Mindfulness is about ‘paying attention’ in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally’ (Jon Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Simply, mindfulness is the awareness that comes from systematically paying attention to your experience in this very moment in which you are alive – the body sensations, thoughts, feelings, sights and contact that you may be experiencing in any moment. It is moment to moment awareness.
“You can’t stop the wave but you can learn to surf” Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness is a skill that with practice and understanding you can apply to improve mood and emotional wellbeing – less depression, anxiety and stress. Jon Kabat-Zinn, an Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and founding director of the Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society in the United States developed the international Stress Reduction Program and considers that healing occurs through the practice of mindfulness itself.
Our therapeutic approach is to offer practical, evidenced based strategies to enable people to improve their health and wellbeing – mindfulness is one strategy. It has been found to improve health and immune functioning, improve experience of chronic pain, greater concentration, increased awareness of the habits in thinking and feeling and not get caught up by them. Our minds are often caught up in past mistakes or future opportunities or possible disasters! Being more mindful in the present is a skill to learn and focussing on your breathing is one way to start to pay closer attention.
