Mindful breathing is direct, natural and easy to learn, it is simply using your breath as a focus or a tool for mindfulness. If you can breathe you can be mindful and once you master this you can access it at any point, wherever you are day or night. Mindful breathing can help you
• Gain an immediate sense of peace - this can be experienced from the first breath • Helps you accept yourself, other people, and your life, just as they are without fighting against them • Connect to your own inner strength • Achieve an inner sense of well-being, energy, and joy • Be kinder to yourself and to others
Following on from the hugely successful I Met A Monk , Rose Elliot, renowned vegetarian chef and proponent of mindfulness gently leads the reader on a journey that starts with the teachings of the Buddha on a moonlit evening. In its re-telling she reveals the techniques and teachings of the Buddha, that are as valid today as they were two and a half thousand years ago on mindful breathing. Every Breath You Take brings a fresh approach to mindfulness that will inspire anyone who hasn't tried it and will bring new life to the practice of those who have. Both practical, personal and inspirational this book will give you the tools and exercises you need to be able to understand and use mindful breathing every day of your life.
Rose Elliot is a British vegetarian cookery writer. She has written 55 books on vegetarian cookery, which have sold three million copies all around the world. Her first book, Simply Delicious, was published in 1967. Her latest cookery book, The Best Of Rose Elliot: The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection was published by Mitchell Beazley in 2014. She is patron of the Vegetarian Society, VIVA (Vegetarian International Voice for Animals) and The Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation. She also supports Compassion In World Farming, and OXFAM for whom she has written three best-selling books to raise funds. In 1999 she was awarded the MBE for services to vegetarian cookery. She lives in Hampshire and in London, and is a member of MENSA.
Every Breath You Take is one of the finest mindfulness manuals that I've ever had the pleasure to pick up. Practice by practice, Elliot takes the reader from the simple and concrete observation of the breath to the complex and abstract juggling of mind stuff. Along the way, she provides stories and anecdotes of those who have walked these paths before us and shows that, no matter where you are in your life, you can become more aware and grounded in the present moment and how beneficial that can be for you.
She began her journey like most of us- convinced that mindfulness was too difficult: "I struggled with the practice. I found it dreary, dull and boring- all that 'notice-what-you're-doing-while-you-clean-your-teeth'- I just couldn't get to grips with it at all. ... when I was on the point of giving up altogether, I met a monk... and he quietly suggested that it is helpful to link mindfulness practice to breathing. This really helped." loc 16. Elliot is so relatable that she made me feel like, if she could do this, I could do it too.
A reminder that mindfulness isn't just a 'Buddhist' thing: "...it is to the Buddha that we owe mindfulness, but that does not mean you have to 'be a Buddhist' (whatever that may mean), or indeed of any religion at all to practise it. The breath is universal, as is spirit, so we can all benefit." loc 46. If we can breathe, we can watch the breath. We just need to remember to do it.
I loved Elliot's gentle humor which was evident throughout: "You can use the irritations of daily life as reminders to take a mindfulness breath- and this way you'll certainly get plenty of practice! For instance, such reminders might be: Being held up in traffic or a red light when you are driving. Waiting for the kettle to boil or for a bus or a train that's late- waiting for almost anything. Lining up at the bank or at the grocery store checkout, or anywhere, for that matter. When someone is being really irritating, how great to know you have your own inner source of peace so they can't bother you." loc 237. It is as if life is chock full of opportunities to take mindful breaths :)
My favorite part of the book were the many teachings about attachment. "When we can accept things as they are now, but recognize that they will change, and accept that too, we will know peace." loc 793. I feel more peaceful already!
The Epilogue where Elliot talks about grieving for her husband and using these breathing exercises to make it through is especially touching. This is not just someone who talks the talk- she's out there walking the walk. Highly recommended for anybody at any level of ability who wants to learn more about mindfulness.
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE; HOW TO BREATHE YOUR WAY TO A MINDFUL LIFE WRITTEN BY ROSE ELLIOT
This gentle book repeats Thich Nhat Hanh philosophy about mindful breathing. Being aware of your breathing with sixteen exercises. If you are able to sit quietly and close your eyes and think about your nose as you breath. For instance Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know I am breathing out. Doing these exercises of one to two minutes of practice two or three times per day. Soon mindfulness breathing becomes second nature like riding a bicycle or swimming. Then you can take a mindfulness breath any place, or anytime, without closing your eyes.
Since I already have Thich Nhat Hanh's books and some Audio of his teachings this was not new information for me. Every Breath You Take was a repetition to read and enforce what I already knew. For those who are new to Thich Nhat Hanh's work this is a good place to start. It is short and very reader friendly.
Thank you to Net Galley, Rose Elliot and Watkins publishing for my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Es un libro práctico, contiene 16 ejercicios que te ayudarán a mantenerte aquí y ahora. Me gustó mucho debido a que sus explicaciones eran sencillas lo cual son de fácil aplicación en la vida diaria.
Algunas frases que me gustaron: * La mente despejada es como la luna llena en el cielo: aunque aparezcan nubes y la oculten, ella seguirá allí. Y cuando las nubes desaparezcan, la luna resplandecerá *Si quieres ser feliz, empieza por ser amable y cariñoso contigo mismo, especialmente cuánto te sientas triste, deprimido o tengas miedo. *Metta, practica de la Bondad amorosa: Ojalá me encuentre a salvo, ojalá sea feliz. Ojalá me encuentre bien y sin preocupaciones. *Cuando emitimos juicios, dotamos de significado a cosas que no lo tienen ya que si practicamos la atención plena, esas cosas simplemente “son lo que son”: en el momento presente, “todo es como es” y no hay más. *En español, la palabra para este momento (el presente) es sinónimo de regalo. *Formas de sentirse feliz: esta en el momento presente, acepta las cosas tal y como son, se consciente de los pequeños placeres de la vida, se amable, se agradecido. *El pasado ha quedado atrás. El futuro está por venir. Solo puedes vivir una cosa: el presente. *Acepta cada parte de tu cuerpo con atención plena y amor, cómo una madre que cuida de su pequeño. Siente el dulce Poder de sanación que eso te brinda. *Si puedes respirar, puedes ser consciente, y si puedes ser consciente, puedes sanar y transformar tu vida. *Todo lo creado es transitorio. Por lo tanto, aferrarse a cualquier cosa causa sufrimiento. La manera de escapar del sufrimiento es ser consciente del momento presente y vivir sin apegos. *El sufrimiento está causado por el “apego al deseo”: desear algo, no desearlo o desear algo diferente. La vida está en constante cambio; por eso si sentimos apego por algo, sufrimos. Liberarse del deseo es como cualquier otra cosa: se vuelve más fácil con la práctica. Sabrás que te has liberado del deseo cuando aceptas la situación tal y como es. *Si aceptamos las cosas tal y como son ahora mismo, siendo conscientes de que van a cambiar y aceptando eso también, hallaremos La Paz. *El mindfulness no es crítico, no condena ni enjuicia, no se trata de estar eligiendo, gustando o disgustando, intentando conseguir algo o liberarse de ello. El mindfulness esa sensación de conciencia interior, consiste en aceptarlo todo por completo: el placer o el dolor en el cuerpo, los buenos o malos pensamientos, la felicidad o tristeza, la desesperación o cualquier cualidad emocional que estés experimentando.
Listened to this on audible for my one little word project (Breathe). It is a very short audio book 3 hours long. I actually listened to this twice and both times I got something out of the book. It does repeat a lot but it is very positive and gets you to think mindfully in the present moment. Great audio book to help you be aware of the present moment. Can be listened to over and over again.
"Pagātne ir pagājusi. Nākotne vēl nav pienākusi. Dzīvot var tikai vienā mirklī - tagadnē." /Buda Meditācija un apzinātība man ir bijuši izaicinājumi jau vairākus gadus. Neskaitāmas reizes esmu mēģinājusi pievērsties meditācijai – sāku ar lielu apņēmību, kādu laiku veiksmīgi praktizēju 15 minūtes dienā, bet tad pienāk diena, kad viss sabrūk un mans prāts atkal atrodas haotiskā stāvoklī. Kā autore min savā grāmatā: "Buda prātu sauca par 'pērtiķa prātu' (vai dažreiz arī par 'piedzēruša pērtiķa prātu'), jo prāts šaudās šurpu turpu kā pērtiķis, kurš lēkā no viena zara uz citu." Šī metafora precīzi atspoguļo to, cik nevaldāms un nemierīgs var būt prāts, it īpaši meditācijas mēģinājumu laikā. Grāmata pavēra man citu skatījumu uz meditāciju. "Meditācija nav darbs, tā ir rotaļa... meditācija nav kaut kas, kas jāpaveic, lai sasniegtu kādu mērķi – mieru, svētlaimi –, tā ir jāizbauda kā mērķis pats par sevi," raksta autore, atsaucoties uz Ošo. Šī pieeja man atklāja, ka meditācija nav saistīta ar sasniegumiem vai rezultātiem, bet gan ar procesa izbaudīšanu un prāta atvēršanu uz šo brīdi. Kad devos savā otrajā Camino, līdzi paņēmu kindle ar "Apzinātības elpu" un to lasīju kafijas pauzē – nevis skrollējot tālruni, bet gan pievēršoties apzinātības praksei. Camino laikā man izdevās būt vairāk klātesošai, elpot dziļāk un sajust mieru. Manuprāt, šī izdošanās lielā mērā ir saistīta arī ar piedalīšanos Līgas Ozolas meditācijas pētījumā, kur sešas nedēļas mēs meditējam un elpojam viņas mierīgās balss pavadījumā. Tas palīdzēja stiprināt apņemšanos. Grāmata ir pilna vērtīgiem vingrinājumiem – sākot ar elpošanas tehnikām un ķermeņa skenēšanu, līdz pat dziļākai apzinātības praktizēšanai ikdienas dzīvē. Turklāt, autore atklāj arī savus personīgos pārdzīvojumus, īpaši vīra zaudējumu, un dalās ar savu iejūtīgo attieksmi pret sāpēm un zaudējumu. Šī daļa mani īpaši aizkustināja, jo autore runā par saudzīgu attieksmi pret sevi, īpaši sāpīgu brīžu laikā. Viena no lieliskākajām atziņām, ko ieguvu no šīs grāmatas, ir saistīta ar apzinātību un to, kā mēs vērtējam situācijas. Kā autore raksta: "Izsakot vērtējumu, mēs piešķiram situācijai nozīmi, kuras tai nemaz nav. Apzinātība māca, ka pašreizējā momentā situācija vienkārši 'ir tā, kā ir', un tas arī viss." Šī doma palīdz pieņemt dzīves notikumus bez liekas emocionalitātes un spriedumiem. Lai gan miers man nav dabīgs stāvoklis, es ar prieku varu teikt, ka, pateicoties meditācijas un elpošanas praksēm, tas turpinās jau nedēļu pēc Camino . Šī grāmata man palīdzēja saprast, ka miers ir sasniedzams, ja mēs apgūstam, kā to ieaicināt savā ikdienā. Mana mantra trauksmes brīdī - Es ieelpoju mieru, es izelpoju mieru. "Rāms prāts dod iekšēju spēku un pašpaļāvību, tātad ir ļoti svarīgs, lai būtu laba veselība" "Ja vēlaties būt laimīgs, izturieties pret sevi labestīgi un ar mīlestību, sevišķi tad, kad esat noskumis, nomākts vai nobijies" "Man ir ķermenis, taču es esmu vairāk nekā ķermenis. Man ir emocijas, taču es esmu vairāk nekā tikai emocijas. Man ir prāts, taču es esmu vairāk nekā tikai prāts. Es esmu tīras apzpiņas, mīlestības un gribas centrs (Roberto Assadžoli) "Angļu valodā pašreizējo brīdi apzīmē ar vārdu "present", un tam ir arī cita nozīme "Dāvana" "
physically the book is gorgeous, I love the blue and white theme, the way they presented each chapter, how they use different fonts and the feel of the book in the hand.
I found the concept of mindful breathing interesting and liked the different quote and past experiences of the author. not everything in this book will be useful for me, but I take a few good points out of it.
Unfortunately even if the book is small and short, I found it to be quite repetitive and nothing new was given through the chapters and I find that a bit disappointing.
Received free through GoodReads First Reads - thank you.
This is a delightful little book, full of useful tools to make your life more at peace. Nicely laid out, clear instructions, and a handy size to pop into your pocket to pick up whenever you're out and about. The book itself is a pleasure to hold and feel. Recommend.
With its words of wisdom and 16 exercises all based around different aspects of breathing, whilst this has Buddhist teaching at it core I'd suggest it as being suitable for those of 'faith' as well as those who aren't.
Easy and clear to understand guidance, ideal for those wishing a momentarily respite from the modern 'rat race'. Every Breath You Take is a handy pocket size read that is perfect for dipping into as and when.
This is a beautiful book to learn from and to work your way through at your own pace. If you've been wishing to bring mindfulness and peace into your life, this is a good starter. The original teachings came from Buddha, but he gave them to everyone regardless of faith or no faith. You don't have to be a Buddhist to breathe or to be mindful.
If you already follow the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, then the information contained herein will not be new to you. Having said that, a student learns from whatever they read, so there may be a little gem hiding in here that you didn't quite pick up the first time.
A few reviewers have mentioned that the content is repetitive. Breathing is repetitive too... The reader will also gain an insight into Rose Elliot herself and how she heard the words of Buddha, her life, and the sweet humour that is needed daily in everyone's life.
Give this to a friend as a gift. It's a lovely size and beautifully laid out. I was given a free copy of this book via Goodreads, which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All opinions are honest and my own. Thank you to Rose Elliot for her generosity.
I received this book, for free, in exchange for an honest review.
The author of this book is definitely someone who walks her talk. Her love and compassion (which seems to usually come from much practice) shines throughout the book.
The book has many meditative practices, mostly centering around the formula "Breathing in I _____, breathing out I _________" derived from Thich Nhat Hanh. There are some interesting meditation ideas here, but as a lover of concise books the repetition wore on me a bit.I didn't find much new in this book but could see this being a wonderful tool for someone new to mindfulness.