meditation | Centers for Integrative Health

Mindful Presence: Embodying sensitivity with a heartfelt presence

In the second of these of these reflections on the nature of teaching mindfulness I thought it would be interesting to continue with the theme of mindful presence. As teachers of mindfulness in secular settings, we bring an emotional and cognitive sensibility to our teaching that is based on our personal experience and understanding of mindfulness. When we respond to questions from our participants via the process of mindful reflective inquiry, we are embodying an awareness that embraces and acknowledges a way of being that is able to stay quietly present even in the midst of ambiguity.

Putting good out, Getting good in?

Michelle Becker, MA, LMFT, Director of Compassion Programs, Senior Teacher

Finding the Toolkit Within: An MBSR Teacher Training Experience

In June I packed a suitcase to spend a week in the desert, my meditation cushion and yoga mat taking up most of the space. I journeyed to Joshua Tree, California with about 50 other people for the inaugural Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher Training through the University of California at San Diego’s Center for Mindfulness.

Mindful Presence: Embodying kindness and the listening heart

Suffering is not personal, but in so many ways we are inclined to feel it in that way. Of course the feeling of pain and heartache is universal; it’s what connects us and also what can separate us. Mindfulness meditation practice encourages and supports us in developing a profound understanding about how we relate to pain and gives us choices on how we can respond. It took me some time and lots of practice to relax into appreciating this. What I became aware of was the more I could allow myself to show up and pay a kind and steady attention, without denying or pushing anything away or a

Mindful Matters: Nourishing Our Wellbeing in Clinical Practice

There are lots of people, many of them healthcare professionals, who are serving this world by caring for others. Something within some of them is so completely synchronous with the desire to heal others that there is nothing in this life they would rather do. The fact that there are people so committed to helping others become whole is awe-inspiring.

Mending and Deepening the Encounter Between Doctor and Patient Through Mindfulness

We are updating this blogpost to call attention to an amazing event that has come together primarily as a result of the original posting back in September. After sharing this article with our colleagues around the world, and across the Southern California region, we received an outpouring of interest. We have since invited Dr.

Seizing the Moment and Supporting the Work: Giving Mindfulness to the Next Generation

Within the virtually exploding field of mindfulness, perhaps no facet is growing faster and spreading wider than that of teaching mindfulness to the youth of our society. Imagine the vast potential of transforming this generation of children into a future generation grounded in a practice that promotes stability and composure, wellness and healthy relationships, and enhanced cognitive function. This movement is on an unprecedented ascendant path within education, clinical practice and research.

Hurrying up so we can slow down!

Well of course that makes sense! We leave work and drive too fast to get home so we can finally relax. Between patients we scribble notes in the file, run to the bathroom, and make a phone call while slurping caffeine so that after the next patient we can catch our breath. We inhale lunch without looking at it while we order holiday gifts on online because we don’t want to waste time just eating.

The Truly Mindful Workplace: A Reality Whose Moment Is Arriving

If you follow workplace mindfulness in the news, you’ve had quite a bit of reading material in the last few months. Businesses of all types have embraced the fact that the wellbeing of their employees improves the health of the company.

Experienced Teachers Reflect on the Opportunities and Challenges of Teaching Mindfulness

With the proliferation of mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Interventions, there is increasing demand for foundational and advanced training for teachers of these so-called "MBIs".