A Happy Mind for a Better Life
What’s a single practice that’s been credited with reducing anxiety, treating depression, decreasing implicit age and race bias and increasing body satisfaction? Mindfulness.
Mindfulness encourages people to pay attention to the present moment, acknowledging and accepting their thoughts and sensations, without making judgments. It can help to heighten awareness of our emotional, cognitive, and physical experiences.
Have you ever lain awake in bed feeling like your thoughts were running through your head nonstop? Has looking at the clock and seeing how long you’ve been trying to fall asleep made you feel even more wound up?
Many of us experience anxiety-related insomnia, and our attachment to nighttime use of our phones and TVs only exacerbates the problem. Luckily, there are strategies you can try, especially before bedtime, to help reduce anxiety and improve your sleep.
In need of some relaxation? Therapist Erin McClearly, LICSW, recommends somatic (bodily) resting techniques for those looking to decrease symptoms of stress. Somatic resting is any sort of relaxation related to our body’s functioning. Typically, it involves activating the parasympathetic nervous system, the part of our nervous system that relaxes our muscles, lowers our heart rate,… read more
Our bodies go through myriad changes as we age; in terms of stress, as we grow older, we are both exposed to new physical stressors and begin to handle those stressors in a different way. This post seeks to break down those stress-related changes and provide methods for coping with them. How Our Bodies Respond… read more
The brain is our body’s control center, so it’s natural that more therapists are turning to brain-based treatment methods to resolve issues more effectively. As our knowledge of this organ grows, the ways to enhance brain function and tap into its power to heal do too.
While it’s easy to say “just quit!”, that’s not always a possibility. For those who’re stuck in their toxic work environments, here are some ways to get by—and maybe even to get something good out of the negative experience.
Historically, the practices that cultivate mindfulness have spanned continents and millennia, originating with influences as storied as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism. In the modern age, it has been stripped to a secular level with the ever growing popularity of Mindfulness Meditation, in addition to other contemplative practices.
Recently we have had a surge of interest in Mindfulness and Meditation services here at The Viva Center. It seems that people from all kinds of backgrounds and at different stages of healing and self-growth have been hearing about Mindfulness and are eager to learn how they can incorporate it into their everyday lives. And… read more
Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn. A breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, This is the best season of your life. -Wu Men Have you ever found yourself walking to work and not noticing the recent blooming of flowers or the changing colors of… read more
While it’s difficult to make sense of the weather these days, there’s one thing we know for sure: summer is ahead. That means warmer days, sunshine, and also the occasional sunburn. When we were growing up, summer also meant one more thing: time for a break! Soon, kids across the country will be diving into… read more
