The Mindful Way (MBSR – Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)

Being more fully with mind, body and heart – programme for professionals in all walks of life.

A 10 minute introduction to the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program exploring it’s history, rationale and scientific efficacy from the founders at the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston

This programme works with the wisdom of several thousand years. Mindfulness is not something you have to get or acquire. It is a rich resource of aliveness already within us, waiting for our attention, as we further our learning, enrich our work in this world, and connect with the wisdom of wholeness.

What is mindfulness?

The practice of mindfulness allows you to pay close attention to the present moment, noting your thoughts, feelings and body sensations with an attitude of curiosity and non-judgment. This observing, non-reactive perspective enables us to consciously respond with clarity and focus, rather than react out of a habitual pattern. It opens up the possibility of working more wisely with difficulties in life and to choose what is nourishing to ourselves and others. Mindful awareness is about being awake – open to the present – rather than being caught dwelling in the past or anticipating the future. In contrast, you’ve probably encountered moments of “mindlessness” — a loss of awareness resulting in disconnectedness and a sense of living mechanically and with a lack of purpose.

Mindfulness is an innate resource able to be cultivated in the service of learning, growing and healing. The program is intended to fire up this inner capacity and infuse your life with awareness so that more presence, peace and choice is possible – whatever your circumstances.

What is the research base and core of this programme?

This programme has Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at its core.. Like MBSR this is an eight week evidence-based experiential series which will engage you physically, emotionally and intellectually. It uses mindfulness meditation training as the basis of a programme which is practical, inspiring and transformative. It has been widely researched over the past 25 years and is at the cutting edge of integrative and preventative medicine.

Two decades of published research indicates that the majority of people who complete the course report: – Lasting decreases in physical and psychological symptoms – – An increased ability to relax – – Reductions in pain levels and an enhanced ability to cope with pain that may not go away – – Greater energy and enthusiasm for life – – Improved self-esteem – – An ability to cope more effectively with both short and long-term stressful situations