Towel Time Meditation
I just spent a 10 days on holiday with my kids, sister and a
few girlfriends getting some much needed Vitamin Sea. When you are on holiday
with friends and family you really get to know them. I was quite shocked how
hard it is for some people to switch off and relax. My niece and I were
chatting about towel time the one evening. Towel time (sure there are better
names) is when you get out of a hot shower or bath, wrap yourself in a towel,
then lie on your bed. The exact amount of time spent in towel time is difficult
to determine as it is a place where you lose all track of time. It is mindless
time of just being, meditating, looking at your phone or watching brainless TV.
When the discussion expanded to others in the group, some acknowledged that
they also do this, even suggested climbing under the blankets during towel
time, while others became distressed with comments like “what if there is a
fire and you are not dressed” or “how can you lie there knowing that dishwasher
hasn’t been unpacked and lunches for the following day still need to be made”.
This is when I realised just how difficult it can be for many people to switch
off their brains and just be.
Now probably wondering what this has to do with
breastfeeding! During my holiday my baby support group continued their banter
over Whatsapp, but being in a different space and thinking about how tricky
some find it to chill, I was reminded that so many new parents are so stressed.
Back to work after a glorious 10 days in the sunshine, I
decided to try an exercise with my support group, just to see what happened and
hopefully help a few.
I asked the moms to write down a quick diary of the past
24hrs. No rules, a piece of paper with no name, and using crayons to write so
neatness can’t deter them. Then we sat and did a 7 min relaxation exercise. It
is so interesting to observe a group doing an exercise like this. Some
completely embrace the experience, a few appear to feel observed and can’t
quite completely give into the experience, some have a time limit in that 7 min
was just too long, and 1 or 2 just couldn’t even attempt it. I implored them to
look at their day and see where they had 10 min and try any form of meditation
as it could really make a difference.
Another observation I stumbled across while tidying up the
papers was the diaries, majority of the moms wrote down what the baby’s did the
previous 24hrs and not what they had done. The only reference to their days was
how they had fed baby, played and put baby to sleep. This seems to speak so
loudly to the notion that new moms put very little value in what they are doing
and feeling.
How can meditation
help new parents?
Meditation is a practice that helps to calm and quiet the
mind. There are many types, but the purpose of each is to train you to become aware
of your thoughts and feelings and let go of mental clutter. Many articles
actually say that meditation was designed for parents. The benefits of
meditation can touch many areas of your life, helping you decrease stress and
anxiety, better manage your emotions, let go of mental distractions, and be
more present and attentive with your kids.
Research shows us that even 5-10 min a day can make a huge
difference in your life. Some even say that 5 deep meaningful breaths can help.
Three types of meditation include guided meditation (lead by a series of vocal
prompts); mantra meditation (mental or verbal repetition of a phrase or
affirmation); and relaxation (imagining each area of your body relaxing).
Where can I find
something?
There are a number of places that you can go to find ways to
help you start meditating, from articles, videos, websites, and apps to
retreats and seminars on the topic. The Calm app has recently won a number of
awards in this area. The team at www.easybaby.co.za
has put together a mindful section in our free course that you can download and
use to get you started on this journey.
Taking 10 min in your busy day to heal your mind, try some
towel time, could be life changing.
You Got This
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