15 Guildwood Pkwy, Scarborough, ON M1E 4Y8, CA
Mindfulness
A Bit About Mindfulness
Mindfulness means paying attention, in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally." Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program
Much of our emotional distress involves conditioned thoughts, feelings and imaginings about the the past and the future. Mindfulness is a particular way of relating to our experiences that allows us to become free of unnecessary entanglements and to live in the present moment more deeply and fully. Mindfulness helps us recognize and accept our emotions without reactivity. And, Mindfulness is a skill that can be learned.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, more than 30 years ago. It provides systematic training in Mindfulness Meditation as a method for reducing stress and working with medical and psychological symptoms.
MBSR draws on centuries-old meditation practices, but adapts these practices to a modern Western audience. It aims to teach participants to respond to stressful situations "mindfully"- a state in which one focuses on the present moment, accepting and acknowledging it, while observing clearly and separately the mind's cognitive and emotive reactions. This enables people to respond to such situations by making conscious choices instead of reflexive, automatic responses.
With repeated practice, Mindfulness allows the participant to develop the ability to calmly step back from thoughts and feelings during stressful situations, rather than engaging in anxious worry or other negative thinking patterns that might otherwise escalate a cycle of stress reactivity and contribute to heightened emotional distress.
Stress Reduction programs are available for Groups, Individuals and Organizations. Programs can be customized to meet your needs. Please see the Calendar of Events Page for details on upcoming organized events, or contact me directly for further information.
Mindfulness Programs for the Workplace
Let's face it -- the demands of the workplace, and of life in general, are taking their toll on our employees. We are seeing higher occurrences of absenteeism, lower levels of production, and greater numbers of individuals taking stress leave from the workplace. Our capacities for flexible and resilience are diminishing.
There is something we can do about it.
Mindfulness Programs for the Workplace are available.
These programs are customized to fit the needs of the workplace, while meeting your employee's needs for privacy. The focus for these programs is on learning techniques and tools for stress reduction and self-management, without personal self-disclosure, as would be present in standard MBSR programs.
Participant groups can be organized around work teams, or organizational levels, to ensure the comfort of the participants involved.
Individual programs and Mindfulness coaching are also available.
Please contact me for more information.
Benefits of Mindfulness
- Increased Ability to Relax
- Enhanced Mental Focus
- Greater Energy and
- Enthusiasm for Life
- Improved Capability to Handle Short- and Long-Term Stressful Situations
- Increased Ability to Manage and Modulate Moods
- Decrease in both Physical and Psychological Symptoms
- Significant Reduction of Pain
- Enhanced Ability to Cope with Pain
- Stronger Relationship with the Present Moment
- Less Time Lost to Worries, Fears and Concerns