Welcome to the Mindful Lab!

I am happy to have you here!

We live in a fast-paced society, with lots of distractions and the expectation that we need to be busy to be successful. Consequently, we often go through the day with our minds in a distracted state, seldom fully present. Mindfulness is the antidote to distraction.

“Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”

- Jon Kabat-Zinn (1994)

Being mindful means that you are in control of your attention and direct it to what is going on right now. Being mindful also means that when your thoughts wander, you do not judge yourself, and instead re-focus your attention on the present moment.

Yoga is a practice of mindfulness. This does not just happen on your mat - you can integrate yoga and mindfulness into your everyday life. On this blog, I intend to share practical tips on how you can do this and shed more light on the effect these techniques have on your mind and body.

If you have been to a yoga class before, I am sure you heard your teacher mention what certain poses or breathing techniques are good for. As a scientist, I have always wondered about the “mechanism” behind these effects. In recent years, many scientific studies have started to investigate yoga and mindfulness practices. While this literature is still in its beginnings (and not always trustworthy), I believe that it is important to have an open mind and continue to expand our knowledge with novel evidence.

During a yoga lesson, you want to go within and feel the practice – you do not want to hear a lengthy lecture. This is what this blog is for. My intention is to use this written format to share more background on the teachings of yoga (beyond the asanas), blended with scientific insights.

While I share my knowledge with you, I am equally a student, educating myself as I go. So if you have insights that you want to share with me, or a topic that you want to know more about, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 Stay curious!

Jessica

References

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. New York: Hyperion Books.