By Mark Clutton, Clinical Hypnotherapist & Mindfulness Teacher
We all know what relaxation means ……but what about Mindfulness? Mindfulness has been getting a lot of publicity in the last several years and pops up in all walks of life from schools to large corporations.
What is it?
It’s a collection of techniques to help us retrain our brains from going into automatic behaviours and thought patterns linked to the “flight or flight/stress” responses that causes us to become anxious, have negative repetitive thoughts and keep triggering our stress hormones. When we get like this we are frequently living in our heads, locked into patterns of negative behaviour, irritability, feeling overwhelmed etc
NB – it is not a spiritual/religious practice.
Some definitions of mindfulness:
– Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.
– A state of psychological freedom that occurs when the attention remains quiet, without attachment to any particular point of view.
– Waking up from a life lived on automatic pilot and based in habitual reacting.
– Mindfulness is the ability to make choices to respond rather than react and not fall prey to habitual reactive patterns.
– A way of treating yourself with kindness and compassion reducing self criticism, not judging your thoughts, or yourself, or your emotions. Applying these techniques to others in your life.
– Becoming aware of what is going on in your head – and not taking the bait.
What about Relaxation?
– Freeing the body and mind from tensions & anxiety.
– Consciously using the mind to relax the body and direct the stream of thoughts.
– A physical and mental state where the body is still and the mind is focused on particular internal imagery whilst being detached from, but aware of, the immediate surroundings.
So what are the benefits of using these techniques? What can they do for you?
– Decreases stress, anxiety and irritability.
– Memory function improves, increases in physical & mental stamina.
– Improved immune system, brain functioning, improves mood.
– Can assist cardio vascular function, and with reducing hypertension.
I’m currently running workshops that will cover the basic techniques, give you the opportunity to experience them and try them out, learn real world skills to help you control your stress and anxiety levels and reap the benefits of a different way of experiencing the world. You will also learn what mindfulness is not, and its limitations.
Course materials will be provided as part of the cost. To book in for the next available workshop click here. For more information get in touch!
