Mindfulness is the simple yet powerful practice of training our attention.

It’s simple because it’s just about paying attention to what’s happening here and now. Notice your own sensations, thought and emotions.

Just notice them – don’t judge them.

It’s so powerful because it breaks the habit of getting lost in thoughts and worries about both the past and the future, which most commonly lead us into stressful thinking.

Mindfulness is increasingly recognised as an effective cure for healing stress and provides a higher sense of wellness and relaxation.

Over the past 30 years, there has been a wealth of research concluding mindfulness is fundamentally associated with improvement in key areas such as wellbeing, relationships and performance.

Experts at Harvard University have found that people who practice mindfulness meditation show changes in brain regions which control learning and memory processes, the ability to regulate emotions and to respond to different situations by taking different perspectives.

In the travel industry, we’re starting to see an increased interest in mindfulness and the benefits it can offer to businesses, employees and customers.

Many airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Delta and Cathay Pacific have started promoting meditation and mindfulness by introducing an audio channel on long-haul flights devoted to meditation practices.

• You’ll become more aware of your own thoughts as you step back and choose to respond in different ways. This can bring about huge benefits, especially when dealing with the stresses of flight delays, angry customers, lost suitcases, etc.
• Your body relaxes and the tension disappears, replaced by a wave of clam.
• You’ll achieve sharper focus and raised energy levels as you train your mind to stay firmly in the present moment. The sharper your focus and energy, the more resilient and productive you’ll be at work.
• Your newly found inner calm will increase patience and compassion towards others. When you achieve inner tranquillity, it becomes so much easier to develop truthful communication with others, making it easier to work with colleagues and customers.