The Benefits of Mindfulness
A growing body of research has examined the effects of mindfulness-based treatments with medical populations and settings. Mindfulness-based treatments have shown positive effects with a variety of medical disorders and have been associated with the reduction of stress .
Medical conditions that have benefited from mindfulness include: Depression, Anxiety, Brain Injury, Cancer, Fatigue, Illness, Chronic Pain, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Headache, Heart Disease, HIV/AIDS, High Blood Pressure, MS, Obstetrics Gynecology, Organ Transplant, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sleep Disturbance, Smoking, Stoma, Tinnitus.
Donna and Jon Kabat-Zinn
This was taken in Aarhus, Denmark during my MBSR Teacher Training. I was on my way back from a swim in the sea, after our early morning meditation before breakfast when I bumped into Jon who was our teacher with Saki Santorelli. Jon Kabat-Zinn; Professor of Medicine Emeritus and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
“Create a space for
new ideas to arise”
Donna and Saki Santorelli at the Mind/Body Medicine Programme in Denmark 2014
Saki F. Santorelli, Ed.D, MA, Associate Professor of Medicine, Executive Director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, and Director of the Stress Reduction Program at the University of Massachusetts Medical School
Donna is a fully trained Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Instructor with the Centre for Mindfulness.
“Mindfulness means Paying Attention in a Particular Way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally” J.Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness practices cultivate an increase in awareness, so that we can respond to situations with choice rather than react automatically.
When we react automatically we can trigger old habits of thinking that are often unhelpful, and may lead to worsening a mood or to symptoms of stress.
By becoming more aware of our thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations, from moment to moment, we give ourselves the possibility of greater freedom and choice, rather than reacting automatically. We do not have to go down the same old ‘mental rut’ that may have caused the problems for us in the past.
We do this by becoming more aware of where our attention is and deliberately changing the focus of attention over and over again.
To be able to make clear, positive, definitive choices in your life that will alleviate stress and allow for more ease in your life regular practice is required.
The more fully your intention and commitment, the deeper and more profound the changes and benefits will be for you.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor Frankl, Survivor, Auschwitz Concentration Camp.
Bibliography
Baer, R. A. (Ed.). (2006). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Clinician’s guide to evidence base and applications. San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press.
Germer, C. K., Siegel, R. D., & Fulton, P. R. (Eds.). (2005). Mindfulness and psychotherapy. New York: Guilford Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go there you are. New York: Hyperion.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2005). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness: Fifteenth anniversary edition. New York: Bantam Dell.
Mindfulness Meditation Benefits: 20 Reasons Why It’s Good For Your Mental And Physical Health (Huffington Post).
Links
World’s End Holistic Therapies Jane Griffin offers holistic treatments including reflexology, reiki and holistic massage from her beautiful treatment rooms overlooking the Shannon in Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. Self-care is integral to living a mindful life.
Mindfulness Flash Cards from Niamh at Mome. These colourful mindfulness flash cards for grown-ups provide constant reminders to live life in a mindful way. They come beautifully and carefully wrapped and I love to give them as gifts. Niamh is a past participant of the MBSR programme and blogs her experience of how mindfulness practices have changed her relationship to her tinnitus and enhances her well-being. It’s a great story, and well worth a read.
