Mindfulness is said to have originated in Buddhist philosophy and meditation practice over 2500 years ago. The core and explicit mission of which was to address and relieve the suffering caused by the dysfunctional ways people habitually tend to respond to their experience. The secularisation, simplification and popularisation of mindfulness was initiated by Jon Kabat-Zinn, a micro-biologist, in the 1970's. He introduced the first 8 week structured mindfulness skills training programme based on his own knowledge of yoga and meditation techniques but greatly simplified. The MBSR course he devised gave demonstrable, considerable and rapid psychological, and often physical, relief, to a range of patients experiencing intractable severe pain and distress from a wide range of chronic physical health conditions based at the medical centre at the university of Massachusetts. Connecting with Mindfulness is a Bristol based organisation set up by Claire-Louise and Donna and provides courses, experiential workshops and retreat days that helps us to respond calmly when stressed leading to healthier relationships and more fulfilling lives. It enables us to develop inner strength in the face of stress, anxiety and illness and we are therefore able to pause, see the situation more clearly and choose to respond rather than our usual pattern of immediate reacting. The major benefits of mindfulness are:
Increased ability to act effectively under high levels of stress
Reduced levels of pain, anxiety and depression
Improved relationship to self and others and increased self confidence
