“Mindfulness meditation doesn’t change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart’s capacity to accept life as it is. It teaches the heart to be more accommodating, not by beating it into submission, but by making it clear that accommodation is a gratifying choice.” Sylvia Boorstein
Mindfulness is about paying deliberate attention, in the present moment, to things as they are rather than to how we wish them to be. Rather than getting caught up in poring over the past, which we can't change, or worrying about the future, mindfulness keeps us grounded in the here and now. We can spend so much of our lives on automatic pilot, not fully aware of what is going on in our minds, hearts and bodies. This can give rise to habitual ways of thinking and feeling which don't always serve us. Mindfulness teaches us to pay attention to our experience of life; our thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations as they are right here, right now, with kindness rather than judgement. By learning to focus on the present moment, we are more able to spot the build up of stress and other difficult emotions and thoughts so that we can respond to them more effectively.
Mindfulness is increasingly being recognised by the NHS as an important way to support wellbeing. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is an evidence-based 8-week mindfulness course, in which you will learn how to practice mindfulness meditation to better meet the stresses in your life.
The weekly classes and home practices, which include some gentle movement, have helped many people to increase their awareness of their thoughts and emotions, to improve their concentration, and to improve their relationships.
The next Mindfulness in 8 Weeks course starts in October 2021. I also offer I offer I also offer Mindful Mondays, a by-donation weekly online practice group. My next Mindful Yoga course at the Folk House starts on Wednesday 21st April 2021. All the details are on theFolk House website here.