Mindfulness practices can benefit you both physically and psychologically. It has been demonstrated to be beneficial for conditions such as, anxiety, stress disorders, depression, chronic pain and addictions. Unlike other relaxation techniques Mindfulness can be used in a variety of settings and incorporated in your daily life. Whilst being mindful you still remain alert and able react appropriately in any given situation.
Mindfulness encourages you to be more aware of life, it’s a way of concentrating on the here and now and connecting with how it makes you feel. It is a holistic approach to dealing with our more completed thoughts, feelings and emotions. Mindfulness will not make life pressures any easier but it will help you to react and respond in a calmer manner. Mindfulness can help us to identify our habitual behaviours and emotional and physiological reactions to life’s experiences.
Many of us live our lives on “auto pilot” balancing work, family commitments, finances and other demands. Our minds are easily distracted and it is easy to loose awareness and stay in the “present”. When we are not “present” in our own lives and not aware of our thoughts, feelings and emotions, we can often oversee what are body is telling us.
Some Benefits of Mindfulness
- Improved concentration and mental clarity
- Generates emotional intelligence and the ability relate to self and others with, acceptance, kindness and compassion
- Self control, frees the mind from internal chatter and self doubt
- Increased tolerance levels and objectivity
- Reduce stress and anxiety disorders
- Improves depressive illness
- Promotes calmness and clarity
- Decreases emotional reactivity
- The ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships
There are several practises that can cultivate mindfulness such as yoga and meditation. Meditation itself is a practice of “being present” It involves you paying attention and focusing on a certain objective in the “present” in a non-judgemental way. When meditating you learn to observe the location of your attention, you learn to recognise the direction of your thoughts and bring them to the “here and know”. This is a skill and all skills require consistent practice to perfect. Reflection is also an important skill as when you become more aware of you feelings and emotions you will be able to acknowledge the thoughts and let them go, allowing you to fully engage in the moment.
At Serenity Health we offer a full therapeutic based holistic programme. Our aim is to promote health, self-healing and optimum well-being. We encourage daily practise of mindfulness meditation and a range of disciplines and practises that cultivate mindfulness. Our programme will help individuals seeking, emotional, mental and spiritual healing. Mind body techniques can be most beneficial for recovery from alcohol and drug dependency, eating disorders and a range of anxiety, stress and depressive disorders. Mindfulness practices can facilitate effective recovery and empower you towards living a more balanced and fulfilled lifestyle.