please empty your brain below
As a rule, I'm not one given to conspiracy theories (i.e. they are a load of old tosh for the paranoid, uneducated and/or the stoned), but this makes for an interesting read.
theguardian.com/the-mindfulness-conspiracy-capitalist-spirituality

Burntweenie | Homepage | 03.09.19 - 7:26 a.m. | #

With a due respect to those who suffer mental health issues, you'd need acres of vacant head space to consider paying £72 for such tosh.

Frank F | 03.09.19 - 7:31 a.m. | #

"Cannabis, urine and a tray of falafel" - hilarious!

Kevin | 03.09.19 - 7:50 a.m. | #

Echoing the sentiments of Frank F and Burntweenie, what a load of old tosh.
However, DG, your commentary was much better and gave me some much needed giggles this morning. I've done that walk and my experience was almost like yours,too many loose dogs and bikes.

Jo W | 03.09.19 - 7:52 a.m. | #

Mindfulness is just a new (and sometimes expensive) suit of clothes for a very old therapy technique. Refocusing someone experiencing anxiety or panic on the here-and-now and encouraging them to use the evidence of their senses rather than their distressing thoughts really works. It’s not magic, or snake oil.

You don’t have to pay £72 for this though. There are loads of free resources online, and in most areas the NHS IAPT service will offer courses and support which teach this technique for nothing.

AB | 03.09.19 - 7:55 a.m. | #

Perhaps using the GPS on the phone to trigger the appropriate parts at the right time might have makes it work a little better.

Jon Combe | Homepage | 03.09.19 - 8:44 a.m. | #

At least they didn't refer to narrowboats as 'gaily painted barges'.

SAM - NB 'Red Wharf' | 03.09.19 - 8:53 a.m. | #

"scenic waterway" - does mindfulness help you find a portal to an alternative universe?

I suppose it is a scenic waterway in many places, just not the place they're walking you through.

MKIan | 03.09.19 - 8:59 a.m. | #

Is it me that's mad, or just everyone else?
I need an App on my 'phone to "Appreciate my surroundings"??
Wouldn't it just be better to switch the thing off and look around me, and perhaps engage in face to face communication with some of my fellow humans?

?
??
?

RogerB | 03.09.19 - 9:54 a.m. | #

Meditation whilst out and about is not for the newbie. I can't imagine it's going to sway anyone who's not tried it before, as you really need to start out somewhere safe and quiet first. This pairing seems misguided, at best.

I'll actually give a thumbs-up to Headspace, because the app has more than enough free content without a subscription. The lovely thing about meditation (and I do find it useful) is that you don't need fresh content all the time. You can just go over the introductory sessions over and over until you're confident enough to do it all on your lonesome.

Chz | 03.09.19 - 9:55 a.m. | #

i'm not going to bash meditation ... but somebody really needs to give Headspace/TfL a geography lesson ... there are NO meanders in a canal !

ADS | Homepage | 03.09.19 - 10:15 a.m. | #

That Guardian article was well worth the read.
(Though too long for me, I stopped after the McMindfulness explanation).

Joho | Homepage | 03.09.19 - 10:33 a.m. | #

They say laughter is the best medicine, and today's post certainly gave me that.
I find laughter is a much better de-stresser, though you might be given a wide berth if you walk down the road laughing your head off!

Cornish Cockney | 03.09.19 - 10:56 a.m. | #

...i always find "living in the moment" flies by when things are great ...yet seems to drag-on for ages when not ...if someone could find a way to change that ...then we might be on to something!

Grumpy Anon | 03.09.19 - 11:07 a.m. | #

Earlier this week I took my neighbour down to the Lee Navigation at Stonebridge Lock, a stone's throw from scenic Tottenham Hale. She was incredulous at how she'd been transported into an alternative universe. After a wander through Tottenham Marshes she was destressed and elated. Is this mindfulness?

Caroline Greenwell | 03.09.19 - 11:55 a.m. | #

As the noise racket on that pert of the Northern line is excruciatingly bad, it's not a bad idea that they are trying to get people to walk it from Camden to Kings Cross instead.

I agree with Roger B re. phones being a barrier to 'being present'. No ???'s.

NickW | Homepage | 03.09.19 - 10:51 p.m. | #

I have dabbled in meditation from time to time, not least because my wife is Buddhist. I find mindfulness can be very useful, and Headspace is well established rather than a start up. But mindful walking in central Camden is probably not a good idea!

Ian Brooker | 04.09.19 - 1:11 p.m. | #

I dislike their use of Head as an imperative verb. Walk, Stroll or even Go would be better.

ian | 04.09.19 - 8:46 p.m. | #

I have followed this blog on and off for a good few years now, and I have to say this is the funniest post I have read here.

Great stuff!

straphan | 09.09.19 - 1:24 p.m. | #











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