What is Mindfulness?
According to John
Kabat-Zinn (here), Professor of Medicine Emeritus 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, and founder of the Mindfulness
Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, "Mindfulness means paying
attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and
non-judgmentally."
Mindfulness enables you to see things more clearly, free of self-imposed
filters and preconceived notions; you see things as they are, rather than as
you want them to be. By undoing mental and physical knots and tensions, it
increases your sense of being fully present in the moment, giving you greater
strength to face different challenges, large and small, in your daily
life.
Through the practice of Mindfulness you will learn formal seated meditation, breathing techniques to calm body and mind, a ‘Body Scan’, and even how to eat more mindfully, among a host of other techniques and practices that don’t involve sitting cross-legged on the floor.
Through the practice of Mindfulness you will learn formal seated meditation, breathing techniques to calm body and mind, a ‘Body Scan’, and even how to eat more mindfully, among a host of other techniques and practices that don’t involve sitting cross-legged on the floor.
Can Anyone Learn How to Practice Mindfulness?
Um ... yes. Mindfulness can be taught to anyone from young children to adults.
What are the
Benefits?
Among other things, you may experience:
Among other things, you may experience:
- more energy and enthusiasm
- a more relaxed mind
- a greater capacity for physical relaxation
- enhanced self-confidence
- more compassion toward others
- and an increased ability to
handle stressful situations
Additionally, it has been
my personal experience that a regular mindfulness/meditative practice is effective
in overcoming stress, worry, addictions and more. It leads to peace of mind, a
deeper sense of well-being, greater focus and creativity, and improved
relationships. It helps you to: be more emotionally aware; more attentive and
fully engaged; put aside preoccupations and wake up to what is happening right
now.
Studies at Harvard and other top Universities have shown that as little as 6 - 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation brings a significant increase in grey matter concentration in regions of the brain associated with sustained attention, emotional regulation and perspective.
Mindfulness has also been used to deal with specific issues such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), management of chronic pain, dealing with the effects of cancer, and even the slowing down of the progression of Alzheimer's.
Studies at Harvard and other top Universities have shown that as little as 6 - 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation brings a significant increase in grey matter concentration in regions of the brain associated with sustained attention, emotional regulation and perspective.
Mindfulness has also been used to deal with specific issues such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), management of chronic pain, dealing with the effects of cancer, and even the slowing down of the progression of Alzheimer's.
Mindfulness Meditation is helping our soldiers deal with Post-Traumatic stress Disorder |
As a daily regimen
of exercise strengthens and tones the physical body, regular meditation is fitness for the mind and spirit. Who among us wouldn’t enjoy more
contentment and less stress in life? Meditation provides you with the best
conditions for training your mind to be calmer, clearer and kinder to yourself.
Many people believe
that to meditate you must sit cross-legged, perfectly
still on the floor for long periods of time, chanting mantras, while patchouli incense
burns. Although you can do this, there are as many different ways to meditate as
there are people. The most important thing is to be comfortable; so it doesn’t
really matter whether one is sitting in a chair or on a cushion, standing against a wall,
laying down, or supported in other ways.
Meditation has been
practiced in various forms all over the world for thousands of years by people
from all walks of life. Children from as young as five and adults well into
their 90s can all learn and benefit from meditation.
What is the
difference between Mindfulness and Regular Old Relaxation?
A good question!
Meditation can be profoundly relaxing and even though they may sometimes feel
the same, meditation and general relaxation are actually two different things –
but they don’t have to be!
There are many
different ways to just relax – taking a nice long walk, sitting and listening
to music, a conversation with a friend, playing with your dog in a local park,
swimming, watching TV or reading a good novel, or even just chilling out in a
comfortable place with nothing to do or nothing in particular upon which to focus
your attention for a period of time.
Meditation is a
practice where you train your mind to become more aware of the present moment,
the here and now.
The cool part is anything, therefore, can be meditation when done mindfully – washing the dishes, taking a shower, gardening, making love, even those activities mentioned above. Whenever the mind is focused on this moment, and distractions are eliminated, that is a form of meditation. Which means that, although we often choose to sit while practicing, in truth one can meditate anywhere ... at any time ... while doing anything.
The cool part is anything, therefore, can be meditation when done mindfully – washing the dishes, taking a shower, gardening, making love, even those activities mentioned above. Whenever the mind is focused on this moment, and distractions are eliminated, that is a form of meditation. Which means that, although we often choose to sit while practicing, in truth one can meditate anywhere ... at any time ... while doing anything.
Mindfulness: Good for What Ails You
For the longest time in the West, meditation was thought of as being the domain of hippies and the New age movement.
For the longest time in the West, meditation was thought of as being the domain of hippies and the New age movement.
But the theory that
meditation can reduce stress, depression and even chronic pain is one that has
been gaining in momentum in the medical community in recent years. Mindfulness
Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as taught by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as
taught by Mark Williams at the University of Oxford have quickly become the
interest and choice for academics in the mental health field, and organizations
such as the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) and the National Health Service (NHS) in England.
How do I Know if Mindfulness
is for Me?
Are you breathing? Then mindfulness is for you.
Are you breathing? Then mindfulness is for you.
Let’s face it, there are very few (none) of us who don’t need a little relief from the stress and pressure of daily life. We are all faced with bills, family obligations, demands at work, school, anxieties in personal relationships, too-little-time, and health issues.
Everyone can benefit
from developing a more mindful approach to Life.
In our Saturday meditation sessions we have teachers, parents, office workers, moms, dads, and others.
In our Saturday meditation sessions we have teachers, parents, office workers, moms, dads, and others.
Meditation ... Not just for hippies anymore! |
Meditation is useful
for anyone who is ready to look directly into themselves and learn new ways of
responding to what life brings. It is entirely secular and suitable for those
of any religion or none.
Some people want to
learn better how to cope with stress in their work or family life; and some
people simply want to learn to appreciate their lives more fully, letting go of
preoccupations. Some people come because they want to work with a particular
issue: depression or anxiety, or chronic pain, for example.
The principles and practices explored in the Saturday sessions are relevant in each case.
If you would like more information, or to reserve a spot on the mats, please call (570) 332-4377 or email me at barnesmartialarts@yahoo.com.
The principles and practices explored in the Saturday sessions are relevant in each case.
If you would like more information, or to reserve a spot on the mats, please call (570) 332-4377 or email me at barnesmartialarts@yahoo.com.