What is Mindfulness?

The Mindfulness Association’s working definition of mindfulness is: Knowing what is happening while it is happening, without preference.

As you sit and read this, you can choose to be mindful. You can choose to come into the present moment and know you are sitting here, while you are sitting here.

Spend a moment just becoming aware of your experience as you sit here: any thoughts passing through the mind, any emotion you are experiencing now and any physical sensations you can feel in the body.

Becoming aware of our experience relates directly to the ‘knowing what is happening while it happening’ element of our definition.

Training in Mindfulness at the Mindfulness Association

Method and Attitude

The Mindfulness Association’s training proceeds at two levels:

Firstly, a technical aspect, which involves the method of how we train and what steps we learn in order to settle the mind, come into focus, remain in focus, recognize and avoid distraction. For example, we do this through meditation with the support of breath, sound, body or movement using a range of exercises.

Secondly, by developing an attitude of acceptance and kindness towards ourselves, so that when the effects of mindfulness reveal deeper levels of psychological activity, we are able to integrate these in a creative and non-reactive way (Nairn, 2001). This aspect is also carried out throughout meditative process.

Both levels are essential and should proceed side by side with one another.

Feel free to watch this video excerpt from our free 10 month online course, Living with Presence. In this video, Kristine Mackenzie Janson speaks about the importance and benefits of working with self- kindness alongside meditating with a support.

Want to know more about mindfulness and train with us?

Here’s a short talk on our Mindfulness Practitioner Training Pathway: