This week Heather looked at the How Best to Learn Meditation in her Science and Mindfulness Blog – it was really helpful to see the different types of meditation and what benefits they have. As Heather said in her blog, there is scant scientific data to tell us what is the best way to meditate,…
This week I have been asked to write a blog on the science behind how best to learn meditation. Unfortunately, there is a limited evidence base on this topic. However, I will do what I can! One of the best books I have read on the evidence base for meditation is ‘The Science of Meditation’,…
Hi There, welcome back to my Mindful Futures blog! Over the weekend I took part in my first ever mindfulness course, the level one being present. I really enjoyed myself, admittedly more than I was expecting to. I think my dog also quite enjoyed it, she spent the first day sat by my side snoozing…
Mindfulness + Wine = Winefulness? I don’t think so! I like a glass of wine. Or two. And sometimes it’s three. Mindfulness and wine. Hmm, not sure. This week I have decided to focus on wine, or I should say the lack of it, as my mindfulness practice. The Famous Buddhist art of Not-Doing! A…
In neuroscience the default mode network (DMN) is a network of widespread brain regions showing functional connectivity. It is active when we are not task focussed, such as when the mind is wandering. It is active when we are thinking about others, ourselves, remembering the past or planning for the future. It has been shown…
TRAINING TO TEACH MINDFULNESS – THE MBLC RETREAT I don’t really want to be a teacher, I said, as I applied for the course. Fear was pulling me back, but something stronger was pulling me – compassion to share all this with others. Facing fears in the MBLC Teaching retreat, accepting, meeting and looking deeply…
The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao. In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In…
In July I will be attending the Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) Level 2 Teacher Training Retreat and I have found out that as part of that training I will be delivering a ten-minute talk on settling the mind. I thought I would share my thoughts here about what I have learned so far from…
I originally had no intention to ‘teach’ Mindfulness. After completing the Level 1 teaching course as part of my Masters in Mindfulness Studies with the University of Aberdeen the seed was planted and I now find myself in the middle of the teacher training pathway. between the Train to Teach Mindfulness Level One course (Next…