Mindfulness can be considered a philosophy of life that includes the practice of meditation. Its heyday is recent along with various relaxation techniques. Although many people say that they practice meditation, it is sometimes a misleading concept, so before talking about Mindfulness it is necessary to clarify what meditation is.
Meditation is an intellectual activity that seeks to achieve a state of focused attention on a thought or feeling (happiness, tranquillity, harmony), an object (a stone), concentration itself, or some element of perception (heartbeat, breathing, body heat…). This state is recreated in the present moment and aims to free the mind from harmful thoughts.
As Mindfulness has so much to do with the way in which we manage our attentional focus, it is also called Full Attention.
Mindfulness is detached from religion
Practicing Mindfulness means believing that it will improve the quality of life in certain aspects, but it does not imply believing in ideas related to Gods or life after death. The term Mindfulness is often used to refer to a kind of meditation based on the principles of science. A systematized and “non-denominational” version of meditation, capable of being shaped by scientific findings and oriented towards concrete and “earthly” goals.
The meaning of Mindfulness is full attention or full awareness
To know what Mindfulness is and how it is practiced, we must first know what Mindfulness means. Mindfulness is an English term. The meaning of Mindfulness is full attention or full awareness.
The origin of the word Mindfulness is found in the Pali word sati, which means awareness, attention, and recollection. The concept of Mindfulness currently refers to the fact of being aware and paying attention to the present moment. Although it can be translated into Spanish, experts recommend using the Anglo-Saxon term or the Pali term, since they better reflect the meaning of Mindfulness.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindset Mindfulness Self-awareness Brain Meditation
Attention regulation: mindfulness allows us to train the regulation of attention and allows us to be aware of what we usually overlook when we activate the automatic pilot.
Mindfulness and emotions: Mindfulness, by focusing on the present moment, allows us to be aware of what we are feeling right now.
Detecting thoughts: through Mindfulness, we can let go of these thoughts to focus on what we want.
Studying: mindfulness helps us to study by improving attention regulation and decreasing the flow of distracting thoughts.
Relaxation and Mindfulness: It should be noted that Mindfulness is not a relaxation technique, nor is it its main objective. However, it can be a beneficial consequence.
Mindfulness and anxiety: Mindfulness helps to reduce anxiety by focusing attention on the present moment.
Mindfulness and relationships: through the practice of Mindfulness, relationships with other people also improve, as it helps to develop social skills such as empathy and understanding.
Mindfulness and education: The benefits of Mindfulness in the field of education are increased creativity and improved academic performance.
Mindfulness and the brain: Mindfulness and neuroscience research has found that the practice of Mindfulness is related to an increase in the thickness of the medial prefrontal area and the insula. They also indicate that the practice of Mindfulness is associated with changes in the concentration of grey matter in areas of the brain responsible for memory, learning and emotion regulation.
Mindfulness and Meditation at Colors Sitges Link
Health in all its aspects (physical, mental and emotional) is one of the pillars of the Colors Sitges Link association. That is why in February we will start a Mindfulness course, especially for our members.
An initiation to this practice that will last 4 sessions of 90 minutes, spread over 4 weeks.
Attendance requirements:
- The course is free for CSL members, which is why we ask for commitment for all 4 sessions.
- It will not be possible to join the course after the start without having attended the first session.
- You will be asked to fill out an evaluation form at the end of the course.
Topic:
- Introduction to meditation
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Mindfulness in breathing
- Mindfulness and the body
- Meditation in motion
- Meditating on sensations
- Mindfulness and emotions
- Meditation on emotions
- RAIN Technique (Recognize-Accept-Investigate-Nurture)
- Taking your practice out into the world
- Compassion and heart practices
- Conscious communication
- Integrating the practice into your life
If you are interested in the introductory meditation and Mindfulness course “Learning to meditate“, book your place!
