Formal mindfulness is meditating, choosing to practice for a certain amount of time.
This can be done seated in a chair or on a cushion, as well as standing or walking or lying down. Go to our Practice Now page if you'd like to try it.
Informal mindfulness is when we, at any point in our day, become truly present and allow ourselves to be a witness to our thoughts and emotions.
You can practice informal mindfulness by "catching" yourself thinking.
Whenever you can remember to do so, pull yourself out of the "movie of the mind" (your thoughts), and ground yourself in the present moment.
You can do this by noticing present-moment physical sensations (internal sensations like your breathing or external sensations like feeling the support of the floor or a chair).
Just notice your thoughts as a third-person observer, realizing they are just thoughts and not what's happening in reality right now.
Ready to get started?
Let's check out some meditation lessons
all images my own
photo credit: EJ Dilley
