What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a skill one can learn and cultivate. It is about learning to be aware and present, in a friendly way, with whatever experience one is having. This contrasts with how we spend much of our time: our minds elsewhere, often caught up in our busyness.
With practice an inner calm and resilience develops, which can accompany us through our day.
This awareness training begins by learning to reconnect with the body, whose sensations are always in the present moment. As this develops we are able to notice the different aspects of our inner experience: thoughts, emotions, sensations and impulses.
With practice we can see all this unfolding, enabling us to be less swept along by our automatic reactions and habits, with more choice over our lives.
What are the outcomes of attending a course?
Through attending a course you learn ways to:
- be calmer and more present in your work and relationships
- reduce the impact of stress so you can respond helpfully to challenges you face
- prioritise your own health and wellbeing, for your benefit and those you work and live with
- reduce the feeling of ‘time pressure’ many people experience
- cultivate greater understanding and kindness towards yourself and others
Impact of my courses
Staff on a 2017 mindfulness course at Townley Grammar School in Bexley self-reported improvements in wellbeing, stress, effectiveness at work, and in relationships. A summary of the feedback is available here.
Key Evidence
A 2017 randomised controlled trial by the University of Virginia provides the most compelling research to date on the impact of mindfulness on school teachers. Those who trained in mindfulness (compared to the control group) reported less stress and greater wellbeing. They were also observed as they were teaching by independent assessors, who rated their classrooms as more emotionally positive compared to the controls, with the teachers demonstrating greater sensitivity to their students' needs.
The 2015 All Party Parliamentary Group Report 'Mindful Nation' summarises the evidence base for mindfulness in the arenas of Health, Education, the Workplace and the Criminal Justice System. It states "while mindfulness is not a panacea, it does appear to offer benefit in a wide range of contexts".
The 2015 All Party Parliamentary Group Report 'Mindful Nation' summarises the evidence base for mindfulness in the arenas of Health, Education, the Workplace and the Criminal Justice System. It states "while mindfulness is not a panacea, it does appear to offer benefit in a wide range of contexts".
