Just as flexibility, endurance, and strength can be improved with physical training, mindfulness meditation training can cultivate several distinct mental qualities, which include relaxation, concentration, balanced sensitivity and mental clarity. Mindfulness as a practice originated in Eastern meditation practices. The word mindfulness originates from the Pali term "sati", meaning to remember, and is essential in Buddhist insight meditation practice.
Mindfulness in the western world owes it popularity to Jon Kabat-Zinn who in 1979 recruited chronically ill patients not responding well to traditional treatments to participate in his newly formed eight-week stress-reduction program, which we now call Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Since then, substantial research has mounted demonstrating how mindfulness-based interventions improve mental and physical health—comparably so to other psychological interventions. “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally,” says Kabat-Zinn. “It’s about knowing what is on your mind.” (See 'Mindful', January 2017 here)
Mindfulness course formats
Mindfulness is now taught in several formats each with different training pathways as indicated below and you will sometimes also see variations of these.
The 'Mindfulness Based Living Course' (MBLC) is a 8 week mindfulness course based on the UK Mindfulness Association Level 1 mindfulness training. With practice, it gives us the skills to let go of the thoughts and tensions which cause stress and anxiety. We soon discover we have are able to access our own innate wisdom, live joyfully and make positive decisions even under difficult situations.
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). While short bursts of pressure can help us to rise to meet a challenge, a long term stress can have a major impact on our physical and mental health. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) aims to address prolonged periods of stress, which can lead to poor mental and physical health.
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was designed specifically to help people who are prone to recurring depression. It combines mindfulness techniques like meditation, breathing exercises and stretching, with elements from cognitive therapy to help break the negative thought patterns that are characteristic of recurrent depression. MBCT is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for people who suffer from recurrent episodes of depression.
Mindfulness for Children & Teenagers is taught in the UK following the curriculum of both Youth Mindfulness and MiSP.
Mindfulness tuition in the Scottish Borders
In addition to Peer 2 Peer Mindfulness you can also obtain Mindfulness teaching in other formats from the following organisations and tutors:
Peer 2 Peer Mindfulness is fortunate to be able to call on a number of very experienced mindfulness tutors qualified to teach the MBLC, MBSR, MBCT, Youth Mindfulness and MiSP curriculums in the courses and events it delivers across the Scottish Borders. Use the menu at the top of the page to find out more, or contact Peer2Peer Mindfulness for further details HERE
Elaine Henderson, founder of Live Mindfully Ltd delivers mindfulness in 1-2-1 and group settings is a qualified mindfulness teacher, licenced Master Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner, well-being coach and has a Diploma in Ericksonian & Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Isabelle Roney, Clinical Team Lead & Consultant Counselling Psychologist at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is qualified to teach MBLC, MBSR & MBCT mindfulness courses. Isabelle is one of the lead tutors within Peer 2 Peer Mindfulness. Find out more about Isabelle here - www.northeastpsychologicalservices.co.uk
Patricia Taddei of Mindfulness Borders trained at the Karuna Institute, Devon in Mindfulness-based Core Process Psychotherapy and is registered with the UK Council for Psychotherapy. She is a member of the UK Mindfulness Teacher’s Training Network and facilitates Mindfulness Courses and Retreats.
Sara Hirtenstein is an Occupational Therapist offering MBSR mindfulness courses in Hawick.
Peer 2 Peer Mindfulness has endeavored to include all tutors it knows of at this time in the above listing. If you are a Mindfulness Tutor in the Scottish Borders and would like your name on the list, please contact us.