Don’t Have Time to Meditate? Just Take a Shower

Take a shower if you don’t have time to meditate!

There is still a misconception that meditating has to take time out of your day, or be boring.

Meditating is simply returning your concentration to a point of focus, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be sitting still or that your focus has to be your breathing.  For instance you can take a shower, or wash the dishes mindfully, and still gain the physical, mental and neurological benefits of traditional meditation practices.

Firstly it’s important to remember that even the most seasoned long-term meditators get distracted.

It’s in human and animal nature to keep the body and mind alert in case of danger.  That’s why meditating can seem unnatural, and therefore it takes training to focus in silence and stillness.  We have all read about the endless physiological and emotional benefits of meditation or mindfulness practices, yet many don’t have the desire or time to sit in silence for an hour focusing on their breath.

So if you don’t feel like you have the time or the inclination to sit silently in mediation why not meditate while doing some of your usual weekly tasks?

Or rather, why not meditate ON some of your weekly tasks?  Worst case, take a few breaths to just imagine how much worse some of these tasks are for those who are living in poverty, and perhaps you’ll have a mindful moment appreciating your life:-)

laundry meditation

HOW TO:

Firstly decide which of your usual activities is going to become mindful and if necessary tell others not to disrupt you while you’re doing them.  Some examples of shorter and longer tasks you can meditate on or do mindfully are:

  • Brush your teeth
  • Have a shower
  • Wash the dishes
  • Getting dressed
  • Drinking your cup of coffee/tea
  • Clean windows
  • Brush your pet
  • Brush your own hair
  • Washing the car
  • Changing the bed-sheets

The entire activity, from start to finish, needs to be done with focus in an act of meditation.  Decide at which point you’re going to start meditating so that you know when your practice is going to begin and finish ie. when you start putting on your socks, until your final clothing item is on…  Make a point of taking a couple of deep breaths before you start and then keep your full focus returning to the task at hand any time you get distracted or the mind wanders away.    You’ll be surprised how much you learn about your body when you’re actually really paying attention.

toothbrush meditationFor instance, what is the other arm and side of your body actually doing while you brush your teeth?  How fast does the water fall on your body from the shower-head, and how does the sensation of the water and the soap actually feel on your skin?  Does your breath get slower when you stroke an animal and are you planting the weight equally on your feet or perhaps leaning back on your heels? How would you describe the taste of your coffee and have you thought of how the beans have traveled from ground to your mouth?  How do all the different fabrics that you put on in one outfit feel differently on your skin and how much easier are some to put on than others.  Basically PAY ATTENTION.

Take in every aspect of the process or whatever activity you’re doing.  Take awareness of external sensations, how your breath and different parts of the body really feel, and making your movements with full awareness.  Again, it’s normal to get distracted so don’t get upset with yourself!  You should see these thoughts and distractions as the levels, or mental weight training we have to get through to strengthen our ability to focus in meditation for longer.  So take your next shower mindfully and congratulate yourself for washing yourself and meditating at the same time 😉

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Charlie Stewart-Brown

Charlie Stewart-Brown

Charlie began practicing yoga over 27 years ago as a recommendation for her severe anxiety, and has been teaching for over 15 years to people of all ages and abilities. With over 1300 hrs of training and 22,500 hrs of teaching, she is also the lead trainer on the Indiv Yoga 200 hrs YTT & RCYT Kids Yoga Teacher Training Courses, having certified over 400 students worldwide.  She is the voice of the ‘Yoga and Mindfulness Program’ on British Airways long-haul flights, has spoken at many seminars and corporate workshops, and runs exclusive yoga and meditation retreats during the year.

Originally from London and having worked in New York and Lisbon after her Psychology degree, she has since settled  in Switzerland with her husband, and dedicated her life to expanding her knowledge of the science of yoga, mindful meditation and better physical and mental health.

Over the years Charlie has trained with some of the most renowned yoga teachers around the world (David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Anne-Marie Newland, Leslie Kaminoff, Sadie Nardini, Sonia Sumar etc) certifying in Hatha, Sivanada, Ashtanga, Childrens and Family Yoga, Yoga for the Special Child, & Inner Engineering with Sadhguru. She has become highly respected for her successful work in yoga therapy, especially for Autism, ADHD and other behavioural and developmental syndromes. She has also talked at some of the biggest corporations in Switzerland and the annual SGIS (Swiss Group of International Schools) Conference on implementing Mindfulness in the work place and the education system.

Charlie holds the highest yoga qualifications as an ERYT500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher), RCYT (Registered Children´s Yoga Teacher), RPYT (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher) and YCEP (Yoga Continued Education Provider) with the Yoga Alliance, and has developed Indiv Yoga™ to bring a more physiological, therapeutic and individual approach to yoga. Indiv Yoga™ Switzerland is a RYS (registered yoga school) and RCYS (registered children’s yoga school) providing Yoga Alliance teacher training certifications of the highest professional standards.

The focus of Indiv Yoga™ is to provide the benefits of yoga to every type of individual, using its teachings to achieve physical and mental balance, and diminish the anxieties of modern life for adults and children.

Read her online testimonials and qualifications for a feel of her knowledgeable and friendly professionalism.

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