what is mindfulness
Mindfulness is a way of paying attention – of being deeply attuned to yourself, your environment and those around you from moment to moment. It is a natural state of mind – focused, present and aware. Rooted in the ancient Buddhist art of meditation, mindfulness can be learned and practised by anyone, no matter what their religious or cultural background. The approach to it that we take is completely secular.
Over the past thirty years, mindfulness skills have been taught with great effect in behavioural medicine and mental health settings as well as in corporations, schools, law courts, legal practices, prisons, and government agencies.
There is a very considerable body of research that speaks of its effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts. NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recommends it as a frontline treatment for relapsing depression.