2. Health and Wellbeing Benefits

Mindfulness: The Health and Well-being Benefits

Mindfulness has been ‘clinically proven to reduce stress, blood pressure, depression and anxiety…to help people sleep better, work more effectively and improve their personal and professional relationships’ (www.bemindful; Mental Health Foundation, 2010).

Mark Williams, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford, described Mindfulness Skills as a kind of ‘cognitive vaccine’ (Williams and Penman, ITunes, 2011), which may protect our minds and physical health from the distress caused by sadness and worry. Williams suggested that like cleaning our teeth daily to protect them, a short mindful practice on most days and ‘every minute counts’ (Williams and Penman, iTunes, 2011) could be a good way of looking after and taking care of our minds.

Mindfulness: Reported Benefits for Health and Well-being

(Mental Health Foundation, 2010).

- Greater well-being and life satisfaction

- Higher, more stable self esteem

- Improved attention as well as job performance, productivity and

satisfaction…enabling better relationships with colleagues

- Better communication associated with good social skills,

ability to co-operate and see another person’s perspective

- Less likely to react defensively or aggressively

- Associated with reaching academic and personal goals

- Reducing blood pressure and protects people at risk of developing hypertension

- Neuroscientific studies have found differences in areas of the brain associated with

decision-making, attention and awareness…increase in activation in area of the

brain associated with positive emotions