Why Mindfulness?
Mindfulness
is the practice of becoming fully aware of the present
moment and what you are doing now non-judgementally and
completely, rather than dwelling in the past or worrying
about the future. Mindfulness can be achieved through
meditation, but one can also practice mindfulness
through daily activities such as eating, walking,
cleaning, etc.
As Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and one of the most highly respected teachers of mindfulness practice in the world, says:
"The practice of mindfulness requires only that whatever you do, you do with your whole being. You have to invest one hundred percent of yourself in doing even very simple things, like picking up a pen, opening a book, or lighting a stick of incense.”
The Art of Power. HarperCollins 2007
During mindfulness meditation we observe everything that passes before our attention, but we do not get caught up in our thoughts - instead, we just stay aware of what is going on in the present moment, acknowledge our thoughts and then just let them pass by. The breath is used as an anchor to the present moment, but, apart from that, no attempt is made to direct the attention.
While Mindfulness has origins in Eastern philosophy and Buddhism, there is no necessary religious component to mindfulness – anyone, with any belief system, can enjoy the benefits of mindfulness.
A
recent brain imaging study conducted by researchers from
Massachusetts General Hospital showed that participating
in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program makes
measurable changes in brain regions associated
with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress.
After participating in an 8-week meditation training course
individuals showed reduced activity in the right amygdala (highlighted) in response to emotional images, even when not meditating.
(Credit: Gaëlle Desbordes, PhD, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital)
Mindfulness today has become
accepted by Doctors and Psychologists and is used as a
cognitive therapeutic technique. Studies have
shown that people who practice mindfulness meditation
are better able to relax, and have more control of their
emotions. Meditation
has also been found to lower the levels of our stress hormone
cortisol and to increase production of serotonin, the brain chemical
which helps balance our mood and behaviour.
How can Mindfulness help to relieve stress?
Our
world is a very stressful place and although we cannot
get rid of stress completely - it is an intrinsic part
of our lives -, we can learn to cope with it and to
alleviate some of the acute physical symptoms of stress
(the 'fight or flight' reaction) by focusing our
attention on the place of inner calm using
Mindfulness and meditation.
Mindfulness is a useful tool for dealing with daily stresses as well as with the more long term chronic stress. Studies have shown that Mindfulness meditation can help you relax, increase your mood and boost your immune system. Mindfulness is a great tool because it can be done anywhere.
People from Western industrialised cultures have a
tendency to be characterized by the more left
hemisphere-dominated mode of brain operation.
The left side of the brain is the logical side;
this is the side that has a continuous flow of thoughts.
Meditation can help you gain access to the right
side of the brain - this side is your intuitive side,
and it provides inspiration and the expression and
regulation of emotions. By cultivating the right
hemisphere mode through meditation, we help improve
communication between both hemispheres of our brain,
which may help us become more mentally and emotionally
stable.
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Hove StressBusters
Mindfulness
with
Dr Trudi Edginton
A series of drop-in workshops and 8-week courses run by Dr Trudi Edginton, a Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Neuroscience and a qualified Mindfulness Instructor. The sessions are suitable for beginners as well as for anyone wishing to practice and extend their existing mindfulness skills.
Drop-in
workshops:
Wednesday, 8th May 2013, 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Wednesday, 12th June
2013, 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Wednesday, 11th September
2013, 7.00pm - 9.30pm
8-week course:
Next course starting 20th
September 2013
Fridays 6.00pm - 8.00pm (20th September - 8th November)
Course fee: £175
/ **
Early bird £145 by 20th of July
The course fee includes
eight two-hour long weekly sessions, guided meditation CDs and
course handbook.
Payment plan available.
More information about the Hove StressBusters Mindfulness Programme
All sessions
will take place at the Cornerstone Community Centre,
Church Road, Hove BN3 2FL.
CONTACT
US for more information and to book a place.
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