Jennifer Ellis Of Life Enlightenment: How To Develop Mindfulness During Stressful Or Uncertain Times
Move your body. Pick your favorite movement — a workout, a walk, yoga, even just some stretches. The benefits of movement on the mind and body are extraordinary. This is actually my favorite step. Even when I was a kid, it was taking dance classes that helped my mindfulness most.
As a part of my series about “How To Develop Mindfulness And Serenity During Stressful Or Uncertain Times”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Ellis.
Jennifer Ellis started her company Life Enlightenment in January 2001 upon moving from New York to California.
She is featured in the book Guerrilla Publicity 2 and has co-hosted and produced several radio, podcasts, and TV shows. Prior to running her own business, Jennifer worked in the music industry for over 10 years promoting artists such as Rick Springfield, Oscar Peterson, and George Clinton as well as worked with corporations such as the Walt Disney Company and Intersound Records.
Jennifer is a vegan who spends time volunteering for animal-related organizations and causes. She is passionate about wellness, health and sports. Jennifer is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor, a YogaRenew Certified Yoga Teacher and Yoga Alliance Registered, a Yogamu Certified Meditation Teacher, a highlighted instructor in the documentary Your Brain On Yoga, an Independent Distributor for Young Living Essential Oils, and an Ambassador for Oola.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
Lots things brought me to become certified in meditation and mindfulness. The first is that I have had OCD and anxiety since I was 4 years old — learning mindfulness and present movement awareness is an important part of my toolbox. The second thing is since 2004 I have worked with Dr. Dawson Church who has done extensive important scientific research on meditation and the benefits of a meditation practice is a key to mind/body balance, happiness and longevity. And the third reason is meditation is a big part of the yoga practice. As a yoga teacher I felt learning more about mindfulness and meditation I could better support my students.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
One of my favorite stories is that of a student who comes to one of my weekly virtual mindfulness meditation classes and as soon as she gets ready for class, all her animals come sit with her as she takes the class. Animals are so in tune with their own intuition and I believe perhaps encourage it in their humans.
What advice would you give to other leaders about how to create a fantastic work culture?
I work with a lot of companies offering short meditation classes. Meditation decreases stress, focuses the mind, increases productivity, creates present moment awareness and much more. Leaders who see the science based benefits of meditation and offer meditation opportunities to their employees definitely see an improved work culture.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
My favorite mindfulness book is my client Dr. Dawson Church’s Bliss Brain. The research is cutting edge. How many people know you can actually rewire your brain?
Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s move to the main focus of our interview. From your experience or research, how would you define and describe the state of being mindful?
Simply said, being mindful is being present.
This might be intuitive to you, but it will be instructive to spell this out. Can you share with our readers a few of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of becoming mindful?
The benefits of being more mindful include: less stress, greater productivity, creativity, awareness of others, happier mood, increased sense of peace, and more energy.
Ok. Here is the main question of our discussion. The past 5 years have been filled with upheaval and political uncertainty. Many people have become anxious from the dramatic jolts of the news cycle. The fears related to the pandemic have only heightened a sense of uncertainty, anxiety, fear, and loneliness. From your experience or research what are five steps that each of us can take to develop mindfulness during such uncertain times? Can you please share a story or example for each.
- Turn off the news. Tune into you! I do not believe the news or opinions of others are right or wrong. What is most important is being mindful of what works for feels right to you; without judgement of others.
- Create time to meditate. All you need is 15 minutes. And it doesn’t even have to be every day. Taking time to meditate is a great preventative for when upheaval does come up — you will find you handle it with a better sense of peace and perhaps unattachment.
- Breathe! There are so many breathwork techniques to support your mindfulness. Experiment and see which works best for you. My favorite is alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Sodhana) which balances the right and left hemispheres of the brain
- Get a good night’s sleep. The body and mind need to rest.
- Move your body. Pick your favorite movement — a workout, a walk, yoga, even just some stretches. The benefits of movement on the mind and body are extraordinary. This is actually my favorite step. Even when I was a kid, it was taking dance classes that helped my mindfulness most.
From your experience or research what are five steps that each of us can take to effectively offer support to those around us who are feeling anxious? Can you explain?
I would suggest to support others be delicate. 1. Invite others to join you for a meditation or movement class. 2. Send a link to your favorite meditation without suggestion that they try it; just share it. 3. Show compassion for others. Do any of us truly know what another is going through. No. Just simply demonstrate kindness no matter what. 4. Leave your judgement in your mind. We all different. Even when you do not agree or understand someone else, stay away from judgement. Judgement only creates more anxiousness and upset. 5. Mindfulness attracts mindfulness. You being more mindful will rub off on others with you needing to do anything other than being an example.
What are the best resources you would suggest for someone to learn how to be more mindful and serene in their everyday life?
https://blissbrain.com/ — The book Bliss Brain by Dr. Dawson Church
Meditations and Movement at:
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.” — Sharon Salzberg
I hear from so many people that they know what to do to stay mindful but forget or do not make the time for it. When we make the time for it, it eventually becomes a way of life. In the beginning I recommend calendaring even just 15 minutes three times a week to be mindful in a practice that works best for you. Carve out and calendar the time; no matter short. As Sharon Salzberg says it isn’t difficult we just have to remember to do it.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Live in lovingkindness every day. Being mindful of oneself helps you to be mindful of others. Being mindful of others I believe is a key to peace for all.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
http://life-enlightenment.com/
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Jennifer Ellis Of Life Enlightenment: How To Develop Mindfulness During Stressful Or Uncertain… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.