CONTACT: Hollye Staley, (859) 323-6363
FOR RELEASE
Mindfulness Meditation Helps Quiet Mind, Reduce Stress
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2005) − The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry offers mindfulness meditation groups that include practices intended to enhance relaxation and attention, decrease anxiety and worry, and increase awareness and acceptance of one’s thoughts, emotions and physical sensations.
Diane Dennis, L.C.S.W., has taught meditation classes for the past seven years at UK. Meditation can bring an increased sense of calmness, acceptance and well-being, improve sleep and concentration, and decrease nervousness.
“Life happens to all of us,” Dennis said, “and the suffering in our lives is directly proportional to how we respond, and how we respond is determined by our prior life experiences and how we think. The untrained mind is forever reacting to life’s ups and downs. Mindfulness meditation gives us a choice in how we respond.”
Mindfulness meditation is simply relaxed, focused awareness, and is a skill that most people can easily learn. It trains the mind to focus and let go of the intrusivity of its internal chatter. As the mind lets go and relaxes, so in turn does the body.
Dennis uses the meditation technique of focusing on the breath to teach beginning meditators how to train their mind to focus and pay attention. The breath is perfect for this training because it is always in the present moment. “It is this basic skill of attention to one’s breath that can later be transferred to awareness of one’s mental, emotional and physical processes,” Dennis said.
The effects of meditation on the brain and the psychotherapy process also are discussed in the class. “Mindfulness meditation is believed to bring about neural changes in the part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, that directly affects the ability to self-regulate,” Dennis said. “Meditators can learn to sit and watch their internal processes with detached attention, which ultimately translates into more self awareness and self-regulation.”
“Anyone who has difficulty with depression, anxiety or emotional control has difficulty with self-regulation. Mindfulness meditation is a perfect adjunct for thosein psychotherapy and wonderful for the rest of us who have repetitive mental and emotional patterns that are unskillful or unhelpful in our lives,” she said.
In addition to the six-week courses that she teaches from September to May, Dennis also offers a spring and fall retreat for those who want to experience silence for longer periods of time.
Sessions for practiced meditators who have attended the beginner class will be held on Tuesday evenings from Jan. 10 to Feb. 21from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at a cost of $90. Sessions for beginning meditators will be held on Wednesday evenings from Jan. 11 to Feb. 22 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at a cost of $60. The sessions will be held at 3470 Blazer Parkway, Room 314. For more information or to register, please contact Debbie Hanley or facilitator Diane Dennis, L.C.S.W., at (859)323-6021, ext.79320.
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