Free Resources on Mindfulness and Meditation (help with stress and depression)

terra_ferma

Was looking for info/resources and meditation and found some that seem interesting, so I'm sharing them here.

Mindfulness & Meditation (western style - recommended by GPs/NICE to help with stress/depression)
general information:
http://bemindful.co.uk/
Free guided meditation etc
Free Resources - Free Mindfulness

Music:
Download Free Meditation Music

Traditional style
free course: http://www.freemeditation.com/online-meditation/

kittykat500

I use themeditationpodcast.com for falling asleep and waking up in the morning. It always works for me and they have many other meditations on offer - all free.

You have to give it at least two weeks to get 'programmed', and then after that I've only got to hear a few sentences before I fall asleep. It does mean being hooked up to a tablet/laptop at night though!

j.e.j.

I struggle with meditation, it makes me more anxious I find! Shame, because I'd like for it to work. I've had nervous illness in the past, maybe that's why. I wonder, too, if being in silence and looking inwards brings up stuff you might not be able to deal with.

terra_ferma

j.e.j. wrote: »

I struggle with meditation, it makes me more anxious I find! Shame, because I'd like for it to work. I've had nervous illness in the past, maybe that's why. I wonder, too, if being in silence and looking inwards brings up stuff you might not be able to deal
with.

I've just listened to the guided meditation in the first lesson of the online course, it's very good, I really enjoyed it. I find it difficult too, but this one has got a soothing music as well as instructions. You focus on your breathing (another technique that may help focus is the body scan, examples are in the free mindfulness resources).
I attended a 'proper' meditation course many many many years ago and I was able to focus much more easily, and 'look inward', but now I have to start from scratch and it isn't easy.

terra_ferma

I just found some free meditation classes (all over the country) :j:
(the same organisation that does the online course above)

http://sahajayoga.org.uk/Try_meditation/find_course.html
http://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/
(based on the principle of Kundalini yoga. If activating your chakras doesn't interest you, you may prefer the more down-to-hearth western style mindfulness type of meditation).

The meditation course I attended years ago was very expensive, at a centre run by volunteers, but that charged a lot of money, which put me off. I'm off to my nearest one...

Racheldevon

Somewhere on here there's quite a long mindfulness meditation thread which you might find useful.

Mindfulness meditation isn't about trying to achieve a particular state e.g. relaxation, it's about paying attention in a particular way - on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judementally. http://www.wildmind.org/applied/daily-life/what-is-mindfulness

There are lots of places where you can now access the 8 week MBCT or MBSR courses which are NICE guideline recommended. They're often offered free in partnership between the NHS & local universities. There are three flagship centres in the UK - Exeter, Bangor & Oxford who all have their own mindfulness websites. http://www.exeter.ac.uk/mooddisorders/acceptclinic/

You can also access these privately - you don't need to pay huge amounts, the 8 week courses are usually about £150-200. There isa good evidence base for the MBSR & MBCT courses.

I get your point about increased anxiety - there are lots of mindfulness techniques that support this and you would probably benefit from doing an actual course so that you can discuss in person anything that arises for you. Things like sitting mediation, body scans, walking meditation, etc are all useful techniques.

I would strongly recommend the books by Jon Kabat Zinn - Full Castrophe living, and Wherever you Go there you are - good introductions to mindfulness. He also has a range of CDs that are very good to guide & support your practice.

There are also some excellant resources around self-compassion (which links into some of the foundations/principles of mindfuless) by Kirstn Neff, Christopher Germer - both of whom haveexcellant books & good websites with free downloadable audio tracks) and Brene Brown's work on vulnerability, shame etc two short talks are on TED, but also she has two really good books on this area.

terra_ferma

Someone in my family is probably going to attend a mindfulness course, but I have to say £200 is a lot of money for many people. Totally worth in many cases, but not cheap.

Personally I find mindfulness too dry, like something is missing for me, but it's a matter of personal preference.

Racheldevon

Absolutely it's not an insignificant amount of money, but it does include all the materials, practice CDs etc that you need. It's worth also noting that it's possible to access the NHS.university run courses if you're willing/in a position to travel - I attended on in Exeter, but there was someone from the elsewhere in the country that accessed the course.

There's also places like Sharpham in Devon, and the Barn Retreat or Gaia House that offer a range of retreats and courses

*Jellie*

I've found mindfulness very helpful. I think if you have issues with anxiety or depression you should work with a counsellor trained in mindfulness cognitive behaviour therapy or mindfulness based stress reduction. This allows you to deal with any issues that surface.
There are many benefits to mindfulness and lots of interesting new research. I encourage my pupils to try it as it seems to help reduce stress, increase concentration and boost stress scores according to research.

I wonder whether it helps people with learning difficulties.

There are lots of good free resources out there I find these audio guided meditations useful. It is also worth searching iTunes and iTunes U for podcasts- there are a good set of Zencasts on mindfulness if you don't mind the Buddhist slant.