{"id":1388,"date":"2018-07-13T07:49:54","date_gmt":"2018-07-13T12:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.med.virginia.edu\/mindfulness\/?p=1388"},"modified":"2019-02-28T09:43:45","modified_gmt":"2019-02-28T14:43:45","slug":"why-mindfulness-why-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.med.virginia.edu\/mindfulness\/2018\/07\/13\/why-mindfulness-why-now\/","title":{"rendered":"WHY MINDFULNESS? WHY NOW?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What is mindfulness?<\/p>\n<p>The concept can be described in many ways \u2013 see which of these hold<br \/>\nappeal for you. Mindfulness is\u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>a focused attention in the present moment (the only one we inhabit)<br \/>\nthat wakes us up by asking: What am I aware of now? What is my<br \/>\nreaction to that awareness?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>a resource for supportive healing help with stress, chronic pain,<br \/>\nanxiety, blood pressure, immune system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>an innate capacity to access and use the intelligence of the body<br \/>\n(sensations, emotions, thoughts) for clarity in decision-making<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>not getting lost in judgments or stories of how we think our<br \/>\nexperience should be<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>a way to expand the neuroplasticity of the brain to promote greater<br \/>\nfocus, memory, resilience and joy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>How can I learn to be mindful?<\/p>\n<p>A researcher in adult learning, Malcolm Knowles says that adults learn best<br \/>\nwhen: they understand why something is important to know or to do right<br \/>\nnow; the learning is experiential; the process is positive and encouraging.<\/p>\n<p>Why now? If you\u2019ve decided to pay more conscious attention to how you<br \/>\nlive or you want to reduce stress and anxiety in your life, then you\u2019ve<br \/>\nalready answered this question! Your intention is to create a change, to<br \/>\nreduce stress, to enjoy your life.<\/p>\n<p>Experiential learning: The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course offers<br \/>\nopportunities every week to practice specific skills and to reflect on your<br \/>\nreactions to these multiple practices. There is no required textbook reading<br \/>\n\u2026instead, we ask you to practice mindfulness formally (modeled on what\u2019s<br \/>\npracticed in class) and informally daily.<\/p>\n<p>Positive and encouraging process: You\u2019ll learn about your own patterns of<br \/>\nreactivity, how to meet them with more openness, how to begin again (and<br \/>\nagain), how to use the body\u2019s intelligent knowing and capacity to reduce<br \/>\nstress, how to bring attitudes of curiosity, kindness, gratitude to your life.<br \/>\nIn the context of discussion and reflection, the shared experiences remind us<br \/>\nof what it means to be human and to greet ourselves with some compassion.<\/p>\n<p>If true learning equals a change in behavior, then any new habit pattern must<br \/>\nbe practiced regularly over time in order for the body\/mind to establish a<br \/>\nnew way of being. Imagine trying to brush your teeth with your non-dominant<br \/>\nhand. Most likely it would take a couple of months of practice<br \/>\nuntil that felt natural.<\/p>\n<p>Learning to be mindful (or to cook or play the guitar or speak a new language)<br \/>\ntakes time, intention and some diligent practice. In the end, new<br \/>\nhabits form; mind and body are changed with practice and insight.<\/p>\n<p>What do I need to consider for a practice of mindfulness?<\/p>\n<p>These beginning guidelines are practiced in the classroom weekly and in<br \/>\nhomework assignments:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>pause \u2013 the body and the mind to establish a calm, alert, receptive<br \/>\nstate (like allowing a cup of muddy water to settle, become clear)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>relax \u2013 soften places of holding in the body\u2026the forehead, jaw,<br \/>\nshoulders, hands, belly, pelvis, feet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>suspend judgment \u2013 see our seeing (like the camera director who\u2019s<br \/>\nfilming you, your thoughts and your movements)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>observe with focused attention \u2013 the habits and the conditioning of<br \/>\nthe body and mind (stories, assumptions, fears) in which we let go<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>allow intuition, vision or insight to arise \u2013 we let go and let come.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is mindfulness? The concept can be described in many ways \u2013 see which of these hold appeal for you. Mindfulness is\u2026 a focused attention in the present moment (the only one we inhabit) that wakes us up by asking: What am I aware of now? What is my reaction to that awareness? a resource [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1202,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-monthly-musings"],"acf":false,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>WHY MINDFULNESS? 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