Mindfulness has become a common buzzword in our society. While its popularity makes mindfulness a more accessible practice, there are many misconceptions and misrepresentations of mindfulness. For example, it is often confused with positive psychology practices, or the simple notion that if one could just “be present,” things would be better/peaceful/good. This diluted and narrow understanding of mindfulness makes it seem impractical to use in the context of challenging life situations, as we have experienced in recent months.
How can mindfulness be applied in situations where there is suffering and distress?
It is essential that mindfulness is understood in a holistic way; a way that includes suffering as part of the mindfulness practice and not something that is relegated to the margins.
This presentation will be examining how to be mindful, especially when a situation is difficult or challenging. This attitude of mindful awareness is beneficial to you personally, but can also deepen your relationships and even be a precursor and initial step towards social action.
In this 2.5 hour experience, the history of mindfulness in the East, as well as its appearance and growth in the West will be reviewed. In addition, we will take a deeper look at what mindfulness is, and how to practice it while experiencing strong and difficult emotions. It is also vital to explore situations in which mindfulness is helpful, and when it is not. There will be an experiential portion where a variety of mindfulness exercises will be practiced.
Who Should Attend:
This workshop will be appropriate for anyone who is interested in contemplative, reflective, self-help and self-compassion practices. If you have struggled with understanding how meditation, mindfulness, yoga and other mind-body practices make space for raw and difficult emotion, this workshop is for you. Mindfulness can be a helpful tool in dealing with anxiety, stress, and grief, so long as the practitioner understands mindfulness from a perspective that includes these states as part of the practice! No prior experience in mindfulness, meditation or contemplative practice is necessary. If you are wondering if this workshop is appropriate for you to attend, contact Sandy (sandy@yogaforgriefsupport.com or 780-916-2417) and she can discuss it with you.
Learning Objectives
OUTLINE
Mindfulness Presentation and Education
Experiential:
Question and Answer Period
Bio
Sandy Ayre is an Occupational Therapist with a Certificate in Death and Grief Studies Certificate through the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins Colorado. She works on the Tertiary Palliative Care Unit at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, supporting patients and families at the end of life. She also is a certified yoga instructor. Since 2009 she has been providing Yoga for Grief Support – a grief support group in Edmonton that uses yoga and meditation as a supportive modality. You can find her classes online as well at www.yogaforgriefsupport.com