WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
The concept of mindfulness dates back to 2500 years ago. It stems from Eastern culture and Buddhist traditions, yet there is no religious component to the practice, it can literally benefit anyone. The practice involves individuals choosing to be deliberate, taking action by “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally” (Kabat-Zinn, 1994, p.4). Cultivating a state of mindfulness can be achieved through systemic meditation practices (e.g. sitting meditation, body scan, movement meditation, yoga).
MINDFULNESS IMPROVES ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ATTENTION
Many research studies have focused on the benefits of mindfulness and have found that mindfulness therapy improves symptoms of anxiety and depression across a relatively wide range of symptoms (Hofmann et al. 2010). Also, research has shown that a regular meditation practice improves attentional capacity and consequently improves memory.
More importantly neuroimaging has found that individuals draw on their prefrontal cortex for decision making, attention, motivation and motor control. Mindfulness practice asks individuals to focus on their senses activating the anterior insula, this is the part of the brain that is associated with mood and gut feelings. Over time of practicing mindfulness there are changes that occur in the brain structure (Treadway et al., 2009). Neuroimaging has found in individuals with a regular mindfulness practice that they have greater cortical thickness in the sensory region of the brain and in the hippocampus region responsible for stress management (Hozel et al., 2005). Similarly, meditation has been correlated with an increase in grey matter density in the prefrontal cortex that is associated with improved attention and memory (Lazar et al., 2005).
MINDFULNESS IMPROVES STRESS MANAGEMENT
Also, neuroimaging has found that individuals draw on their prefrontal cortex for decision making, attention, motivation and motor control. Mindfulness practice asks individuals to focus on their senses activating the anterior insula, this is the part of the brain that is associated with mood and gut feelings. Over time of practicing mindfulness there are changes that occur in the brain structure (Treadway et al., 2009). Neuroimaging has found in individuals with a regular mindfulness practice that they have greater cortical thickness in the sensory region of the brain and in the hippocampus region responsible for stress management (Hozel et al., 2005). Similarly, meditation has been correlated with an increase in grey matter density in the prefrontal cortex that is associated with improved attention and memory (Lazar et al.,2005).
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