Healthy Living Programs
Mindfulness

Mindfulness Drop-In
Take 30 minutes to downshift and practice mindfulness techniques the first Wednesday of each month at Beach Cities Health District from 5:30-6 p.m. The sessions will be led by trained Beach Cities Health District staff. No prior experience with meditation or mindfulness is required.

Beach Cities Health District 
Lower level Beach Cities/Redondo Room 
514 N. Prospect Ave.
Redondo Beach 

Parking information: When you arrive to the campus at 514 N. Prospect Ave, Redondo Beach, you will see three buildings (510, 514, 520). As you enter on the roundabout, notice the center building is 514. Proceed to make a right turn between the 514 and the 520 buildings. This will take you to the parking lot (free). Once parked, proceed inside and follow the directional signs for Mindfulness Drop-In with arrows to the lower level Beach Cities/Redondo Room.

Questions? Call Tiana Rideout at 310-374-3426, ext.139.

What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention in the here and now with a quality of openness, curiosity and kindness. Being mindful isn’t about achieving a particular feeling or removing specific thoughts. It’s about paying attention to your present moment experience, which includes all the thoughts, feelings, sensations, sounds etc., with a stance of allowing discernment. This practice teaches us to meet the experience of the moment just as it is, without adding extra criticism or judgment. At first, when you practice mindfulness and meditation you might not immediately feel its impact or know how it will benefit you. However, over time and with practice, many find that through mindfulness they gain more clarity about circumstances in their life and they are better able to handle stressors at home and in the workplace.

Mindfulness practices at home and in the workplace:

  • Daily Five Minute Breath Meditation: Sit comfortably in a place where you are unlikely to be disturbed. Pay attention to the breath for five minutes as it moves in and out of the body (focusing at the nose, chest or at the abdomen.) Allow yourself to attend to the breath with interest and openness. When your mind wanders, notice where you have gone and gently return to the breath. Remember, you are not trying to achieve any particular state ... we are practicing being present now with whatever is here. See what happens.

  • Mindful Eating: Eat a snack mindfully. Notice the sight, touch, smell, taste, sound and thoughts and feelings you are experiencing while you are eating. When the mind wanders, bring your attention back to the act of eating.

  • Mindful Movement: The longer you sit at a desk, the worse you physically feel. For every thirty minutes of sitting, do four minutes of movement. Stretch your arms over your head, walk, do some neck rolls. Notice how your body feels before and after you move.

  • STOP: Stop, Take a Breath, Observe and Proceed. This is a helpful tool to help you cope with stress. Learning to STOP can prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by negative emotions. Also, if the moment is pleasant, you can truly enjoy this pleasant moment, instead of missing it. Doing “STOP” can also add a moment of mindfulness at any time during your day.

  • Other Daily Mindfulness Practices: Practice mindfulness while brushing your teeth, shaving, making coffee, washing dishes, folding laundry, taking out the garbage, walking to the bathroom, driving, window gazing, etc.