What is Mindfulness?
- Mindfulness means being fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing. It refers to consciously focusing your attention on the present moment. It is the basic human ability to not be overly reactive or overwhelmed.
Mindfulness and Buddhism
- In the current media, mindfulness is strongly associated with Buddhism. Mindfulness includes maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment. It also involves acceptance, paying attention to thoughts and feelings without judging them.
Benefits of Mindfulness
- Mindfulness has its roots in ancient Eastern philosophies such as Buddhism and has been practiced for thousands of years. The practice can help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues by allowing control over thoughts and reactions. It can also improve concentration, memory, and empathy, teaching us to live in the present and accept things as they are.
Pricing and Practice of Mindfulness
- There is no definitive answer to how much one should charge for a meditation class. The amount charged will depend on factors like length and format of the class, location, group size, and qualifications. The goal of any mindfulness strategy is to achieve focused relaxation by deliberately focusing on thoughts and feelings without making decisions, enabling the mind to refocus on the present moment.
Research Findings
- Research shows that even brief mindfulness exercises have positive and immediate effects on memory performance. When students were given simple breathing meditation practice, their blood pressure and heart rate reduced, leaving them in a better position for learning and being examined.
Understanding Mindfulness
- No matter how far we drift away, mindfulness is there to bring us back to the present moment. To truly understand mindfulness, it’s best to experience it first-hand. Since it’s challenging to articulate in words, you may find slight variations in descriptions across different sources.