So I asked the Collins Dictionary "what is mindfulness"?

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mindfulness

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Mindfulness is a way of training your mind to concentrate on the present, in order to feel calm and improve your mental state.

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1. the state or quality of being mindful

2. the practice of giving complete and non-judgmental attention to one's present experience, used as a stress-reduction technique

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This is a good place to start, initially we want to settle the mind which involves focusing on a single thing. We also want to stay present, be in this moment and not be rehashing the past or preparing for the future. We want to be non-judgmental - absolutely - overcoming our preferences, desires and wants is essential to finding peace and eternal happiness.

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Sounds simple? To our rational mind we know what to do but the resistance often comes in the actual act of doing the thing ... meditation that is.

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Why do we resist? BECAUSE IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE. We humans have spent thousands of years making ourselves more comfortable. We seek for pleasure, even when that means numbing ourself to reality and distracting ourself from ourselves.

 

Actually paying attention brings up all the stuff you hid deep down, all the experiences you would rather not look at, all the trauma, fear, insecurities and doubt. The trouble is unless you process it and become comfortable with the uncomfortable stuff, it stays inside you.

 

In your mind, in your body.

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You cannot outrun your humanness.

 

We all experience suffering, we all get sad and angry and frustrated. We all lose people we love, we get sick, we age.

 

We are also all good inside, we thrive in love and connection, we want to be cared for and to care for, we are kind and beautiful people. All of us. 

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We are conditioned by society and culture towards greed. Grasping for money and consumer goods with the promise of happiness when we finally get there... there.... where is there? how much is enough? and am I a failure if I don't get there?

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We are conditioned by caregivers to act a certain way, to adhere to their beliefs and values, to 'be' a certain way. We grow up with wounds that need healing, no matter how attentive your parents were, we all experienced pain that shapes our current reality.

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Meditation and Mindfulness is a deep enquiry. Initially it may just be focussing on becoming present, establishing that single point of focus for 15 minutes. It is an opportunity to become completely present. Then to hold whatever is present with kindness. The acceptance and presence we can have with our own experiences then ripples out to our community.

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Whether you are looking to reduce stress and anxiety or to heal from past trauma, the practices I teach can help you. I draw from traditional meditation practices such as Buddhist meditation, Qi Gong, yoga and energy healing. Combining these with modern mindfulness and modern research in nervous system regulation from Stephen Porges, Deb Dana, Peter Levine, David Treleaven, Bessel Van Der Kolk, Kristen Neff, Byron Katie, Gabor Mate and more. The result is an adaptable practice of embodiment and mindfulness where you can learn to ground your body, manage your stress, heal yourself and improve your physical/emotional health. 

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Mindfulness Meditation help to:

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• Reduce Stress: Meditation helps to lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress, leading to a calmer mind and body.

• Improve Concentration: Regular meditation practice enhances your focus and attention span, making it easier to stay on task.

• Promote Emotional Health: Meditation fosters emotional well-being by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression and promoting a positive state of mind.

• Enhance Self-Awareness: Meditation encourages deeper self-reflection and understanding, helping you to recognize and address your thought patterns and behaviour.

• Boost Creativity: Being in a meditative state can unlock your creative potential, allowing for new ideas and solutions to emerge.

• Improve Sleep: By calming the mind and reducing stress, meditation can lead to better sleep quality and more restful nights.

• Increase Compassion: Meditation, especially loving-kindness or compassion-focused practices, enhances your empathy and connection to others.

• Support Physical Health: Regular meditation can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and reduce symptoms of chronic pain.​​​​​​

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Meditation is a concentration practice where we really tune into the inner state of our mind.  By cultivating this inner awareness we can break our habitual patterns, heal our past traumas and learn a new way of being. I have trained with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield in the insight meditation tradition which brings the traditional Eastern traditions of Buddhism to a Western world. As a graduate of the 2 year Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher Training (MMTCP) I have studied intensively in all aspects of meditation including breath, body, forgiveness and conflict, loving kindness, trauma, pain, emotions, equanimity, standing, walking and embodied movement, gratitude, grief and loss, desire and addiction, compassion. I can help to guide you through the difficult circumstances in your life with kindness and compassion and to tap into your inner wisdom. This is a journey of self enquiry and self care.

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Click here to book a 15 minute free consultation.

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I offer Mindfulness and Meditation sessions on a sliding scale payment so that the practice can be accessible to all, please pay what you can.

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Check the booking tab for group sessions or register to be informed by email.

 

Click here to book a 121 session online or in Warwick.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​