What is Mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen, it trains us to respond skilfully to whatever is happening right now, be that good or bad.
It will help you to live in the present moment rather than ruminating on the past or imagining the future.
Studies show that mindfulness can reliably and profoundly alter the structure and function of the brain improving the quality of thought, feeling and concern for others.
What’s the point of mindfulness?
Mindfulness training has been shown to improve health and wellbeing. People of all ages report after taking a mindfulness course that they are able to learn more effectively, think more clearly, perform better and feel calmer, less anxious and less depressed.
Mindfulness is now recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and GPs are referring adults on courses to reduce stress and help prevent recurrent depression.
It is increasingly being used in business to improve staff wellbeing and satisfaction, in sports training to improve performance, and with children and young people and in schools to enhance wellbeing and learning.
Is it difficult?
At first the mind wanders constantly, but with practice we learn to sustain our attention and direct it more skilfully. This helps break the grip of unhelpful mental habits, judgements and impulses, making way for greater calm, and for more helpful, kinder and rational thinking about all aspects of life. However, it takes practice!
What Mindfulness IS...
- Paying attention to things as they happen
- A life-skill
- For some, a whole way of being
- Evidence-based
For further information:
Adolescent mindfulness Course
A course designed to support young people who struggle with stress and anxiety. It is an introduction to mindfulness to learn about the mind and how it tends to overthink situations.
The course will teach how to stop and pause, to notice our thoughts and observe what is going on in our head and also how to detach from unhelpful thoughts and to cope with challenging situations.
France currently offers one to one courses as well as courses for small groups.
Please make contact to get more information
Aim
To help adolescents to cope better with everyday stress (exams, self image, relationship, sense of self…).
The course is an introduction to mindfulness and will help you to understand how the mind works.
It teaches how to take notice of our thoughts by taking a moment to stop and be “.be”.
The course also teaches mindfulness techniques that will help students to change how they relate to unhelpful thoughts and teaches them how to look at situations from different perspectives.
Mindfulness techniques designed to help cope with stress and anxiety and improve adolescent wellbeing and confidence
Benefit
The research shows that regular mindfulness practice helps with
– Greater sense of wellbeing
– Increased ability to cope with stress/anxiety and worries
– Improved sleep
– Promotes a sense of calmness and relaxation
– Improved focus and attention with improvements in concentration
– Increased confidence and happiness
– Coping mechanisms to deal with mood swings
Course
10 week course that can be tailored to individuals or groups and includes…
– Weekly 50 to 60 minutes sessions
– Each lesson will focus on different skills
– Interactive sessions supported by animations and films
– Learn small exercises to practise daily
– It’s also fun, relaxing and nurturing!
Feedback
“I feel much better after practising, my focus become longer. Also, it helps with my sleep. I can fall a sleep much quicker”
R – 13 year old
“after doing mindfulness, I felt calm and relaxed and at peace. In addition, I was happier, productive and had a clearer mind.”
A – 15 year old
“I play loads of sport and I usually get stressed and now when batting i can enjoy every thing about my surroundings.”
V – 12 y old
“It was a really enjoyable course and I would recommend it”
B 16 y old
