Weekly mindfulness and relaxation sessions offered by Counselling Service

30 Sep 2016

Drop-in sessions each day in the large Wellbeing room, first floor, Simon Building

• Monday (4-5pm)        Mindfulness Meditation
• Tuesday (1-2pm)       Learning how to relax (on beanbags)
• Wednesday (5-6pm)   Mindfulness Meditation
• Thursday (1-2pm)      Mindfulness Meditation (this session is particularly suitable for beginners)                               
• Friday (1-2pm)          Mindfulness Meditation (this session is particularly suitable for beginners)

What is mindfulness?

The idea behind mindfulness is straightforward: it can be described as "paying attention on purpose, moment by moment, without judging". The brain's habit of reliving past stresses and worrying about potential future problems can become an obstacle to our wellbeing and mental health.

Mindfulness, or mindful awareness, is the art of being focused and concentrated in the present moment - rather than lost in the past or anxious about the future.

Mindfulness enables us to respond skillfully to challenging situations, to make more effective decisions, to manage stress and to develop resilience.

Mindfulness uses a range of techniques that are easily learned by anyone to develop this awareness. For example, the body scan is a practice focussing on the sensations of our body: thoughts that “pop up” during the exercise are acknowledged and "observed kindly" before the mind is refocused back to the sensations of the body.

Since the 1970s mindfulness has been used in health, education and professional development to manage stress and increase wellbeing. It is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use in the NHS.