Mindfulness

We recognise that during a busy workday, it is often a low priority to look after ourselves and our minds. By practicing mindfulness and getting into a healthy routine, we can shift this mindset and learn how to become mindful at work and at home too.

Take a look at upcoming sessions and courses, hand-picked mindfulness resources filled with apps, books, YouTube meditations, and more.

Why does mindfulness matter?

When we practice mindfulness, we start to pay attention to our thoughts and feelings, and how we are reacting to them. Mindfulness isn’t about trying to change these thoughts; it is about recognising them for what they are and allowing them to come and go while we remain calm and focus on our breathing.

Mindfulness can often be difficult for some people, especially if they are experiencing low mood or high levels of stress. However, the more we practice mindfulness, the easier it becomes. Mindfulness can also help improve our mental and physical wellbeing.

What mindfulness sessions do we currently offer?

NEW: An Introduction to Mindful Living  Course

An introduction course for anyone interested in exploring somekey mindfulness themes and short practices in a way that might support them personally, in everyday life and work. Practicing ways of stepping out of automatic pilot can increase our awareness and enable us to live life more fully.

This 8 week course will run every Tuesday at 12-12:45pm in the Wellbeing Room at QMC from the 1st October 2024 with no session on the 29th October.

For more information and to request a referral form, please email nuhnt.staffwellbeing@nhs.net.

NEW: Mindfuless For Life

A programme for those wishing to improve their general wellbeing. Learning through a combination of Mindfulness practices and Cognitive Behavioural techniques to respond skilfully to difficulty when it arises, and to find ways to flourish and support growth.

This 8 week course will run:

  • From Tuesday 8th October from 8:15-10:30 in the Wellbeing Room at QMC (no session on the 29th October)
  • From Wednesday 9th October from 1:00-3:15pm at City (no session on the 30th October)

For more information and to request a referral form, please email nuhnt.staffwellbeing@nhs.net.

Mindfulness for the Menopause Session

This session will guide you through how to be more mindful during your menopause and how to use mindfulness to cope with your symptoms.

Watch the Mindfulness for Menopause video. 

Mindfulness Drop-in Sessions are open to all!

There is no need to apply, and everyone is welcome to join, whether you are an experienced meditator or new to meditation.

All you need to do is log into the meeting a few minutes before the start of the session, and the mindfulness teacher will be waiting to greet you.

The session lasts for 15 minutes and is an opportunity to practice meditation together. There is no obligation to do or say anything; simply turn up and be guided through a practice.

You are welcome to join regularly or just from time to time. If you are new to mindfulness, it can be helpful to join the sessions a few times before deciding whether you find them helpful.

Every week:

Click the links above to join each session.

Mindfulness Audio Meditations 

This 25 Minute Body Scan Video by Mindfulness Practitioner Karen is one of the foundational practices of mindfulness meditation. It is suitable for practicing meditators or newcomers to mindfulness and meditation. It can be done lying down or sitting in an upright chair. 
Please note that you will need to play two external videos during the session from YouTube. 

The Scientific Power of Meditation (play at 8 minutes 28 seconds) 
"Why Mindfulness is a Superpower" (play at 16 minutes 44 seconds) 

Sitting Practice

This 25 Minute Sitting Practice video is a key practice in 6 and 8-week courses. It helps to open awareness to the breath, body, sounds, and thoughts and practice holding all of these in awareness with a sense of steadiness and stepping back. This practice is suitable for people who are new to mindfulness as well as participants who have completed one of our mindfulness courses with NUH.

External Mindfulness Drop in Sessions

The following sessions are also free to access:

Mindfulness Association

A free Mindfulness Meditation session led by experienced tutors.
Monday to Friday 10:30-11am and 7-8pm 

Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

A chance to explore some mindfulness practices and learn a little more about what mindfulness involves.
Monday to Friday 1-1:30pm and 7-7:30pm

More resources

Mindfulness Resources - Apps, Books, Podcasts, and more can be found here.