In The Mindful People Series, we interview people from different walks of life and get them to share their mindfulness experience, as well as how learning and practicing mindfulness have made a difference to their personal and professional lives. MiMo: How did you get into learning and practicing mindfulness? Kim: I have been exposed to the word "mindfulness" from social media articles and friends. I was curious what it really was because I read that mindfulness can help me cope better. At the time, I was facing anxiety issues and it surely does not feel good. From a friend's facebook, I chanced upon Erin's postings on mindfulness and the MBSR program. I went for the MBSR preview session and began my journey of mindfulness. MiMo: Tell us about your experience in the MBSR program. Kim: Having gone through the MBSR program, I felt it was an enriching, life changing and an enjoyable experience. I enjoy and really appreciate that most of the time we were hands-on practising the mindfulness techniques and exercises. Ultimately, these are the practical portions I have to be mindful to practise in reality after the MBSR program ended. We also get to share our experiences after the practice in an assuring and non-judgmental environment. Through the facilitation by Erin, I got to learn how everyone experiences mindfulness differently in their own way. We had a Silent Mindfulness Retreat and it was an amazing experience that we got to practise all of the mindfulness exercises in a calming and relaxing environment, with no distractions from our mobile gadgets. I really enjoyed it. I found it very therapeutic, fulfilling and satisfying. I deeply appreciate that Erin is a welcoming and friendly coach who makes the environment safe and conducive for great learning. MiMo: How has mindfulness contributed to your personal well-being? Kim: Mindfulness has helped me to cope better with my anxiety and esteem issues. By knowing the fact that mindfulness itself can help alleviate stressful states of mind, is already a huge help in the form of hope for me. In times of stressful situations, by taking a pause and being mindful, it brought myself back to the moment and reminded myself to not get involved with the negativity that was going on in my mind. MiMo: How has mindfulness supported you in your professional work? Kim: Being a Herbalife Wellness Coach, I interact with students and clients from different walks of life who carries different expectations in their health and weight management journey. Mindfulness has allowed me to learn that everyone is so unique and different in the way they think, feel and behave. It helped me to focus better to empathise and understand the needs of my clients better without judgments, by being in the moment. Also, I was able to share about mindfulness and mentor my fellow wellness coaches how mindfulness can benefit in helping them focus and keeping them on track to their commitments and responsibilities. MiMo: How have you incorporated mindfulness into your daily life? Kim: To quote an example, when I take the public transportation and feeling anxious, worrying whether I will be on time for my appointment. By "Taking a pause" through a deep breathing and feeling the physical sensation of my feet touching the ground, I was able to bring myself back to that awareness and assurance to be kind to myself to appreciate that moment, alleviating the stress. Time to time, I reminded myself to simply observe and watch my own negative emotions (in the form of vehicles and clouds), and not getting involved with them. MiMo: Any words of advice for people who are thinking about learning mindfulness? Kim: I strongly encourage anyone who is thinking about learning mindfulness to just go for it. To achieve something that we have never achieved before, we need to do something we have never done before. For things to change, we have to change. For things to get better, we have to be better. If not for taking the step to learn mindfulness, I would not have learnt the skills that can help me lower my anxiety issues and cope better with life. --- About Sim Kang Kim Kim is a passionate Dance Fitness Instructor & Herbalife Wellness Coach. She holds a NUS Bachelor Honours Degree of Arts and Social Sciences (Second Class Honours, Upper Division), majoring in Social Work. She has a latin ballroom dance background and attained the Title of the Champion for Macpherson's Got Talent in 2016. Being a wellness entrepreneur, Kang Kim not only specialises in Nutrition & Weight Management Personalised Coaching locally and internationally, she also mentors anyone who would an extra income or who are seeking for a business opportunity. She is AFAA-accreditated and attained certifications in AFAA Group Resistance Training, Sunrise Yoga, Standard First Aid, CPR and AED, Zumba® Fitness Basic 1 and 2, Zumba® Gold, Zumba® Toning, AquaZumba®, Zumba® Sentao, Zumba® Kids, Zumba® Junior, Zumba® Pro Skills, KpopX Fitness, Hot Hula Fitness, Super Body Super Brain, TRX Group Suspension. Are you a mindfulness practitioner or do you know one who would like to share their mindfulness experience on the MiMo blog? Do drop us a message!
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On 27 October 2018, Erin was invited to Autodesk Singapore's Out of the Building initiative, where she gave an introduction to the importance of body awareness in practicing mindfulness. We discussed how we are mostly "living from the neck up" and the importance of grounding ourselves to the body in times of stress. Also present was Tiffany Wee from Mind Body Slim who shared on mindful eating!
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About The AuthorMiMo founder Erin Lee is a Mindfulness Coach and MBSR Teacher at Mindful Moments, and advocate of mindfulness as the way of life. She conducts the classic 8-Week MBSR Program, as well as the 8-Week MBSR Workplace Program. Categories
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ContributeAre you a mindfulness practitioner and have meaningful experiences or thoughts about mindfulness that you'd like to share? You can contribute an article on the MiMo blog! Please contact Erin to find out more.
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