Mindfulness – an essential practice for everyday life

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a form of meditation. It is rooted in Buddhist and Hindu teachings and relates to a journey toward enlightenment, and the concepts of sati, a Pali term in Buddhism, which encompasses attention, awareness, and being present, and of sat-chit-ananda, in Hinduism and the Yogic Philosophy, a Sanskrit term used to describe the experience of realizing the unity and wholeness of all existence.

In Western culture, Mindfulness is commonly attributed to Jon Kabat-Zinn as “the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally”. Kabat-Zinn studied under several Buddhist teachers, such as American Zen Buddhist Teacher Philip Kapleau, and Vietnamese Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Kabat-Zinn developed in the late 70s in the basement of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to treat chronic pain: as a result of the observation that patients would often try to avoid pain — but that that avoidance would lead to deeper distress, and therefore, practicing mindfulness was a more successful approach.

Mindfulness is awareness 

Thich Nhat Hahn spearheaded the movement of Engaged Buddhism, and his teachings show the value of appreciation of the present moment, no matter its circumstances, and of the value of the inner experience for the outer response. “Mindfulness is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.” “You don’t have to wait to experience the present moment. When you breathe in, and you are aware of your in-breath, you touch the miracle of being alive. That is why mindfulness is a source of happiness and joy”. Similarly, mindfulness can be a powerful drive to inspire compassionate and assertive action in front of the maladies and challenges of our world.

How does Mindfulness look like in your life?

Mindfulness is awareness. It is simple, and yet, it is a big deal. It is a practice that helps us create intimacy with the core of our being, and the many conditions that have allowed our living at this very moment. For many people, mindfulness brings about an effortless state of acceptance and gratitude.

To deepen our awareness, however, we need to train our attention, the ability to focus on a specific stimulus or task. In meditation, the anchor usually being the breath or bodily sensations. Diligent practice is needed to sustain our attention and to notice its quality, which changes every time and overtime. As we practice, we feel more at ease sustaining our attention, leading to (greater) concentration (dharana in Yoga).

What can we do to be Mindful?

As our ability to sustain attention progresses, we can use different meditations to deepen and increase awareness. As we bring our sustained attention inward, a myriad of realizations (insights) may take place. That is part of the gift of awareness that cannot be explained but experienced.

How can I practice Mindfulness?

If you would like to practice Mindfulness, there are many resources, from Apps to guided online and in-person sessions. In Miami, the University of Miami Libraries provides a wonderful Mindfulness Guide.

Where can I practice Meditation for Mindfulness Weekly?

You will find me teaching and guiding meditation practice weekly at:

• Lipe House of Wellnesswhere we gather weekly at the Energy Enhancement System Room to further promote the benefits of the practice (an article on this coming up soon!). I recommend registering at least one day in advance.
• Coconut Grove Library’s Wednesdays of Well-being, alternating every other Wednesday with Yoga, which I also teach there. I recommend registering48 hrs. in advance.

To learn more about opportunities to practice together, please visit Athena Lab Directory

Get to know me – Mindfulness and Meditation Facilitator 

About me: a woman and life explorer. Like you, I take on a few roles; these are the relevant ones for this practice.

500hr Yoga Alliance certified Yoga Teacher, Mindfulness Meditation facilitator and mentor through Banyan’s MMTP. I practice mindfulness every day, and also teach and mentor at home, online, and in several locations through Miami to people wishing to deepen their meditation practice and living life more fully. I also practice with the local Sangha in the Plum Village Tradition, Miami’s Blue Ocean Sangha — and you are likely to find me there on a Sunday evening.