Meditation

Mindfulness is a state of present moment attention where you can clearly perceive thoughts, physical sensations, emotions and events at the moment they occur without reacting in an automatic and habitual way.  This means you can make choices as to how you respond even when experiencing difficulties and challenges.

The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 8 week course is based upon the programme developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, USA.  MBSR has been taught world wide and thoroughly researched for over 25 years.  The demonstrated health benefits include reductions in symptoms for conditions as wide ranging as coronary heart disease, hypertension, cancer, chronic pain, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis and psychological conditions such as depression and anxiety.  As well, reported benefits include improvements in concentration and attention, the ability to handle pressured work situations, improvements in relationships and the ability to deal with difficult people and generally enhanced work performance and resilience.  Overall participants report that they feel calmer and more able to relax as well as increased energy, confidence and appreciation for themselves and their life.  But, perhaps the words of former participants best convey the impact of the course:

“I can concentrate and focus at work better.  I feel as though I am able to cope with the competing demands and strains of my job.”

“I’m able to manage complex issues at work with more ease, comfort and less stress”.”

“The course has helped me think through what is really important.  What has been missing, what I can throw away and what I can grow.  My family think there is a different guy in the house!”

“I’ve learned to make mindfulness part of my daily life.  It’s helped me to slow down (and feel good about it)-also to be kinder and more compassionate towards myself.”

“Things that would once have bothered me don’t seem to have such a hold on me.  I am not as reactive as I used to be.”

“I have achieved a peace and acceptance that I have been searching for, I now have an inner calmness which I treasure.”

And finally,  “I’ve learned that there is more to me than I thought and that I can make a difference to my well being.”

Sue Hays, director of the Canberra Mindfulness Centre, teaches the MBSR course in association with Southside Physiotherapy and Vitality Health Centre.  A practising Clinical Psychologist, she trained with the Center for Mindfulness in Massachusetts and maintains a close association with Openground, an organisation based in Sydney devoted to delivering Mindfulness programmes throughout Australia.