Introduction to Mindfulness
Welcome to Introduction to Mindfulness with Gay Vickers.
Mindfulness is a skill that can be utilized when you are feeling overwhelmed with thoughts or reactive emotions. Mindfulness brings your attention back to the moment (via your breath and senses) and enables relief, release and inner stillness.
Here is a series of Mindfulness and Meditation practices which are a step-by-step means of letting drop stressful and distracting thoughts and emotions, listening increasingly deeply within and being open and receptive to discovery.
When we practice Mindfulness and Meditation we are deepening our awareness of our true nature.
Who are we in essence?
What is our true nature?
What is our meaning and Purpose?
Through these practices let go and fall back into your heart and be the truth of who you are. Know and experience the life, wisdom and love deep within, yet to be revealed. As you are open to receiving so will you be enabled to give.
This is an expansion of conscious mind and heart, bringing awareness of the deepest aspects of your Being, your Oneness with All. Develop a mindful focus and a commitment to be Soul inspired. Learn to trust yourself, your Divine Self through these practices.
You are invited to join me in this step by step inner revelation through Mindfulness and Meditation.
Facilitator: Gay Vickers
Practicing Mindfulness Helps You:
to be fully present, here and now
to experience unpleasant thoughts and feelings safely
to become more connected to yourself, to others and to the world around you
to increase self-awareness
to become less disturbed by and less reactive to unpleasant experiences
to learn that everything changes; that thoughts and feelings come and go like the weather
to have more balance, less emotional volatility to experience more calm and peacefulness
to develop self-acceptance and self-compassion.
- Dr. Russ Harris
Introduction to Mindfulness Class Handouts
Benefits of Mindfulness - a list of benefits to a mindfulness practice.
Part 1 - Mindfulness of Breath
In this practice we pay attention to the breath, detaching from each thought, bringing the focus back to the breath in the here and now moment. We practise being kind to ourselves by not judging and evaluating.
Gradually we become aware of the space between the breaths.
You will find this useful to release your preoccupation with thoughts and to release the focus on reactive emotions, letting them go to attend fully to the moment and the breath.
Part 2 - Mindfulness of the Senses I
In this practice we focus our attention on the senses, our awareness of the experience of each of our senses. Like the breath awareness, this is a valuable practice in letting go of the busy mind and to manage emotional reactions by detaching and fully focusing awareness to attend fully to the moment.
This can be used in a public place or when you are alone for these purposes.
Part 3 - Mindfulness of the Senses II - The Flower
In this mindfulness meditation we deepen our awareness, focusing our attention by utilizing all our senses. This can be an example of becoming aware of the beauty deep within to be discovered through mindful awareness. In preparation for this meditation, please pick a flower and bring it to the practice. Thank you.
Part 4 - Mindfulness and Meditation: An Introductory Meditation
In this meditation we bring attention to relaxing the physical body, calming the emotions and focusing the mind. Our conscious awareness is now open and receptive to the brilliance within the Self.
Part 5 - Mindfulness and Meditation - Stilling the Mind via Altered State of Consciousness
Here is an opportunity to work with the senses, visualization and imagination to change your state of consciousness. Every moment is a new beginning. Maybe you are waiting for something special to happen. This is a mistake. You are missing the potential in the moment. It is being awake and aware. You do not have to find special – you already are.
Recommended Meditations
Mindfulness Meditation for Inner Stillness - this mindfulness meditation practice invites you, via attention to your breath and sound, to bring your focus to NOW, this moment..
Mindfulness Meditations - a collection of mindfulness meditations to help tame the mind.
