What does “mindful” mean?
It is to be attentive, aware, careful, and thoughtful.
And “mindfulness”?
A slow, intentional focus. Dwelling deeply in the present moment. Paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment. To be aware of what is going on within and around us. Conscious awareness of our breath, our thoughts and our actions.
Why be mindful?
With this clarity comes compassion and caring, seeing and being aware of the needs of others. It helps us cherish each moment without judgment.
Mindfulness is the 7th step of the Noble Eightfold path taught by Buddha. Despite this, there is nothing inherently religious about mindfulness. It’s a powerful tool to live life more fully and joyfully. Mindfulness practices have existed for thousands of years, especially in Buddhist psychology, but has become accepted in western medicine following many years of research.
At Mindful Physical Therapy, we practice Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction (MBSR). This was started by Jon Kabat Zinn, PhD, at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979. MBSR utilizes mindfulness meditation, in which a state of conscious awareness is actively cultivated. Research on MBSR has provided strong evidence of its psychological, immunological and physiological benefits. Academic research on MBSR has shown to benefit people with: ADHD, depression, psoriasis, skin disorders, arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer, headaches, GI problems, heart disease, chronic pain, stress, addictions, eating disorders, sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, anxiety, and panic attacks. Jon Kabat Zinn writes:
“If we are to make the changes in our lives that we desire, we need both courage and effort to become more aware and more committed to what nurtures and strengthens us”.