Mindfulness and Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness and Mindfulness Meditation can be defined as awareness of present experience (moment to moment) with acceptance.
Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our actions, thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.
Mindfulness involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them. That eliminates any thoughts about what is “right” or “wrong”. By being mindful, our thoughts tune into what we are sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.
Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation. Since 1979, a secular practice of mindfulness initiated by Jon Kabat-Zinn and his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program has been established.
Physical, and mental health benefits of mindfulness have been documented in a multitude of studies.
Mindfulness in action, apart from meditative practise itself ideally happens daily in everyday living. Mindfulness comes into play and is best expressed how we interact with self, others, and the environment.
Mindful eating with a focused attention on the food you are eating is another example of mindfulness. However, to harvest the benefits, it requires ongoing practise to expand and enhance awareness of self – and others.
There is no choice but to walk the walk.
If you have intentions to learn meditation, it is important to seek out someone who has experienced and practises meditation as well as receive proper guidance to avoid unnecessary pitfalls. Therefore, great care should be taken in finding a meditation instructor.
Satori Self Development offers 2 approaches to meditation…
Mindfulness Meditation
Meditation for specific medical conditions
Mindfulness Meditation – Approach 1
The practise of Mindfulness Meditation can be divided into four stages:
- Breath Meditation
- Mindfulness and the Body
- Mindfulness and Emotions, and
- Loving Kindness – Compassion
The aim of meditative practise is getting to know ourselves, promoting an intimate, nurturing relationship, and by doing so ending seemingly never – ending internal conflicts, overthinking, self-doubts residing deep within us, and too often lead to self-destructive actions keeping us stuck in a space of dis-approval and resignation.
Both, Mindfulness and Mindfulness Meditation start with being, and, over time becoming more and more aware of your breath. Realising the changes within your lungs, abdominal area as your body adapts to the inflow of air each time you inhale and outflow as you exhale.
Mindfulness is the practise of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment…promoting greater awareness of self – and others. Because of meditative practise, mindfulness has been found to be a key element in stress reduction and an improved level of overall happiness.
S.T.O.P
A short, yet very useful exercise called S.T.O.P. can be put to good use when feeling rushed or stressed and can help calm the nerves. Benefits can also be experienced by allowing yourself regular breaks during the day, making a conscious contribution to quieten the mind.
This brief, to the point meditation can serve as a reset as it can be exercised for five minutes. You are practising the 4 elements of mindfulness as described earlier.
S – Stop what you are doing, put things down for a minute.
T – Take a breath.
O – Observe your thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
P – Proceed mindfully with something that will support you in the moment
Meditation for specific medical conditions – Approach 2
This Meditation practise consists of a variety of meditation techniques and can provide one option to help and support people who have been experiencing mental health concerns (addictions, anxiety, depression) and / or chronic diseases (anxiety, depression, diabetes, fibromyalgia, migraine, pain) over extended periods of time.
It is quite common that people experience several ailments (co-morbidities) at once, negatively impacting body-mind. If medical treatment programs fail to deliver the expected outcomes, Meditation for specific medical conditions may provide an alternative, calling onto the body’s natural healing properties.
The applied meditation techniques are specific-to-the-point practises focusing on minimizing and reducing any discomfort.
The meditation exercises can be practised as an adjunct, in conjunction with conventional or alternative medical treatments. These practises are intended to boost your body’s resilience and immune system and can be practised as a stand-alone-technique.
You will eventually learn to administer these techniques yourself. The idea is to gain greater self-reliance through practise, initiating the healing potential within you.
I have used Satori Self Development for meditation classes and hypnotherapy and can honestly say their experience, knowledge and professionalism is second to none. I especially appreciate the ongoing support from them to touch base and see how you are. They genuinely care about your wellbeing. I cannot recommend them enough for helping me through some limiting thoughts and stress relief. Diane
Satori Self Development can assist you with training in the art of meditation. Call Vittoria 0407 906 999 or Achim 0473 913 873
How does Mindfulness Meditation work?
Mindfulness Meditation works by increasing self-awareness, providing clarity, creating a sense of calm, and allowing compassion to arise.
Mindfulness Meditation can be divided into four stages: Breath Meditation, Mindfulness and the Body, Mindfulness and Emotions, and Loving Kindness – Compassion.
The aim of meditative practise is getting to know yourself, promoting an intimate communication, self-acceptance, improved immune system, nurturing relationship with others, and by doing so ending a seemingly never – ending internal conflict. This can include…
- Overthinking
- Self-doubts
- Self-destructive thoughts and resulting actions
- Catastrophising
- Lacking confidence, dis-approval of self
At times, getting comfortable with your thoughts and feelings can be challenging. Like anything else that you learn, it takes time and practise. Remember, the first time you rode a bike? Trying consistently allows you to get better, more attuned, and confident in what you are doing.
Meditation with focused attention can elicit a relaxation response promoting the functions of the para-sympathetic nervous system within your body. Meditation can promote stress reduction and relaxation, positively contributing to the person’s self-care and wellbeing improvement.
Having guidance from an experienced therapist helps you with strategies you can use to get a healthy sense of perspective.