“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment. We also gain immediate access to our own powerful inner resources for insight, transformation and healing” – Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction comes under the umbrella of Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBI’s) which are intended on helping people improve their health and wellbeing. Change Therapy delivers MBSR Certification courses – get in touch for more information, using this link.

Intended to increase consciousness and encourage the connection between your body and mind, MBSR uses techniques that target negative subconscious thoughts, behaviours and feelings. This method incorporates Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy.

Your mental state has an impact on your stress level and overall health, thus MBSR assists you in altering your thoughts and behaviours to support internal body healing.

MBSR is a programme designed to help people manage their pain and discomfort, and their life challenges which are a result of ill health. The methods involved help alleviate stress, depression, anxiety and chronic pain.

Using Mindfulness, Meditation, Movement, Visualisation and Breathing techniques, combined with learning how the mind can change our behaviour and improve positive thoughts, MBSR is a valuable tool being used more and more our health institutions, with positive outcomes for many.

It is gratifying to be a part of and witnessing the changes in the NHS (UK) where there is more acceptance towards alternative/complimentary health practice, like Mindfulness and Meditation, which can improve the health and wellbeing of people in general. Certainly, up to 5 years ago, nearly all the medical professionals would downplay the effectiveness of Meditation, Mindfulness, Acupuncture or any form of therapy which is not science-based.

(A small number of GP’s or doctors, although favourable to a patient trying complimentary medicine, could not in their capacity agree to this form of therapy, as they have to stick within their medical and professional guidelines).

When the chips are down, and pain or illness takes over your life, anything that will improve your life is fair game. Whether that is trying Chinese medicine, Indian Ayurveda, Herbal medicine, Shamanic healing, Psychic healing, Prayers or searching for help on the Internet, the choice is yours to make.

Personally, I have witnessed positive transformations and improvements in many people that have benefitted from Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and I would recommend this to anyone to try.

Take care.

Steve