100 likes | 109 Views
Discover the power of mindfulness in being fully present and aware of your thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. Learn how to practice mindfulness and its impact on health and well-being. Explore research on the benefits of mindfulness in various areas.
E N D
AS YOU WALK AND EAT AND TRAVEL, BE WHERE YOU ARE.OTHERWISE YOU WILL MISS MOST OF YOUR LIFEBUDDHA
MINDFULNESS • WHAT: AWARENESS OF THE “HERE AND NOW”; OBSERVANT OF THOUGHTS, MOOD, AND BODY SENSATIONS PRIOR TO ACTION • HOW: PRACTICE BEING AWARE AND ACCEPTING EMOTIONS, THOUGHTS, AND BODY SENSATIONS • EXAMPLES: “SINGING BOWL”
THE “SINGING BOWL” • AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION PLEASE
Do you have the patience to wait ‘till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving ‘til the right action arises by itself? Tao Te Ching
Why Mindfulness • By definition, habits are learned sequences of behavior (often complex) that may function outside of awareness • Patterns are triggered by thoughts, emotions, sensations, or events • E.g., I feel a pang in my stomach, I must be hungry, I eat (when the pang may have been about…)
Why Mindfulness • Originally develop habits for the accomplishment of some goal • Emotion regulation • Escape/avoidance • Attempt to increase energy • Entertainment • May or may not serve original goal in the present context
Mindfulness and Health • Increases awareness of sequences and the here and now • Weakens link between stimulus and response • Provides time (space) to choose alternatives
Awareness • Meditation in Tibetan means “to become familiar with” • Noticing thoughts, physical sensations, emotions, or events that may trigger a habit or usual response • E.g., example of C.H. and eating habits • More aware of the beauty, not just the pain • Central role of non-judgment
Audience Participation • Mindful Eating
Research • from Natural Standard • Anxiety/Stress: studies with terminal and chronically ill patients, some positive data yet inconclusive due to small n • Asthma: transcendental meditation (TM) shows some benefit, Sahaja yoga with meditation shows some benefit • Atherosclerosis: TM shows promise • Breast Cancer: looked at improved well-being • Depression: preliminary studies show adding mindfulness to CBT has more improvement over time • Fibromyalgia: mindfulness meditation showing improvement in symptoms • High Blood Pressure: TM showing some decreases in blood pressure • Immune Function: some data showing improved antibody response • Low Chronic Back Pain: some positive data after breath work