Mindful You…

MINDFUL YOU…
To find out how you can be a more MINDFUL YOU, continue reading below…
And you can email us to register for this course at manager@sanghayogatrinidad.com

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“Mindfulness is defined as the
awareness that emerges
through paying attention, on
purpose, in the present
moment and non-judgmentally
to the unfolding of experience
moment to moment.”
(Kabat-Zinn 03, 143).

Mindfulness, is a practice that entails focusing and deepening awareness of the mind-body connection and experience through meditation and brain training  activities, gentle Hatha yoga, reflective dialogue, and with values of acceptance and self-compassion. The mindfulness program entails
working with your own stress, pain, or illness to restore inner strength, and a balanced sense of health and well-being. The mindfulness program is adapted from Kabat-Zinn’s model and researchers in Canada, Australia, and the UK.

WEEKLY COURSE CONTENT:
In order to accommodate those who could not commit to a full 8-week course, we decided to create each session as an individual session.  If you come to all…great!  If you can only come to one?  Still great!!  But you don’t have to feel like you have missed anything if you didn’t come to all.  Below are the dates and weekly content to be discussed:

OCTOBER 13: INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

OCTOBER  20: RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BODY (SCAN)
Focus: The theory and practice of the body scan.  Discussion and reflection may include the relationship with the body, practices of self-love and acceptance.

OCTOBER 27: EXPLORING NATURAL SPACES
Focus: Diverse meditations including sitting, body scan (lying), walking, and eating.

NOVEMBER 3: STRESS
Focus: Yoga, The body in pain, stress, and strong emotion. Discussion and reflection may include the relationship with stress and pain, and strategies for mindful “intervention.”

NOVEMBER 10: STRESS
Focus: Yoga, The body in pain, stress, and strong emotion. Discussion and reflection may include the relationship with stress and pain, and strategies for mindful “intervention.”  Introduction to silent meditation.

NOVEMBER 17: QUIETLY QUIETING
Focus: Silent Meditations.  No group discussion. Session will end with minimally guided self-love practice.

NOVEMBER 24: TOGETHER…US
Focus: Partner-based meditations (empathy towards one another, drawing strength from and strengthening one another). Discussion and reflections may include future personal practice/applications.

DECEMBER 1: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS AND A LOVING TRINIDAD
Focus: Brief partner-based meditations; Participants will choose individual meditation practices. Discussion and reflections may include personal practice and applications; as well as impacting culture/Trinidad. Sharing and discussion may include recommendations and resources for future personal practice/applications.

BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS:
The benefits of mindfulness span social-emotional well-being and a range of domains in mental and physical health, some of which are listed below:

• Reduces stress by decreasing levels of cortisol and other physiological responses to stress.
• Increases subjective wellbeing “happiness.”
• Improves aspects of cognitive functioning including cognitive flexibility. It is inked with Increased signaling of connections in the brain.
• Emotion regulation.
• Helps with coping with cancer and pain.
• Reduces depression and other symptoms of distress.
• Improves sleep.
• Strengthens the immune system.
• Promotes self-compassion.
• Improves social relationships
• Specific group benefits include:
  1. Children & Adolescents: improves academic performance through improving working memory and aspects of cognitive functioning; improves calm and focus.
  2. Seniors: helps seniors to cope with loneliness.
  3. Parent-child: improves parenting and behavior regulation amongst children.

COURSE FORMAT:

• Orientation
  After enrolling in the course, participants are invited to a free orientation or first day trial. This trial class will
  introduce participants to the concept of Mindfulness, its research support, and benefits. Attendees will also
  have the opportunity to practice some fundamental techniques in Mindfulness.
• Core Components
  The Mindfulness Course entails the following components:
  1. Mindfulness and mental balance training based on mind-body awareness, attention, and attitudinal
     processes/Guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices
  2. Gentle stretching and mindful yoga (Hatha yoga)
  3. Individually tailored instruction
  4. Daily home assignments
  5. Group dialogue and inquiry aimed at enhancing awareness in everyday life and at developing mindful
     ways of responding to barriers encountered in practice.
  6. Basic educational resources on the mind-body connection.

The program is primarily experiential but persons will receive information about Mindfulness and mindful approaches to living. By the end of the course persons will have substantial experience and information of the practice and approach of Mindfulness to make an informed choice about which aspects are personally
beneficial and how they can make the most of it in by incorporating it into daily life.

Over the course of 8-weeks, participants will engage in a progression of Mindfulness, Meditative and Didactic practices to deepen or begin a practice. Each week will span 1.5 hour time block. Commitment to the full duration of the course is strongly encouraged, BUT not required. By the end of the course persons will notice a deeper Mindfulness practice and lifestyle approach.