Mindfulness Meditation: An Interview with A Mindfulness Teacher
Mindfulness is a way of living. To paraphrase Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School,
mindfulness is paying attention in the present moment without Judgement
Mindfulness meditation is a way to train and practice this focused attention and awareness. There are other forms of meditation, but in this article we’ll focus on mindfulness.
I’m sharing an excerpt from a recent interview I gave for a podcast for physicians on mindfulness, mindfulness coaching, and the ways mindfulness is sometimes misused and misunderstood.
How did you come to explore mindfulness?
I began practicing yoga in the 90s after a riding accident. I was drawn to yoga because of its focus on the connection of mind and body, as well as the physical practice. I started to realize that I was using mindful breathing practices when dealing with difficult patients and challenging situations, and it evolved from there. This was before people were talking about mindfulness, so this took me by surprise.
As a photographic artist, I also find that mindfulness allows me to explore and connect more deeply and sincerely with my subjects, whether they are human, animal, or the natural world.
What is a mindfulness coach?
As a certified mindfulness coach and mindfulness meditation teacher, I’m trained to help clients explore, develop, or sustain their own mindfulness practice. As a Master Certified Physician Development Coach, my coaching practice focuses on physicians, especially those dealing with burnout, life transitions, time management challenges, and people hoping to find a more comfortable work-life balance.
Although not everyone is interested in exploring mindfulness itself, the most important things that mindfulness offers include:
the intention to be present for ourselves and others in the moment without being pulled away by distractions
the skills to practice equanimity, maintaining composure in the face of difficult and challenging situations
the practice of nonjudgment, which can also be considered nonreactivity.
Mindfulness coaching may incorporate a brief period of breath-work and meditation at the beginning of a session, as a way to ground ourselves and become focused. We might also explore ideas about compassionate communication and mindfulness in daily life.
How can mindfulness be misused?
Mindfulness is often used by corporations as a way to enhance their brand, or as a way to put the onus on individuals to address the cause of their own stress. Oftentimes, these programs fail to acknowledge the root causes of the suffering, which for physicians and others in healthcare include electronic health record, metrics tracking, patient satisfaction surveys, and the like. When done in a heavy-handed way, corporate imposed mindfulness programs can be the epitome of shallowness and insincerity.
What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation?
Mindfulness is the practice of awareness. Meditation is a tool that we can use to develop the practice of mindfulness.
There are many forms of meditation, including at least seven different forms of mindfulness meditation as well as mantra, qigong, sound bath, TM, Zen, yoga nidra, and others.
Mindfulness is not necessarily a Buddhist practice. Prayer, song, and contemplation are examples of practices from many different religious traditions that are similar to mindfulness meditation.
The information provided is not intended as medical advice. Always check with your physician for any health concerns, or before starting a new exercise program.
Do you have questions about mindfulness, mindfulness meditation, or my coaching program? I’d love to hear from you.
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