A Moment’s Peace
by Sydney Boyce, MS, LAT, ATC, RYT200
Stress is our body’s way of saying there is too much going on at the moment and that we’re feeling overwhelmed “This is too much!” When these stress responses start to affect our everyday life or prevent us from being in the present moment, mindfulness and meditation practices can help turn down the volume on those anxious feelings.
Very Mindful
Mindfulness is our way of being fully present, knowing where we are, aware of our surroundings, what we are doing, see things clearly, and be intentionally tuned into our interactions without being overwhelmed or reactive by the things happening around us. Essentially, mindfulness is paying attention to purpose.
Purposeful Presence
It helps us recognize what we need, respond (instead of react), and sit with discomfort rather than running from it. Practicing mindfulness lets us filter through stress, tune into the moment, and appreciate the people around us.
3 Simple Steps to Mindfulness Meditation:
Awareness: Bring our attention to the current moment. Notice our thoughts, emotions, and feelings without judgment. Let them come and go without reacting or trying to change them. Just observe them as they are.
Breath: Shift our focus to our breath. Pay attention to where we feel it most, like our belly, chest, or nostrils. Slow our breathing, extending our exhales longer than our inhales, or simply aim for a steady rhythm.
Body Scan: Move our awareness through the body, starting at the crown of our head and moving down to our toes. Notice where tension might be hiding and sit with that awareness, letting our breath soften those areas.
Calm Your Breath
Try these breathing techniques to help manage stress and tap into your diaphragm. These tools are here as one of many ways to bring our focus back to our body, our breath, and our mind.
Mindfulness Affirmation
As we sit in the holiday season, but also as we close this year, let the affirmation below serve not only as a tool for mindfulness but as a reminder of the growth and clarity we’ve cultivated throughout 2024. Each inhale carries the lessons learned, and each exhale creates space for the possibilities ahead.
“Internal conflicts happen—wondering, pondering, the chatter in your head throughout the day. For many, the mind can be an internal battlefield.
The soul is the still, quiet voice that comes through when your thoughts are clear—clear from judgement, clear from materialism, clear from tomorrow. When you feel the sensation of breath above your lip or the expansion of the abdomen, the mind begins to settle. The chatter slows down.
So, breathe like it’s the last breath, exhale and let go, inhale to restore and listen to the still voice of your soul. Quiet the mind and the soul speaks.”
Sydney Boyce, MS, LAT, ATC, RYT200 || Sydney received her education between King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, PA) and West Virginia University. She’s been in the industrial setting for 6 years and transitioned to Work Right with the acquisition of Occupational Athletics. Apart from work, she’s a workout junkie! She spends her evenings and weekends teaching power yoga and going on hikes with her chocolate lab, Reese!.
Be sure to check out our other blogs for further injury prevention education and tips for the industrial athlete from Work Right NW!