Mindfulness

[emma(:]

Hi

I have seen lots of flyers later offering workshops in Minfulness, but dont know that much about it. They do seem quite expensive.

I wonder if anyone has experience of this and can tell me more.

thanks in advance

Aly

 

[GedaIdeampumn]

Mindfulness originally comes from Buddhist teachings, it's basically learning to keep the mind fully in the present, not looking back at the past or anticipating the future. Being mindful of the "now" is said to reduce stress etc.


Nowadays, mindfulness training involves learning to become aware of mind, body and emotions and there are lots of different versions of it. It's taught within Yoga, meditation, tai chi, a few new agey type of places, life coaching, hypnotherapy, there is also mindfulness based cognitive behaviour therapies, mindfulness based teacher training, the list goes on. I'm surprised that you hadn't come across it sooner.


The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a good book that is very similar to the mindfulness way of thinking.

 

[Yum.]

Hi Newcastle coach,

As Bannick says this approach is drawn from Buddhist meditation practice. The basis approach is to bring non-judgmental awareness to body, feelings, thoughts and processes of experience. Mindfulness is a translation of the word "sati" which includes ideas that relate to focus of attention, awareness and remembering. It literally means "that which is remembered." This helps people to see that they are not their thoughts.

Several mindfulness based practices have developed in clinical context:

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). An 8 week training course that includes yoga as part of the mindfulness of body practice. The first two weeks of this training course are based around a body scan which comes from yoga nidra practice.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). This approach combines the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with MBSR. MBCT is now approved by NICE for chronic depression. A recent trial which compared MBCT to prophylactic use of antidepressants to prevent relapse of depression in subjects with chronic depression found that MBCT was better on a number of outcomes.

Other mindfulness based approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.

The is an increasing body of evidence that shows these approaches are useful for both psychological and physiological function.

This all sounds very dry. The experience is much richer. It is bringing a curiosity with gentleness to one's experience, unpleasant and pleasant aspects of it. This is very important. We learn not to run away from unpleasant feelings. Thoughts and judgments just become part of the landscape of experience. When gentleness and curiosity are the dominant "behaviours" an experience of ushering in lovingkindness into ones body and sense of self comes. This then is echoed in the way we relate to others. Letting go of judgmental thoughts releases us from the hurt they cause us. Then feelings of lovingkindness improve health and well being in an individual and in their relationships to others. In short, mindfulness practice helps us to heal naturally - it stops "us," our worries and concerns based on self image, from getting in the way of our natural state.

If you choose to go on an 8 week course ask about where the trainer has been trained and what their experience has been. Also see how you feel about them before committing to a course. There is no regulatory body as yet. Some, who have just come from some kind of meditation background may also teach mindfulness courses. Some like Breathworks are very good. Others may not be.

Norbu.