Mindfulness

What is it?

“Mindfulness” is the English translation of the Pali word sati, meaning awareness, attention, and remembering (Siegel, Germer, & Olendzki, 2009). It can be traced back to the teachings of Buddha before being adopted by Western psychotherapy and pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn.  Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment without judgement or trying to change our thoughts or feelings. It is about observing our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the world around us with curiosity and acceptance without being caught up in them. Mindfulness can help reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, rumination and help improve emotional regulation skills, sleep, and concentration.

Here are some mindfulness exercises:

Box Breathing Practice by Everyday Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfMA0YA1IVA

The Butterfly Hug by TYF Support Group
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGGJrqscvtU

5-4-3-2-1 Method by The Partnership in Education
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30VMIEmA114

The Body Scanner by The Mindfulness Teacher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLoK5rOl8Qk

Reference

Siegel, R. D., Germer, C. K., & Olendzki, A. (2009). Mindfulness: What is it? Where did it come from?. In Clinical handbook of mindfulness (pp. 17-35). New York, NY: Springer New York.