Last Modified Jan 7 2005
Mindfulness Meditation
In practicing mindfulness meditation, we are essentially waking up to our lives. Mindfulness is the non- judgemenatal attention we give to our moment to moment experience. It is an awareness of what is going on in our bodies, our feelings, thoughts, reactions and interactions with the world around us. This attention is very different from our usual way of paying attention. So much of our thoughts are judging, assessing, comparing, criticizing and evaluating, which requires a great deal of energy.
It is essentially not the events, people or occurrances in our lives that are the source of our stress, but rather our perception of them that results in stress reactivity, affecting both our bodies and our minds.
In developing our capacity to observe ourselves, we can interrupt this reactivity process and make a conscious choice to respond effectively in ways that will help promote our health and our well-being.
Mindfulness meditation helps to train our awareness to be in present time, to compassionately observe our attachment to the future and past, and essentially let go to re-enter the limitless possiblities that each present moment offers us. Every moment a new begining.
Both in the mindfulness based stress reduction program and in private stress reduction sessions, you will be instructed in the actual techniques of sitting meditation, walking meditation and the body scan. You will be provided with CDs containing guided meditations so that you can receive guidance in initiating your home practice.
In learning these techiniques, you are cultivating your own inner resources which will help to support and empower you beyond the termination of the program.