‘Mindfulness’ has become a buzz word in the last few years…but what is all the fuss about?  Why are schools beginning to teach it to children and why are health practitioners embracing its principals?

Research over the last decade has demonstrated, convincingly, that the potent yet gentle way of being, known as ‘mindfulness’ has a transformational effect on the lives of people, leading them toward greater well-being.

Mindfulness can be described as: present-moment, intentional, non-judgmental, attention, with an attitude of kindness. In using mindfulness, we can train our brain by working with its natural capacities.  By doing so, we can rid ourselves of unhelpful patterns of behaviour.

Recent research has shown that an 8 week mindfulness meditation class can lead to structural brain changes including increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self-awareness, compassion and introspection. The unhelpful patterns of behaviour referred to are often driven by our physiology and underlying beliefs.  The brain’s reward system can drive us relentlessly until we are stressed and unhappy and the brain’s protective mechanisms can trap us and prevent us from flourishing and reaching our full potential.  Unless we learn how to master these limiting dynamics, we find ourselves to be constantly, at their mercy.

What we need is to find a spacious way-of-being that allows us to live beyond these automated mechanisms. The practice of mindfulness allows such a possibility. Imagine being able to access a peaceful place where stress and judgment cannot reach you, a place of calm living where rich and wonderful sensory experiences await you and where kindness reigns supreme. Imagine how you would flourish in such a place.

At Insight International we include Mindfulness practices in our counselling sessions, and we also teach ‘Mindful Living’ locally  in 6 week courses, and internationally  in advanced workshops. Have a look at our Events Page to find out more information on the courses coming up…