Mindfulness

Mindfulness helps us to become more aware of our internal experiences (thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations) and external experiences (our environment and interpersonal interactions), as they are happening in the present moment.

Mindfulness practices are essentially a form of awareness training.

Based on the ancient Buddhist meditation practice, mindfulness skills can be learned and practised by anyone to help deal with physical or emotional pain, stress and the challenges of everyday life, no matter what their religious or cultural background.

• Practising mindfulness can help us regulate our emotions,
• it can boost our concentration and self-confidence,
• it can improve our relationships and give us a real sense of well-being,
• it is proven to help with stress, anxiety, depression and addictive behaviours,
• it can even have a positive effect on long-term health conditions such as chronic pain, heart problems, COPD, diabetes and headaches.

There is a considerable amount of research on the effectiveness of mindfulness in a wide variety of contexts.

Over the past thirty years, mindfulness skills have been taught with great effect in mental health settings as well as in corporations, schools, prisons and government agencies.

Mindfulness is endorsed by the NHS and recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) as being effective for improving our physical and mental health.