Welcome to the Virtual
Center for Mindfulness
“You can't stop the waves. But you can learn to surf."
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness and Presence
Mindfulness, as defined by premier researcher and practitioner Jon Kabat-Zinn, is “paying attention in a particular way on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally”. Meditation and deep breathing are the most widely recognized practices of mindfulness, but mindfulness itself is an overall state of presence and being. With training, practice and intention, mindfulness enables us to objectively recognize our physical and emotional reactions as they occur, accept and regulate those cues, and stay aware and focused in the present moment. Mindfulness also allows us to more fully and calmly pay attention to the people around us, their emotions, behavior and reactions, and to our external environment.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Research shows that mindfulness and the ability to pay attention and stay present provide a number of positive outcomes, including the following:
Increased life satisfaction and well-being
Decreased stress and anxiety
Increased mental health and brain function
Increased calm and focus
Stronger relationships, compassion and sense of belonging
Improved sleep and overall health
In an educational setting, teaching the skills of mindfulness helps increase students’ well-being and enables them to meet the stresses of their worlds with presence, self-compassion, and openness. Examples of specific applications include meditation before an exam to manage test-taking anxiety, deep breathing for emotional regulation, and daily gratitude check-ins.
When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment. (No need for incense or sitting in strange positions.)
Hack Your Brain's Default Mode with Meditation
Dan Harris was a national news anchor on ABC and he had a panic attack on air while reading the news...He was introduced to something that helped him get his head straight and, as he likes to say, made him 10% happier: Meditation. Dan found that meditation demonstrated clear results in helping people with anxiety, depression and pain.
10-Minute Guided Meditation for Beginners to Clear Thoughts
Jessamyn Stanley lets us in on a secret we've all been wondering: finding ultimate peace and calm does not exist. Instead, focus on listening to your thoughts and allowing them to be there. Eventually, that chatter will clear and you'll find a calm and peaceful state.