Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

 

Mindfulness is about being fully present. We cultivate it by deliberately bringing attention and awareness to the present moment. It is about being aware in the present experience of our lives. When we meditate, we bring the mind back to the present moment again and again in a kind and non-judgemental way towards ourselves. The mind’s natural tendency is to wander to the past or the future. This constant chattering of the mind and the thoughts, worries and stories it creates about our lives can simply leave us feeling exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically. With regular practice, meditation can gently help us develop the skills to face stressful situations with more calmness and clarity.

 

When practising mindfulness meditation, we literally ‘come to our senses’ by bringing the mind back to being with things just as they are in each moment. This might be by becoming aware of breathing, aware of sensations in the body, aware of thoughts as they pass through the mind or aware of sounds coming to the ears. By using these methods it is possible to learn to become aware of what it is like to be present in the spaces and silence between thoughts, sensations, emotions and sounds and, start to touch the peaceful, calm inner centre of our being where true self-healing takes place.

 

From this practice and its application in everyday life, it is possible to cope better with everyday life by starting to bring this level of inner awareness into each moment of our lives.

 

How can it help?

 

You may have heard, or read about meditation, you may even have seen someone else practising it, but until you have a go it is difficult to appreciate the benefits. It has repeatedly been demonstrated that meditation helps the body to heal naturally. It is a ‘way of being’ rather than ‘doing’ in the bustle of life.

 

Some other benefits of meditation are the clarity or insights that arise about a particular situation. Sometimes letting go of habitual thinking can bring people to a different way of approaching situations that can be helpful and freeing. Ultimately, by practising any form of meditation, signals are being sent to the body that help the body heal, which is also reflected in calmer breathing and feeling more peaceful.

 

What happens in a session of mindfulness meditation?

Visitors are introduced to the concept of mindfulness and then are invited to join in different formal mindfulness practices which can include mindful stretches, mindful body scan and mindful meditation.

 

When can mindfulness meditation be practised?

Mindfulness meditation can be practised at any stage of breast cancer. Bringing awareness to our breathing and to our bodies can help to bring people ‘back to earth’, to help calm and clarify the mind.

 

Number and length of sessions

Mindfulness meditation is a life-long practice. The eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programme is a proven way to develop mindfulness. This course is run in eight weekly sessions of approximately two-hours per week with an additional Day of Mindfulness in week six of the programme.

 

If a formal MBSR programme is not currently available, then there are weekly or fortnightly sessions available which can also support the development of regular practice.

 

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction CDs are available from Breast Cancer Haven, these include:

Mindful body scan

Mindful lying stretches

Mindful standing stretches

Mindful sitting meditation

 

For a pdf factsheet please click here.