1. Mindfulness for Health
Dr. Nina Beaman CMA (AAMA)

2. Objectives
1. Describe research on the effectiveness of mindfulness on stress reduction
2. Experience mindfulness
3. Identify ways to apply to personal and professional life

3. What is mindfulness? Edward Chester Castillo Photo Courtesy of Emily Castillo

4. Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.
While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it’s more readily available to us when we practice on a daily basis.
Whenever you bring awareness to what you’re directly experiencing via your senses, or to your state of mind via your thoughts and emotions, you’re being mindful. And there’s growing research showing that when you train your brain to be mindful, you’re actually remodeling the physical structure of your brain. (
Mindfulness defined

5. The goal of mindfulness is to wake up to the inner workings of our mental, emotional, and physical processes.
When might that be useful?
How might that affect us?
Do you think the average person/patient/healthcare professional practices mindfulness?
Or mindfulness?

6. Value of mindfulness instead of mindFULness
Mindfulness improves well-being. Increasing your capacity for mindfulness supports many attitudes that contribute to a satisfied life. Being mindful makes it easier to savor the pleasures in life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in activities, and creates a greater capacity to deal with adverse events. By focusing on the here and now, many people who practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past, are less preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem, and are better able to form deep connections with others.
(Harvard Health)

7. Mindfulness improves physical health
Mindfulness improves physical health. If greater well-being isn’t enough of an incentive, scientists have discovered that mindfulness techniques help improve physical health in a number of ways. Mindfulness can: help relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, , improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.
Mindfulness improves mental health. In recent years, psychotherapists have turned to mindfulness meditation as an important element in the treatment of a number of problems, including: depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, couples’ conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
(Harvard Health)
Also

8. For example: How many of you spend most of your day looking downward
For example: How many of you spend most of your day looking downward? Upwards? Chloe Michelle Rose Bolgiano, Photo Courtesy or Belinda Rose Bolgiano Gavin Schuknecht, Photo Courtesy of Mary Ruth Schuknecht

9. What neurobiology says:

10. When do we look? Up Down Children look up to you for answers
Pets look up to you for support
Supplicant pose for worship
Selfies
Down
People who walk in traffic looking down at their cellphone
Put your head down and focus
Tuning out parents
Not volunteering

11. Mindfulness 101 Charlotte Olivia Parker Bolgiano, Photo Courtesy of Belinda Rose Bolgiano
Set aside time!
Find a quiet place
Observe the present moment as it is
Let tangential thoughts move by and re-center
Save judgments for later
Breathe

12. Let’s scout out how it feels
Aden B. Schuknecht, Photo Courtesy of Mary Ruth Schuknecht
Cameron Glidewell, Photo Courtesy of Bonny Glidewell

13. Exercise Breathe Relax your body Like your body
Become aware of your senses
Put away cares
Focus on the moment
Let any intrusive thoughts move through
Exercise

14. How do you feel? Photo Courtesy of Paulette McKernan

15. How can you apply this to your practice
How can you apply this to your practice? Photo taken of Adelie penguins on Falkland Islands

16. How do you apply to yourself
How do you apply to yourself? Nina Beaman, Photo courtesy of Marion Kanour

17. Objectives
1. Describe research on the effectiveness of mindfulness on stress reduction
2. Experience mindfulness
3. Identify ways to apply to personal and professional life

18. Dr. Nina Beaman CMA (AAMA)
For more information
Dr. Nina Beaman CMA (AAMA)
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