What is your favorite exercise to do mindfully?
WalkingWeight liftingHikingKayakingMindful aikidoKarateDancingCleaning the houseBarre classesReikiBiking
Body and mind: How do they get along?
When do you feel most centered?
Do you practice mindful eating?
23% say they cultivate the habit of eating mindfully. 36% have tried it once or twice. 16% eat mindfully only when they’re not too hungry (we’ve all been there!). 20% have never tried a mindful eating practice. Finally, 5% make the case that mindfulness shouldn’t relate to pressures about so-called right and wrong ways to eat.
What is your favorite food to eat mindfully?
“Peanuts.”“Baby carrots…or potato chips.”“My first cup of coffee in the morning!”“A Malteser.”“Dessert.”“If I have to eat something mindfully, it needs to be chewy and/or sticky, like dried fruit.”“Biryani.”“Salad—so many things grown from the earth, picked by hand, and made available to me with nutrients to fuel my body.”“Wine and cheese.”“Anything crunchy and juicy and fresh.”“Chocolate!”“Probably something smooth like yogurt.”“Sushi.”
Do physical cues (e.g., sitting up straight, deep breathing) help you to practice mindfulness?
Hugs are …
58% A genuine way to connect physically and emotionally. Hugs all around!37% Nice, but only with good friends or family members.1% Reserved for family reunions or under duress.4% Awkward. I want my personal space.
What emotion creates the strongest feeling in your body?
The least powerful physical response comes from relief, with only 3%. Sadness and happiness also scored low (7% and 8%), and love only a little higher at 11%. Unpleasant emotions had the highest scores: fear (18%), anger (19%), and anxiety (34%).
In one word, how would you describe the relationship between your mind and body?
“A journey.”“Complicated.”“Attuned.”“Strengthening.”“Progressing.”“Overrated.”“Compelling.”“Struggling.”“Integrated.”“Tentative.”“Give-and-take.”“Inextricable.”“Mysterious.”“Scattered.”“Balancing.”“Compassionate.”“Can’t do a word…a love in progress.”
This article appeared in the June 2018 issue of Mindful magazine.
