What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is renowned as a means of structured stress reduction.  It was first introduced by Jon Kabat Zinn, who first set up a stress-reduction clinic in Massachusetts in 1979.
With his background in meditation and medicine, Jon Kabat Zin (who is now a professor of medicine, and widely regarded as “the father of Mindfulness”) wanted to see how the ancient art he had been taught by Buddhists, would work with people who were very stressed.

The workshops he ran were a success and gained much clinical interest.
The field he developed, he called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction or MBSR.

Research by Kabat-Zinn includes the effect of MBSR on psoriasis, pain, anxiety, brain function, and immune function
Mindfulness, the word, is the translation of an ancient Buddhist word, Sarti. Which in turn comes from a Sanskrit word.

Mindfulness in the workplace

In today’s work environment there is often so much pressure on time and productivity, that we are forced more and more into a reactionary position, juggling tasks, keeping the equilibrium, but dealing with all the additional demands on us as individuals.

Mindfulness allows us to take a step back from the reactivity.  It allows us to “check in with ourselves”, and to respond to scenarios that might otherwise be a knee-jerk reaction that serves nobody.

Using mindfulness techniques we can learn how to keep ourselves more in the present moment, not stressing about the future, nor ruminating on the past.  Our time becomes more effective, often, because we can learn to be fully present to the moment, and therefore gain so much more from each interaction.

Mindfulness can help to reduce stress, to manage our emotions, and to support our resilience.  Building a resilient mindfulness-practice ethos throughout the organisation can also start to create a “mindful” organisation, one where actions are well thought through, and communicated meaningfully. Where individuals are better equipped to bounce back from adversity and thrive.

Mindfulness Trainings, Devon

Big Results Training offers Introduction to Mindfulness trainings as full-day, part days.  We also offer 8-week Mindfulness programmes.  We run programmes open to the public in Devon, near Exeter and Newton Abbot. Please ask for details. Or visit:  www.mindfulness-uk.com