It is an innate human quality we can develop and cultivate to pay wise attention to whatever is unfolding in our lives.
Mindfulness is a meditation practice of cultivating clarity, insight and understanding. In the context of our health, mindfulness provides a way we can learn to take better care of ourselves, exploring and understanding the interplay of the mind and body to develop inner resources.Mindfulness is described by Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic, at the University of Massachusetts, as ‘a way of paying attention on purpose in the present moment, non-judgmentally’.Cultivating the practice of mindfulness is scientifically recognised as having the potential to enhance our mind, body and relationships.Research on neural plasticity supports mindfulness meditation as a means of changing the brain through using the mind, with a growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of on aspects of health.People who cultivate mindfulness tend to experience less emotional distress, increases in positive mind states and a better overall quality of life.Mindfulness is helpful in preventing many stress related problems and has been shown to be an effective treatment for conditions including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic Pain
- Eating Disorders
- Chronic Health conditions
- Enhancing immune response
- Attention Deficit Disorder