Every 4th of July we celebrate our nation’s independence. Really it’s just a great excuse to do what we do best in America, celebrate and party. Friends, BBQ’S, fireworks, and booze equals one fantastic holiday. As with any ordinary day we have the ability to quite the mind and allow ourselves to live and experience all the moment has to offer. Amp up your experience of the festivities this Independence Day by practicing mindfulness. Here are some easy ways to draw your attention to the present today:

When prepping your famous gourmet burgers…

Take your time cutting up all your ingredients. Draw your focus to your soft, slow breathing. Look and really see the vivid colors of the kabob’s bell peppers, guacamole, or other bright dishes. Breath in through your nose and smell the BBQ out back. Hear the laughter of your friends and let your beer settle on your tongue before you swallow. Let all of your senses come alive. Just breathe.

When you’re hanging with friends and family…
Share your energy with everyone. Chat up your friends and be open to new people. Quite your minds dialogue about your social insecurities by focusing on your breath and what’s happening around you. Really listen to what people are saying and look into their eyes. Connect and exist together in that moment.

When you’re getting dolled up for the big night out…Hop in the shower and pamper yourself. Stand under the shower and feel the water dripping over your body. Close your eyes and hear what the water sounds like inside as it hits you. Take your sweet time scrubbing down, and then wrap up in a soft towel. Make-up is next, so be sure to care in how you apply. Instead of your typical mad dash. Look at your color options and maybe you’ll come up with a new way to blend your shadow. Feel the powder on your face and smell the light sent. It’s amazing what we miss!

With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to soak it all in. Happy 4th!!

Ririan Project: If you’re like me at this time of year the travel bug starts to creep into your psyche and all you can dream about is the day you’ll be splashing in the turquoise water of some far off locale. But, what about right here and now? We can’t always be off roaming the world, so here are some fun ways to experience the benefits of traveling without going anywhere.

Glam Spirit: Find mental clarity and ease in the body by practicing the ancient Chinese art of Qi Gong. This 5,000 year old practice fuses meditation, relaxation, breathing and movement to balance the mind, body and spirit. Learn more and find a practitioner from GlamSpirit.

Fitsugar: Can’t find a partner yoga class near you? All you need is a visual and simple instruction, so check out Fitsugar’s recommended partner yoga book. Share a smile with your partner while hanging upside down… super fun!

Zen Habits: Spring has finally blossomed and now it’s time to clean up and clear out our homes. Diving into spring cleaning is overwhelming, but so worth the effort. While I spent a whole day turning my place upside down, there’s no reason you can’t spread out the process. Here are 18 five minute decluttering tips from Leo over at Zen Habits.

Have you Floated today? And no I’m not talking about your typical float in a pool, the ocean, or even a bath tub. I’m referencing a brand new relaxation method called Floating.

Utilizing a revolutionary scientific approach to deep relaxation called R.E.S.T (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique), Flotation eliminates all sensory stress to the body allowing the mind and body to fall into the deepest state of relaxation on earth.

After hearing about this extraodinary method from a dancer friend of mine, I was intrigued, to say the least, and dug up some research. Here’s what I found!

If you’re looking to de-stress (and seriously who isn’t) then imagine falling into a calm state considered purer and more beneficial than sleep. This deep relaxation is created through the use of a sound and light proof floatation pod in which you float effortlessly on the surface of 10 inches of water that is saturated with 800lbs of medical grade Epsom salt and 100 million year old Himalayan salt. It is set to your skin temperature to give the sensation of floating “out of body”.

Apparently, “Scientists estimate that up to 90% of the brain’s normal workload is caused by the effects of gravity on muscles and the nervous system as well as sensory stimuli that needs to be processed.

The float tank screens out these external physical stimuli, creating a pure state of “sensory” relaxation. Under these unique conditions your body has a chance to restore its natural powers of self regulation, while you simply lie back and rediscover the latent abilities of a deeply relaxed mind.”

Sounds fantastic right?! Like I have mentioned before, there is a vast connection between the mind, body and spirit. Reducing tension in the body inevitably relaxes the mind and visa versa. While meditation and mindfulness calm the mind and in turn relax the body, floating creates an environment that reduces all stressors on the body, allowing you to fall into deep levels of consciousness. Floating actually activates parts of the brain and consciousness that only Zen monks and other yogi’s can access through deep meditation.

I have already scheduled my appointment at the Float Matrix here in San Francisco to give it a whirl. I’ll be sure to follow up and let you know how it goes! Check into it and see if any spa’s or holistic centers near you offer Floating. For only $75 dollars an hour (cheaper than a massage) I’m considering scheduling several appointments.

Zen Donut: Mike over at Zen Donut posted a fabulous video on meditation and mindfulness. With the camera rolling, the revered Jon Kabat-Zin spoke for over an hour to the lucky employees over at Google. His simple and thorough explanations mixed with anecdotes and jokes is a refreshing approach to an other wise hard to follow practice. Let him transport you to the present!

Positivity Blog:  Happy living tips from ancient Rome? According to Seneca, the advisor and tutor of the emperor Nero, there are ten fundamental rules for happiness. #10- Live In The Present-“There are more things to alarm us than to harm us, and we suffer more often in apprehension than reality.”

Zen Habits: Now I couldn’t have a moment for Zen without some insight into how Zen monks live their lives. The day of a Zen monk begins and ends with complete mindfulness. So if you are looking to simplify and enjoy life in all of it’s moments, learn these 12 essential rules to live like a Zen monk!

Over the last couple weeks I have been literally suction cupped to two fabulous new books. I am a huge reader and though I haven’t had the time recently, I had to make an exception for these mind blowing reads. Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, rocked my world and opened my eyes to the power of living life in the moment.

Mindfulness, or being present, is an idea I write about frequently because it’s the only way I have found to really experience and enjoy life. As much as I try to live mindfully, it’s challenging at times. I find myself swallowed in thoughts and overwhelmed a lot of the time. Thanks to these two books, I’m inspired, actually ecstatic, about incorporating more meditation and “living in the now” into my life.

In Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert chronicles her journey around the world in her desperate attempt to find herself and purpose in life. I was given this book as a gift for Christmas and just got around to reading it. Every woman should read this book! If you’re looking for inspiration this is the ticket. Gilbert is hilarious, witty, and above all spiritually insightful.

Eckhart Tollee, on the other hand, follows up his #1 New York Times Best Seller The Power of Now, with A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose. Oprah jumped on this wonderful book taking Tolle’s philosophy and audience to new heights. In A New Earth, Eckhart expands on his powerful ideas of living “in the now” to show “how transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world.” After reading The Power of Now, I was eager to read Tolle’s latest and found it utterly awakening. This book will show and teach you how to successfully live mindfully!

I can’t recommend these books enough!