Mindfulness LifeWorks

Mindfulness

What is 'mindfulness' and how can it help?

Mindfulness is often defined as:

'Paying attention on purpose moment by moment without judging, (Full Catastrophe Living, - Jon Kabat-Zinn).

This means developing the ability to pay deliberate attention to our experience from moment to moment. Learning to tune in to what is going on in our mind and body without judging our experience of it.

Becoming more aware of our thoughts, feelings and sensations may not sound like an obviously helpful thing to do, however learning to do this in a way that suspends judgement and self criticism can have surprising results.

Imagine being able to practice awareness of your thoughts and feelings - to feel as though you have control instead of feeling anxious, fearful, worrying?

Mindfulness can become our simple way of being - our conscious choice to stay aware in the present moment can mean the difference between being governed by anxiety and worry or experiencing calm centred awareness in our daily lives. Learning mindfulness is worth it!

One Minute of Mindfulness

This is an easy mindfulness exercise, and one that you can do anytime throughout the day. Take a moment right now to try this. Check your watch and note the time. For the next 60 seconds your task is to focus all your attention on your breathing. It's just for one minute, but it can seem like an eternity.

Leave your eyes open and breathe normally. Be ready to catch your mind from wandering off (because it will) and return your attention to your breath whenever it does so.

This mindfulness exercise is far more powerful than most people give it credit for. It takes some people many years of practice before they are able to complete a single minute of alert, clear attention.

Conscious Observation

Pick up an object that you have lying around. Any mundane everyday object will do...a coffee cup or a pen for example. Hold it in your hands and allow your attention to be fully absorbed by the object. Observe it. Don't think about it, or study it intellectually. Just observe it for what it is.

You'll feel a sense of heightened presence during this exercise. Conscious observation can really give you a feeling of "being awake". Notice how your mind quickly releases thoughts of past or future, and how different it feels to be in the moment. Conscious observation is a form of meditation. It's subtle, but powerful. Try it...by practicing mindfulness in this way you'll really start to sense what mindfulness is all about.

---

Meditation Stools are useful to maintain posture while practising mindfulness meditation. These are now available for purchase at LifeWorks.

Helen Williams
Helen has been a teacher of meditation and mindfulness for many years and brings to the teaching her own experiences, practices and awareness.

Her support is available, ongoing and continuous after the classes have ended and includes one on one consulting, updates, refreshers and retreat days.

Classes are held over 4 consecutive evenings during one month and all 4 need to be attended to ensure a thorough understanding .

Please contact reception at LifeWorks to book your place in the class ( 04 394 2464) or to order a meditation stool.

For all bookings Contact Aya,Arlene or Kennedy at LifeWorks reception :

PH: 04 3942464
or email directly to :
info@lifeworksdubai.com

We promise to reply quickly