Mindful Love Notes – Reflections on and off the Yoga Mat about incorporating Mindfulness & Yoga into Daily Life
I have just returned home from seeing Cold Play in concert thanks to a great mate, Bee! Seeing people live in concert is one of the ways I get inspired to continue to practice & teach Mindfulness in creative ways.
The best thing about live concerts is seeing your great mate excited & filled with child like wonder. As we were tilting our heads side to side laughing at the moving hearts through our 3D Glasses. As we all went quiet when a song was being played for Chris Martin’s late friend Shane Warne, dedicated to the Warne family. As we all shared a magic moment made more magical because of what we were asked to do … (shared further down) I realised the best thing about music & the full spectrum of feelings it evokes, is having people to share it with. These experiences also remind me how gratitude, empathy, sadness, nostalgia, excitement, joy & playfulness can all exist simultaneously.
As the “Believe in Love” neon sign sparkled from the stage toward the end of the concert, what became even more noticeable to me & more inspiring, was the actions that became an embodiment of this message. My favourite of which was where 80,000 people put away all electronic devices (thanks to the prompt of Chris Martin) and sang, danced and enjoyed being in the moment without trying to capture it. That moment felt so different to the other moments where most people had their cell phones up. This message of “Believe in Love” was also embodied by the showing Gratitude. The first concert I’d seen where all the names were put up on a scroll at the end giving thanks to ALL those who helped backstage, people who helped recycle the wrist lights, so many different roles that people played that went into the final result all got acknowledged, including people who travelled so far just to get there to see the show.
My good mate made a comment about ‘feeling the love’ Acknowledging people for their time and energy goes along way. It is one way we can receive a serotonin boost (naturally!) by acknowledging each other.
When someone has an energy of full presence, I am always curious to learn more about them. An opportunistic share for those who are influenced by the stars 🌟 😎😉 in more ways than one. I’m also sharing this because of the conversations I’ve had both recently and over the years about Yoga & Meditation helping us recover from not having a good nights sleep. (this too effects our feel good hormones and gut health!) Chris Martin, from Cold Play has shared his own thoughts on not being able to sleep. During interviews he has made comments about his own practice of Yoga & swears by meditation and quick day time naps to stay energised.
His other suggestions are pretty useful too, when it comes to realising we are part of something bigger and we all can have an impact on each other.
“You have got to express yourself in life, it’s better out than in. I believe everyone has a gift for something. Our job as adults is to make sure kids have an opportunity to find their gifts”
~ Chris Martin
I personally believe ADULTS too need to be given opportunities to find their gifts & express themselves. This is therapeutic & cathartic. It’s also a way to better manage signs and symptoms of trauma. (Trauma is not just the big types of trauma everyone considers as Trauma. Trauma is what happens inside of you as a result of certain experiences in life – this includes what you believe about yourself or the world in response to certain incidences) This can have a huge impact on how we see and relate to the world. Music seems to connect us all regardless of where we come from or what we have been through.
One thing I highlight as part of building a Mindful Toolkit is creative expression. Weather it be different forms of Mindful Movement, Dance, Writing, Art & so much more.
It’s never too late to express your creativity in what ever way you want. Regardless of what people think, or your worries about the end result. Cold Play played their first ever concert in over twenty five years – with one man down (their base guitarist Guy) & at the start Chris came out to let the crowed know. I don’t think I would have known any different to be honest – because there is so much more than the end result that goes into an experience.
For me, although it was an amazing experience – what meant more than any of it was getting that text from a great mate asking me to go & being able to share quality time. Seeing your mates get excited and have a great time is a precious gift. 💝
To those who have a little girl or boy inside them that loves singing, dancing & enjoys being star struck – regardless of your age. Make sure you let those parts continue to do what they love. Maybe it’s those parts that give the more adult part of you the energy you need to love who you love. Be it through creativity, movement, dance, art, song writing, practicing yoga together or simply inviting a friend to share some good quality time & you put your devices away
Namaste 🙏
Tammy xox
~ Inspired by mindfulness from a Sky Full of Stars & most of all good mates you have at your side to look up at them with.
PS : I will leave you with a Chris Martin quote I love & was glad to take on board as another Mindful Love Note for contemplation :
“If you don’t let love in, how can you give it back”
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