Mindfulness as a practice for better health has exploded. But what does it mean to be “mindful?” I used to think mindfulness is something you do for 10 minutes a day, sitting in the lotus pose on a small pillow. Mindfulness, however, is not an activity, but a skill.

Mindfulness is the skill to be present of yourself, your feelings, your thoughts, your actions, and your surroundings. Meditations on Calm or Headspace are not “mindfulness” on their own - they’re workouts to develop the mindfulness muscle.