Peace of Mind: The Practice of Hitting Mung

Health and wellness inspiration can be found anywhere in the world. Traditions and differences in lifestyle can inspire many to try new wellness practices to find inner peace and improved health. A new wellness trend that has become widely talked about comes from South Korea and it’s called ‘Hitting Mung’. Loosely translated to “spacing out/zoning out”, this is a practice where people literally zone out and clear their minds to help restore calm and positivity within.

The Practice of Hitting Mung

Amongst the hustle of busy South Korean cities such as Seoul, many Koreans are paying to take part in this practice and give themselves a moment of peace in this sometimes overwhelming world. As part of this mindfulness practice, people will take a moment away from the overwhelming feelings of everyday life, disconnect from their phones, enjoy a cup of tea in a café and sit in blissful silence whilst taking in the nature around them and letting their minds wander without judgment from others.

Ji Ok Jung, the manager of a “self-healing space” (a dedicated space for people to practice Hitting Mung) provides insight into the popularity of this wellness trend in South Korea.

“Hitting Mung is a concept of emptying your heart and your brain so that you can fill them with new ideas and thoughts. We opened because we wanted to create a space for people to do just that… It’s a place where people can heal themselves. It’s something only you can do for yourself, not something someone else can do for you, and we wanted to facilitate that for everyone exhausted by the demands of modern life...”

Kim Ta Jung visited these spaces and found that taking up the practice of “Hitting Mung” positively changed her mindset and outlook on life. In an interview with The Washington Post, she expressed how this practice helped her,

“As I sat there, secluded and relaxed, taking in the view and drinking coffee, I couldn’t help but space out…I felt so comforted, and I felt like my heart opened up. The busy thoughts in my head disappeared, and I came back with a more positive outlook…”

Many self-care cafes have opened in South Korea where customers can read, meditate, write or simply stare out a window and lose themselves in their thoughts and the beauty of nature.

But don’t worry if you can’t make it to a café or don’t feel comfortable around others, because the practice itself is easy and a lot more personal than you may think. You don’t need to physically sit outside in nature or in a space with a group of people to appreciate this practice. The simplest way to do it is to sit in front of a window and immerse yourself in what you can see outside, get lost in your thoughts, daydream or even think about nothing at all. This is how you can commit to the practice and create a meaningful and peaceful moment with yourself.

The belief is that giving ourselves a break from the stress of real life and letting our mind wander freely, will ease the pressure of everyday life, people, or work just for just for a moment. Taking even 10 minutes out of your day to practice Hitting Mung to find a moment of peace and nothingness can have long-lasting positive benefits on your overall mental well-being.

As this is a mindfulness activity that focuses on peace of mind, this will come with many benefits that we see from practicing meditation and yoga. Teaching our mind to focus on our breathing, thoughts, and emotions can help us to feel a sense of calm, understand our emotions, and feel more at peace with ourselves and our surroundings.

Benefits include:

·      Reduced Stress & Anxiety

·      Refresh and Reset

·      Improved Mood

·      Improved Mental Performance

·      Clarity/ Clearer Thinking

·      Feeling of Calm and Relaxation

·      A Break for our Eyes & Mind

So, next time you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or just need time alone, then try ‘Hitting Mung’ and see if that makes a difference. Life can be hard, so give yourself a break and try to let your mind wander, let go of the stressful world around you, and give yourself a moment of peace.