept», a consultancy specialized in stress management. The co-founder of the platform is in charge of imparting the “Daily Resets”, an activity that takes place in the LaMarca space in Madrid on Thursdays at lunchtime and in which, for 30 minutes, the hectic daily activity stops and a meditation session is done.
“What we are trying to do is encourage people to learn to take active pauses”, explains Sánchez, and points out: “These pauses are much more than stopping to breathe, which is the basis for calming the mind, but if we do not work our body, if we don’t make one awareness of our position, we can’t hit the target.
Lunchtime is the best time to do this “reset” and face the rest of the day with enthusiasm. «In the mornings we only think about work and we do not allow ourselves to stop, but instead at lunchtime, especially in Spain, we have a very integrated break, so it is the perfect space for one to make a concession and spend some time with yourself», Explains the yoga instructor.
Meditate in the office
Carla Sánchez gives us several tips to take this break in the middle of our day and meditate for a while. To begin with, point out the importance of put our shyness aside: “Sometimes we are ashamed to close our eyes in the middle of the office, we find it strange, and therefore many people who know how to do these exercises do not do them.” In this case, Sánchez recommends that we find a quiet place, even “get out of the office and stretch your legs a bit.” “We can sit on a bench, and breathe deeply for five minutes, just that, observe how is our body and our mind,” he says.
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The expert assures that by doing this “we are going to notice a change in us”, as well as we can help ourselves with some relaxing music. “You stretch your back, close your eyes and allow yourself to rest,” he says. It also emphasizes the importance of the latter, since it ensures that “We tend to think that resting is distraction” and that, by being distracted, we achieve the opposite objective, since “we put more information in our brain” and what really makes us rest is “to pause, to be silent.”
On the other hand, Carla Sánchez considers that it is more effective to meditate at times when we are more active than at night, since being more lucid and having more mental control, it has a greater impact. “We can do it on the subway, walking the dog, for example I sit on a bench, close my eyes, and spend five minutes. We can find gaps, but we must put intention “, he asserts.
Meditate on vacation?
Yoga instructor Carla Sánchez explains that meditation should not be used only as a tool to counteract stress. “It can also serve us as a method of self-knowledge, of inner listening,” he explains. “Meditating on vacation is a delight,” he says and explains all the advantages it can bring us: “By being calmer, you begin to discover other things, you connect with yourself emotionally, it helps you develop your sensitivity and awakens your senses.”