Mindfulness Practice is a surprisingly powerful yet deceptively simple practice. Decades of research support the use of mindfulness tools to help relieve suffering associated with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and other chronic illnesses. While the concept may be easy to understand, learning how to integrate it into our daily lives takes a lot of practice. This healing modality can reduce the impact of stress on the body and mind and promote physical and psychological healing.
Mindfulness Services here at the Minnesota Clinic for Health and Wellness provide the guidance, structure and community to support you in integrating Mindfulness into your healing journey.
MEET COLETTE, Certified MBSR Instructor
Brief Introduction to Mindfulness
What Mindfulness Practice Services are Available?
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based, experiential 8-week course (Live, On-line) designed to reduce the impact of stress on your mind, body and life. Research has shown that MBSR is helpful for reducing symptoms of anxiety, chronic pain/illness, and burnout/compassion fatigue.
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What is Mindfulness Practice?
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention, on purpose to the present moment as it arises with kindness and compassion. Mindfulness Practice consists of learning various forms of meditation and movement, learning to be more fully in the present and to more objectively and kindly meet whatever is happening in the present moment.
The essence of Formal Mindfulness Practice is that we sit comfortably in a relatively quiet space and choose an “anchor” in the present. An anchor might be sounds, sensations, the breath - anything happening right now. And then, rather than trying to stop thoughts or run away from thoughts, we simply direct our attention to the anchor. We do this over and over again during meditation time. This trains the mind to be more aware, accepting, and compassionate.
How is Mindfulness Practice Different from Therapy?
Mindfulness Practice is taught to a small group by a trained facilitator and generally follows a structured curriculum focused on building skills and a personal practice to support moment to moment compassionate awareness in order to manage and reduce the impact of stress on mind and body.
Therapy, whether 1:1 or group, is led by a licensed therapist and has a wide range of therapeutic approaches, goals and treatment objectives.
It’s important to note that Mindfulness Practice is not intended to diagnose or treat (mental or physical) illness, but to train you to become more aware of how you relate to illness and symptoms in order to facilitate healing and relief.
Testimonial
I love my MBSR training.
I was having surgery recently, and part of the pre-op procedure involved a dye injection and a 2-hour wait, hooked up to machines. With little else to distract me, I began the full body scan I learned in MBSR.
I could hear Colette’s voice in my head as I worked my way up from “my right foot.” I took my time – I had plenty – and over the next hour-and-a-half, I was present to every part of my body - from tingling and temperature and even the lack of sensation - as I worked my way up from toe to head. By the time I was ready for surgery, I was completely relaxed and totally at peace. What a great pre-op ritual!
- K. Ryan, MBSR graduate
