Mindfulness as a Way of Life. Workshop for Young Mercy Leaders on Pilgrimage at Baggot Street

Much has been written about Mindfulness in the past number of years but the simplest explanation is to say that it is a way of developing the human capacity of paying attention to life experience with kindness and curiosity.

There is no right or wrong way to do mindfulness; there is only the way you practice. However, you will become more comfortable with the practices as you use them more.

The five practices recorded (below) are short, with the longest  ten minutes and therefore I encourage you to download the practices and use at least once per day. Mindfulness is not a ‘quick fix’ to life’s problems but by introducing these practices into your everyday life, over weeks and months you will notice subtle changes in yourself; perhaps feeling calmer and more able to deal with difficult situations/feelings or being more aware of what is going on around you.

Mindfulness has its origins in Buddhist meditation practices. In the 1970’s an American scientist called Jon Kabat-Zinn brought mindfulness into the realm of everyday life. In 1979 he founded the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he adapted the Buddhist teachings on mindfulness and developed the Stress Reduction and Relaxation Programme. The five tracks recorded here are based on the Stress Reduction Programme.

Practice 1: Give it a rest

Practice 2: Block Buster

Practice 3: Grounded Like Seaweed

Practice 4: Calming the Unkind Mind

Practice 5: Body Light

On iOS devices we recommend the Puffin Browser app which will allow you to view Flash-based content (audio, video and slideshow/ image galleries) on this website using your iPad, iPhone and iPod.

Further Resources for Mindfulness

I recommend the following resources:

• Downloads

Beaumont Hospital in Dublin  has developed a Mindfulness and Relaxation Centre with free downloads of Mindfulness and Relaxation Practices. To access these
Enter www.beaumont.ie
Click on Departments
Click on M in the list of Departments
Click on Mindfulness and Relaxation Centre at Beaumont Hospital
Click on Exercises to view a full list of Mindfulness and Relaxation Practices with explanations
Image: Jon Kabat-Zinn

• Reading

Read more about the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the inspiring work of the Mindfulness staff there.

I hope you will find the five tracks of various Mindfulness Practices and the additional resources to be useful in dealing with difficult situations/feelings or being more aware of what is going on around you.

Messages to: Mary Conway rsm