MEDITATION

MBSR MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION

Next group course starts October 6th 2020

There are now so many robustly researched and endorsed studies available providing evidence for the overwhelming benefits of MBSR Mindfulness Meditation, developed by Dr Jon Kabat Zinn and Mark Williams of Oxford University. The lists of benefits expounded by the latest research are listed at the bottom of this page. But I want to describe more how mindfulness and meditation affects the way we feel and relate to the world.

When I first started meditating 15 years ago, it was like falling in love again! But not with someone, just with life. I know that sounds a tad over the top. But I remember it clearly! It was as if life “bm” (before meditation) was just going through the process of getting up, doing a job, eating, going out, seeing friends, but in a tone of low light. Sort of like on a conveyor belt of medium emotional content. And… I am a cheerful and positive person, but it was like the flavour in my life’s soup was just plain bland.

I went on a weekend residential meditation course and I came back…life “am” (after meditation) feeling so alive..and in love with life. As I drove home I was noticing the scenery as if for the first time. Everything looked brighter, more colourful, fresh and sort of juicy. Since then, 10 years ago I have meditated every day…because I love this aliveness. And I still feel the same, it hasn’t waned, it’s just more constant. I have so much more energy.

Life ‘bm’ I would have 3 or 4 colds in a year. Life ‘am’, if I get a cold now it would be at most once a year and it would be milder.

Life ‘bm’ I always needed a glass of wine to ‘relax’ before going out to a ‘do’, as I would become anxious about engaging with people I did not know too well. Life ‘am’ I just do not fancy a glass so much and now I barely drink at all, but love going out, meeting new people and never feel anxious! So it sort of made my world feel safer and worth exploring.

Infact two weeks after I went on the meditation course, my husband who is soooo not into anything he’d term as ‘brown spaghetti’, decided he wanted to go on the meditation  course as well. He wanted to experience what I was experiencing. …..Actually I think he thought I must be on something! So he too, 10 years on still meditates every day.and appreciates what it has given him.

So here’s the list of what meditation has been found to do. And I would say yes it has done all those things for me.

Regular Mindfulness Meditation

  • Reduces psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety)
  • Calms the autonomic nervous system and decreasing cortisol (stress hormone)
  • Reduced emotional reactivity
  • Enhanced behavioral regulation
  • Enhanced attentional skills
  • Improved memory
  • Increased mental alertness
  • Increase in compassion, empathy and altruistic behavior
  • Enhanced coping in response to stressors
  • Improves decision making and creativity
  • Increases energy
  • Improves confidence
  • Improves flexibility
  • Reduces headaches
  • Improves medical conditions including:
  • type 2 diabetes
  • cardiovascular disease
  • asthma
  • premenstrual syndrome
  • chronic pain
  • Improves psychological conditions such as:
  • anxiety, insomnia, phobias and eating disorders.

Exeter Devon

MBSR Mindfulness Meditation Courses

I offer *8 week courses for groups

and individual 1:1 8 Week courses  or stand alone sessions.

Please contact me to discuss what would suit you best. 

MBSR 8 Week Course

In each 2 hour session we will be developing different aspects of mindfulness practice, following the Gold Standard MBSR Curriculum, exploring new skills to add to your toolkit, enabling you to better meet our life’s challenges. 

I will guide you through the steps of mindfulness meditation, beginning with short 5 to 10  minute meditations developing up to 20-45 minute practices by the final week. In each session we will focus on a different aspect of this mind training journey  in a soft easy approach. Between sessions you will be given simple mindfulness for life tools to develop a steady comfortable practice at home.

What do you need to bring? Just you …. Oh and a commitment to yourself is really key. When we choose to nourish ourselves with this personal daily meditation practice, even if it is 5 -10 minutes, we begin from day one to transform our relationship with life.

You will be provided with a Course Workbook and downloadable Guided Meditations for home practice.

You will also be invited to attend a One-Day Retreat as part of this programme.

And….you don’t have to tie your legs in knots….unless you insist!….THERE’S CHAIRS!

Booking is essential : *Group Course Cost £165

Feedback from the previous course:

“Jo’s 8 week mindfulness course was a real awakening for me.  I loved every minute of our two hour weekly sessions despite my initial doubt that mindfulness and meditation would benefit me as much as it has.

Our ‘homework ‘was to do to a daily practice which was challenging at first, but when I wholly committed I was blown away to how it made me feel.   I always felt calmer after whichever practice I chose to follow, and more positive about myself and life in general . Although finding the time to do the daily mindfulness was sometimes difficult , without doubt it was 100% worth the effort and really important to keep it up regularly.

Jo’s gentle empathy and creative guidance kept me on track and I am still practicing most days and feel lighter and definitely happier in my life.    

I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is curious to try out mindfulness.”

Next 8 Week Course starts Tuesday 6th October 2020 in Exeter, Devon

Tuesday’s 12.00-14.00

*FREE Mindfulness Orientation and Taster Experience

Tuesday 22nd Sept 2020 12.00 – 13.30

If you are curious about joining the 8 week MBSR Course, you are invited to come to a taster session to really understand what the MBSR course involves in terms of your time and your commitment. It is a wonderful course that offers you a new way of meeting the world but it begins with your commitment to yourself.

Please contact me if you would like to join this course or would like a chat about the course.

jopureyoga@gmail.com