Therapeutic
Mindfulness
Welcome to Health Matters Therapeutic Mindfulness page!
Mindfulness is a proven, effective tool for reducing anxiety & stress while improving wellbeing and focus.
We offer mindfulness training & taster sessions for
PUBLIC & PRIVATE GROUPS & SCHOOLS
INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES & FAMILIES
INDOORS, OUTDOORS & ONLINE
Call to discuss how we can help you
Mindfulness is defined in the Merriam – Webster dictionary as
1: the quality or state of being mindful
2: the practice of maintaining a non-judgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis
Here are some frequently asked questions...
What can mindfulness do for me?
It is common to become more relaxed very quickly, even with only a small amount of practice.
Try a short Mindful in Minutes session and see for yourself by clicking here
Mindfulness teaches us to pay more attention to what is happening in us, and around us in the present moment so that we experience life in greater detail. This often means that:
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Flavours and aromas are enhanced when we focus on our senses of taste and smell.
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We become better listeners with a quieter mind that isn’t distracted or rehearsing its reply.
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Colours become more vibrant and scenery more vivid as we observe life with clarity.
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Use of our bodies becomes more pleasurable when we feel deeply into the sensations of our muscles, joints and skin.
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As feelings become more obvious, instead of ignoring them, we can deal with them honestly.
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Greater awareness of a negative or anxious inner voice allows us to change it to a friendlier, more positive one.
Focusing our attention on the present moment distracts us from the imagined worries, conflicts, fears and doubts created by the mind, which lead to stress-tension and emotional disharmony. Without these, we can return to a contented, relaxed and peaceful state.
Sounds too good to be true!
Is there any proof that mindfulness works?
Yes! Aside from the abundance of philosophers, wise-men and women, guru’s, saints and religious teachings that have been advising us to be still, sit, breathe, observe and contemplate for thousands of years, science is now beginning to understand the incredible benefits that mindfulness grants those who practice.
Here are some for starters…
A simple animated explanation of the Neuroscience of Mindfulness in just 4 minutes!
Professor Mark Williams examines the neuroscience of mindfulness
Richard J.Davidson PhD, psychologist and neuroscientist discusses how mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains at TED x San Francisco
Ok, so it works for some people, but is it for me?
Mindfulness is used by people of all genders, ages, walks of life and religious or non religious beliefs.
There are many ways to achieve a mindful state to suit different personalities, types and lifestyles.
Mindfulness is for you if you want it to be.
But how do I make my busy mind become calm?
Well, you probably won’t quieten your mind by telling it to be quiet, any more than you’ll get someone who is wound-up to relax by telling them to relax!
The trick is to focus your mind on things that don’t require much conscious thought, or another option is to concentrate on mental images that are relaxing. There's a saying, "energy flows where attention goes" so when we take our attention away from over-thinking, worrying etc., we stop putting energy into them and they lessen.
We achieve the desired result by doing things that we are already able to do, just with a focused intention i.e. breathing, feeling, moving, listening, tasting, smelling, or imagining.
Achieving such a level of concentration becomes easier with practice.
