1. Grant Rix Operations Manager

2. Creating a Society where all People Flourish…

3. What mindfulness is not

4. Mindfulness is a practice…
…the practice of giving our full open-hearted attention to what is immediately occurring; physically and mentally, within and around us

5. Why all the fuss about mindful breathing?
Non-threatening
Establishes a link between the body and the mind
Brings awareness to the sensations of the body, which are continuously shifting and changing and sometimes manifest as strong feelings, which we call emotions
Through this awareness we learn the language of how the body and the mind speak to each other (neglecting that language leads to trouble!)
Quite naturally (as a result of attention and patience) the body and mind find their way back into balance (there’s not a lot we have to do save establishing the conditions for that to occur)
I put it to you, that we have developed a culture of neglect when it comes to understanding the way our body and mind communicates

6. …And a way of being
The near-effortless balance of body and mind in accord with situation (here) and circumstance (now)
Enhances our ability to appreciate life’s beauty, and to respond, not react, to life’s challenges

7. Red Zone Green Zone Angry Anxious Frustrated Irritable Stressed
Overly excited
Worried
Distracted
Etc.
Calm
Clear
Content
Balanced
Peaceful
Relaxed
Curious
Engaged

12. Recognising (the dominant state)
Accepting (with non-judgement/compassion)
Letting be/go (anchoring with mindful breathing & allowing to pass)
“When I’m upset, I let myself feel sad, and then I can feel happy again.” - MiS participant, 7 years old.

14. Research (with UoA and AUT)
Three Studies:
Qualitative (2013, currently under review for publication)
Mixed-methods (2014, manuscript being prepared)
Randomised Control Trial (2014, currently under review for publication)
Put reference to Lazar study here.
So it is both a state (that is experienced through practice) and a trait (a way of being) that develops as a result of practice (presumably due to positive changes occurring in the brain)

15. General Summary
Teacher’s report increased calm, self-awareness, improved focus/attention and self-management in the children, and reduced stress for them
Statistically significant increases in self-report mindfulness and wellbeing, with some evidence of sustainability 3-months later

18. Life without Punctuation
Imaginereadingabookwithoutspacesandwithoutanypunctuationmarksitwouldbetrickyrightinfactitwouldbeprettystressfulandmaybeevenfeelalmostimpossibleattheveryleastitwouldbewaymoredifficultthanitneedstobelifeisthesameifwedon’ttaketimetopauseandtobreatheandtosmileandtojustoccasionallybethenlifecanstarttofeelprettyrushedandstressfulthisisnothealthyforourbrainsthisincreasestheriskthatwewillgetcaughtinpatternsofthinkingandactingthatareunhelpfulf

19. info@mindfulaotearoa.nz grant@mindfulaotearoa.nz
Contact