Do you practice mindfulness?

Mindfulness is defined as ‘a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.’

Mindfulness has a significant element of some Buddhist traditions.  In the West, the practice of mindfulness has been pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn.   Kabat-Zinn is Emeritus Professor of Medicine and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.  Through his practice of yoga and studies with Buddhists teachers, in the 1970’s he developed the mindfulness stress reduction programme (MBSR) that is used globally by hospitals, companies, schools and families to treat a variety of health problems including stress, anxiety, mood disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, chronic pain, ADHD and insomnia.  There are some scientific studies showing that mindfulness can reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

MBSR uses a combination of mindfulness mediation, body awareness and yoga to help people become more mindful – to live in the present and not worry about the past or the future.  It teaches you to think about choice and how to deal with issues that come up in your daily life.  Professor Kabat-Zinn describes mindfulness as “moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness.”

The MBSR programme is an eight week programme consisting of a weekly two hour session and a one day retreat.  Participants have instruction in three formal techniques: mindfulness meditation, body scanning and simple yoga postures.  Body scanning is taught during the first four weeks.  Participants lie on their back focusing their attention on various regions of the body, starting with the toes and moving up slowly to the top of the head.

Mindfulness courses run across the USA and in 30 other countries.  There are taster and online programmes.  Many schools in the UK are using mindfulness to help deal with children experiencing a number of issues.

Do you practice meditation, yoga or body awareness?  Have you been on a mindfulness course?

Read More:

Global Women – How stress affects our health and wellbeing

Global Women – How do you cope with stress?

Global Women – Gong and hot yoga