Read here.

There has been a lot of research done on how effective Mindfulness is. You can read about the results, and the limitations of Mindfulness research here and here.

I have experienced the benefits personally and have read many of the studies about Mindfulness. With my medical background, I am satisfied that there is evidence that Mindfulness works for many people. However, it’s important to look at your unique situation, and to also have suitable guidance from a qualified teacher. It is also not a single solution in itself but part of the toolkit for your well-being, which may also include healthy habits, lifestyle changes and other forms of support.

I have also come across some mixed reports, so do bear in mind that Mindfulness research is not without its limitations. Mindfulness is not as easily and definitively researched as a medical intervention or a drug, simply because its applications are so diverse and outcomes depends on too many factors outside a strict clinical trial setting. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, but it does mean that we work with its potential, while understanding the limitations of research.

Mindfulness has been shown to reduce the body’s stress and inflammatory responses in long term meditators. The amygdala, which gets more active during stress, tends to become less active and shows some shrinkage with Mindfulness practice. There have been systematic reviews/meta-analyses that looked at results gathered from many research studies, which concur that Mindfulness programs do show promising results in stress regulation and management.

You can read more here. And here.

Here’s a little more about how Mindfulness can be used to help with stress management – click link here.

Almost anyone can learn mindfulness, with some exceptions for serious physical or emotional challenges.

It is not uncommon to feel restless, anxious or impatient when you first start to meditate. Or to have a lot of thoughts or feelings. So throughout our programs or 1-1 sessions, I will be addressing these various challenges.

When we first start practising mindfulness and meditation, it can feel like we are looking through cloudy water. With lots of debris and stuff floating around (sensations, thoughts, feelings), we can’t see very clearly and can feel quite unsettled. But if we don’t keep stirring and agitating the water, then cloudy water will eventually settle down and become more clear. We need to give it some time.

Last but not least, there are also ways of practising mindfulness that involve movement such as walking, stretching and yoga. So this may be suitable for some people who find it challenging to sit still. These options are also covered in my programs or 1-1 sessions.