Stress is now considered to be one of the biggest health epidemics in our modern-day society. Life is a balancing act between managing the internal and external pressures. Mindfulness practice can teach you to step back from stressful moments and thoughts, and select pause before reacting to situations. You can learn to switch on the being mode (awareness/mindfulness) versus doing mode (automatic pilot).
Mindfulness has grown considerably since its development in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn; initially designed for stress and chronic pain reduction. Companies such as Google, LinkedIn, Nike, and Apple are now utilising its researched benefits.
Mindfulness is having the ability to cultivate awareness of your thoughts, your bodily sensations, and the external surroundings, in the present moment, with specific positive attitudes such as compassion, curiosity, gratitude, and acceptance.
Neuroscience research has illustrated that simply having awareness with these specific mindful attitudes towards yourself and others, can have a very profound effect on the brain physiology, and therefore how we process our thoughts and how we feel. Mindfulness can then aim to assist you in managing your mindset, thoughts, decisions and challenges that may arise within your life day-to-day. This in turn can improve stress management, emotional resilience and intelligence, communication, and relationships with others. It can increase your focus, creativity, which results in higher levels of productivity, and an overall enhanced sense of wellbeing. Meditation can have a huge impact on your life and can be profoundly healing. Research is now proving how this practice can have an effect on our organ function, and our cellular health.
Renee Knowles, Senior Physiotherapist and Mindfulness Teacher for AUCKLAND PHYSIOTHERAPY will help tailor a program to you or your company’s requirements, goals and budget. This can include an introductory workshop, a 2-day workshop, to a 4-8 week programme or a day retreat.
Join Renee ONLINE for her evidence-based 4-8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Wellness Course. The aim of this course is to assist people with stress and anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. The course also aims to improve deep sleep and to simply educate you more about having a balanced lifestyle.
For a more individualised approach you may want to choose a 1-1 or duet 4-8 week course tailored to your needs, and in the comfort of your own home.
The aim of this course is to assist people with stress and anxiety, depression, and chronic pain - at home and in the workplace. The course also aims to improve deep sleep and to simply educate you more about having a balanced lifestyle.
1-2 hour introduction to mindfulness workshops are a perfect taster for you to grasp the core principles of mindfulness and then decide whether a 4-8 week group course, or a 1-1 and more tailored individualised approach is required.
This specific course has been designed specifically by Renee Knowles to incorporate the core principles of the MBSR 4 week course, combined with the necessary techniques to overcome workplace stress and anxiety.
It is perfect for those even working part-time, or owning their own business. If you are interested in a course for your team or company, and have specific issues, Renee can also tailor a course to your needs.
Throughout Renee’s traditional MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) 4-8 week courses, you will learn to implement the principles of mindfulness into your daily life. Establishing the ability to cultivate kindness and compassion towards yourself is very powerful. It will assist you to manage your mindset, thoughts, decisions and challenges that may arise within your life day to day.
The course will be within a group of people that may be experiencing similar life challenges to you. You can participate as much as you would like within the discussions and sharing of your thoughts
The value of ‘mindful living’ will become more apparent as the course progresses. The first part of the course will challenge you mentally. Eventually it will become easier to implement mindful practice into your daily life, and you will learn to acknowledge your thoughts and control your attention to them.
Stress is a major factor for chronic disease and absence in the workplace according to the World Health Organisation (Alidina & Adams, 2014). Research and science has shown that establishing the ability to cultivate kindness and compassion towards yourself is very powerful. It will assist you to manage your mindset, thoughts, decisions and challenges that may arise within your life day to day. Mindfulness aims to improve your resilience, creativity, communication, which results in higher levels of productivity and overall enhanced wellbeing (Alidina & Adams, 2014).
WEEK 1
Introduction to Mindfulness and Application in the Workplace: Waking up from Automatic Pilot; Living in the Present; Understanding ‘Doing vs Being’ modes.
(Theory, specific meditations and home practice/manual use)
WEEK 2
Connecting the Body and Mind; Understanding and Managing Stress; The Neuroscience behind Mindfulness; Stress theory and dialogue.
(Theory, specific meditations and home practice/manual use)
WEEK 3
Acceptance & Letting things be; Thoughts are just thoughts; Mindful Communication
(Theory, specific meditations and home practice/manual use)
WEEK 4
“How do I best take care of myself?” Maintaining and extending new learning; exploring technology and sleep
(Theory, specific meditations and home practice/manual use)
Your own manual, evidence based techniques to practice daily, links to meditations, and one free follow up session of further 1-1 guidance when required after the course.
This is an integral part of the course and it will involve around an hour of your time each day. It may be difficult at times, however it is very important to persevere to get the most out of the course. Think of the next 4 weeks as being an experiment for you to learn and cultivate new life skills. During this time you may decide to commit fully to the process or not. At the end of the 8 weeks, you can then come to your own conclusions.
You will be ‘tuning in’ more than you may ever have. Therefore with the ‘volume’ on your life and mindset turned up, it will definitely enhance your senses in the pleasures of life. However, it may also increase your sensitivity to the challenges and pains in your life. Both of which are necessary to be able to overcome challenges effectively and build resilience. This awareness has to happen in order for you to learn to step back, acknowledge the difficulties, and learn to deal with them in a more productive way. It will take some time management on your part which may be something you already partake in each day. If not, this home practice may in turn help you to manage your time and daily stresses with more ease and clarity.
The ultimate aim is of this course is to help increase the awareness of your thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations on a daily basis. In the workplace, it aims at improving the management of your time and daily stresses with more ease and clarity. Secondary effects can result in pain reduction, stress management and relaxation.
**Results vary from person to person and are dependent on numerous factors**.
