Mindfulness Coaching
How this lifestyle practice can help us improve focus, decrease anxiety, promote internal peace, and create a life we want to live
Mindfulness is the practice of being present - of non-judgemental, moment-to-moment awareness. Different Mindfulness techniques have been used for centuries from India to America, and across various religious groups, including Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus an Christians. Today, the Mindfulness techniques we use can be attributed to Jon Kabat-Zinn, who adapted the teachings he learnt from spending many years with Eastern spiritual practitioners as he was growing up. He then brought this wisdom to the West, and later founded the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction clinic in California in 1979, using this technique as a way to support people through illness, stress and pain.
For me, Mindfulness is about living with intention right here, right now - existing in the present moment as much as possible, and not allowing our busy minds to overpower the way we feel, respond, or act in different daily situations. What’s more, anyone can practice Mindfulness, as it doesn’t conflict with any tradition or religious beliefs, it is simply about living in freedom by observing our thoughts, feelings and emotions.
This practice can contribute to a greater understanding of ourselves (our true depth), which in turn can help us improve our emotional resilience and support us in taking action more compassionately, with ourselves and with others, each day.
Human suffering arises because we pay attention to our thoughts. Every day, our mind generates hundreds and thousands of thoughts. Have you ever asked yourself how much energy and time is wasted on listening to a restless mind? Things will always remain as they are, regardless of what we think, so unless there is something we can actively do to change a situation in a positive way, then we need to learn to release control and let things be (trust in natural law).
When we choose to make more time to understand our inner world, we start to reduce our reliance on (short-term) gratification from external factors, like a new car, new job, or new clothes, for example. Generally, our thoughts can be all-consuming and they heavily influence our personal belief system (learnt behaviour from childhood), and how we react to situations at home, work, and in our relationships. With this in mind, it’s important to find a personal practice, like Mindfulness, that can help us move consciously through our daily challenges, and issues that may accompany life changes, task overwhelm, self-image, or relationship breakdowns.
By practicing being present, and focusing on things as they are in this moment, we increase awareness of our thoughts, feelings and emotions, and can become more in tune with our bodily sensations - all a great starting point for a more peaceful and non-reactive perspective on life.
In focusing more on being, over doing, we can; see how our mind affects our behaviour; break negative thought loops more effectively; get out of autopilot mode; lessen the control that the past has over how we feel today; stop fearing what’s to come; and release unhealthy attachments, or comparisons, from our thought cycles.
Without feeding our negative mind chatter (by believing what’s running through our head), thoughts usually dissipate quite quickly anyway, enabling us to release pain more easily - which is something we can train using Mindfulness. On the flipside, if we ignore and repress our feelings and emotions, we are setting ourselves up for potentially chronic illnesses long-term - ‘all physical illness is a manifestation of a mind-body imbalance that extends to the cellular level’ (M. L. Gaynor, M.D). Which is also why sound therapy is hugely beneficial for many people in attaining physical and emotional alignment.
Burying our emotions does not only increase their intensity, but also limits our capacity to handle them properly when they arise again. In choosing to experience whatever rises inside of us, instead of running away or avoiding it, it actually liberates us from unnecessary, long-term suffering and supports us in creating space for wonderful things to come our way, and to be our authentic self.
Like with anything in life, observing the mind-body phenomena is hard work - a skill to be honed as we grow - but it can undoubtedly improve the quality of our lives. Ultimately, learning to be calm in a situation we don’t like is the start of our journey to acceptance, gratitude and inner peace.
With consistent practice, our brain really can change, and for someone who used to suffer from anxiety (including panic attacks) at work and home, the way I understand and approach my own life, everyday tasks and relationships is so much healthier now, having studied Mindfulness closely (I still work on this consciously each day, like everyone else). Mindfulness can be practiced in two ways:
Formal practice
Meditation practice - sitting for at least of 20 minutes up to an hour everyday, to improve our mind-body connection
Mindful embodiment practice - qigong, mindful movement, dance, yoga
Informal practice
Mindfulness practice in daily tasks (mindful breathing, mindful eating, mindful walking, mindful cleaning or chores)
Focused attention meditation
This said, in terms of meditation - essentially a practice to alleviate human suffering which all stems from the mind - Mindfulness trains two types of practice:
Focused attention meditation - where we direct our attention onto a chosen external or internal object. This could be a mantra (affirmation - I am safe and protected), visualisation (a happy place, life goal), the breath (Mindfulness breathing, i.e. focusing on the inhaling and exhaling, nostrils, or chest sensations), a body part (left hand), or a sound (singing bowls), where the aim is to remain fully focused on that object for the duration of the sitting.
Open awareness meditation - also known as open monitoring, this practice is where we maintain open attention, and are conscious of what is going on in and around us, but we’re not reacting to it. We simply witness the bodily sensations, emotions, thoughts, smells, memories or sounds.
Overall, Mindfulness helps us create space in our life to quieten a restless mind, make healthier choices, get focused, and harness the power of meditation and intentional living. There are the seven attitudinal pillars of this lifestyle practice:
Seven Pillars of Mindfulness
Non-Judging
Patience
Beginner’s Mind
Trust
Non-Striving
Acceptance
Letting Go
And, as we apply each concept to our formal and informal practices, they support us in building a solid foundation for a happier, more joyful existence. During our Mindfulness Coaching, we look deeper at these seven pillars together, alongside a personalised programme to cater to your own needs and lifestyle. Programmes also reference Bhante Gunaratana, as we look at Mindfulness of body, feelings, mind and Dhamma (truth) in the workbook activities.
VWellness Online Coaching Services
Whether you’re looking for support moving through life transitions, overwhelm in your personal life, issues in your intimate life, challenges in your professional life, or you’d like to embark on new projects, these coaching programmes are designed to add value and focus to your days, and motivate you to live more harmoniously, whilst achieving what you want at the same time. The sessions are a safe, non-judgemental space for us to explore whatever you need in order to be your authentic self, whilst following the principles of Mindfulness and more.
With my clients, I’ve found that everyone has their own preferred way of learning, be that purely practical, more spiritual (soul connection), or a little of both. But all in all, we create a programme that will benefit you positively for the rest of your life.
Introductory One Month Programme: A short and useful introduction to Mindfulness, the seven pillars, and how to apply these principles in your own life. Consists of an introductory call (90mins), 3 weekly calls (60mins), follow up emails, and weekly text check in - with weekly exercises, an activity book, handouts and bonus guided audio material support.
Two Month Programme: An eight week in-depth programme designed to lead you through the seven pillars of Mindfulness each week, helping you to apply these teachings independently in your own life. Consists of an introductory call (90mins), 7 weekly calls (60mins), follow up emails and weekly text check in - with weekly exercises, an activity book, handouts and bonus guided audio material support.
Ongoing Coaching: Continuing on from the two month programme, these weekly or bi-weekly sessions support your continued practice, and are tailored to your personal requirements. With supporting material and exercises (60 or 90mins).
Ad-hoc Coaching: Single sessions for additional mentoring, to support your continued personal practice, new ideas, or creative brainstorming and mind mapping (60 or 90mins).
Info to know:
-All sessions are organised online via Zoom
-Ad-hoc coaching can be done in person, in London UK (location dependent)
Testimonials
‘I did the Mindfulness coaching with VWellness to get more clarity about my business. This coaching showed me the importance of connecting with my body to know myself better, slowing down and more. These tools helped me to improve my self-confidence and will help me manage my business and my personal life for years to come. V. Has the ability to listen, analyse a huge amount of information to understand what the real issue is. I won't hesitate to work with her again’ - Doria A
‘Vic was my Mindfulness coach and such an amazing woman, she helped me with my Mindfulness meditation. The coaching was a great pleasure and worth it. It helped me adopt and master the act of living in gratitude and being mindful of my surroundings’ - M Temitope
