How You Can Do Mindfulness Exercises With Beethoven

We all know how chaotic life can be. For those who have kids, animals, commitments, life is usually a hectic non stop journey. When someone suggests we need to take time out of our day and meditate, most of us raise an eyebrow and think, who has time for that! It goes without saying, many of us are under time pressure, but did you know meditation does not have to be a big time commitment. Mindfulness exercises are a style of meditation that works a little differently.

Can you remember the last time you really listened?

Mindfulness exercises are literally exercises which focus your mind on something which in turn creates a different state of mind. This is a very similar concept to that of mediation. Some of us even know this as day dreaming. Here's an interesting question, when was the last time you truly listened to a song? I don't mean driving down the freeway with it blaring on the stereo, I mean full concentration, actually feeling the music. Not only does this take some time, it also needs a little setup.

How to create a personal mindfulness exercise environment

Thanks to technology it's now easier than it ever was to create your own personal environment. ipods, iphones, ipads, iwhatever actually allow us to create personal environment like no other. You can use these devices to create something special, you can use these devices to create a meditation environment virtually anywhere.

How Beethoven Can Help

You'll need a song with minimal words, preferably a classic song, or at the very least a song with words you know well. Now, instead of just staring out the window really pay attention to the song. Try not to let your mind wander on thoughts other than the song, keep bringing it back to the song. Let your mind really focus, let it drift into the song. For the entire duration of the song let your mind be in the song. Open your ears up to all of the song, try and listen to all the different instruments. If it's Opera, be in audience and picture the singer, if it's classical feel the mood of the music. When the song is over, congratulate yourself, you just completed a mindfulness exercise.

It's about finding time

Yes, it is difficult to find the time. However, here's a thought experiment for you to think about. We find time to eat, we find time to drink, we find time to sleep, we find time to talk to friends, therefore if something is important we find time.

Mindfulness exercise is important, so you should try to find the time. Here are some times in the day where I find I can zone out, hopefully you have at least one of these as well:

- lunch time

- Train ride into work

- Last thing at night when everyone else are asleep

Meditation is not just about special poses and nice Japanese gardens. It's simply about taking a small amount of time out for your self.