Welcome to the Maine Mindfulness Project!
We are part of a growing worldwide movement to teach and promote the practice of meditation as a way to enhance life, improve health and increase happiness.
Mindfulness Meditation: What is it?The phrase 'to meditate' can mean many things: to examine, observe, reflect, question, weigh. In Sanskrit, it also has more profound meaning: to become.
Meditation is a practice to bring attention to the mind to notice how it operates, keeps itself constantly active, gets full to overflowing and soon needs to be emptied and refreshed. We learn how to identify the stillness that is naturally present but often gets drowned out.
Mindfulness is awareness of perception. It is a nonjudgmental quality of mind which does not anticipate the future or reflect back on the past. It is consciousness abiding in the present moment.
Mindfulness Meditation is a mind/body practice. It helps us achieve balance mentally, physically, and emotionally. Using a simple object to focus on (commonly breath) the practice helps to eliminate stress, create inner harmony, improve well being.
Meditation has multiple benefits:
- Maintains overall health and wellness
- Platform for healthy behavior changes around diet and weight
- Improves concentration and learning ability
- Mind/body relaxation
- Experiencing inner peace
- Creates a healthy learning and work environment
- Promotes happiness and productivity
- Better decision making through clear thinking
- Reports of higher self-esteem
- Smoking, alcohol, and drug addiction cessation
- Reduces blood pressure and stress
- Supports non-violent conflict resolution
- Alleviates pain due to symptoms of menopause & premenstrual syndrome
- Cures insomnia and restless sleeping
- Independent functioning for children dealing with ADHD/ADD
- Treats depression, stress, and anxiety
- Feels good
There are many ways to meditate. It can be done alone, with a group, indoors or outside. There is a style for everyone and discovering that for yourself is half the fun.
It is a little like learning to ride a bicycle: once you learn how to do it you'll never forget, but it does take some practice.
