MiNDFULNESS
An Introduction
DR. S. KRISHNAN. MBBS, MD, DPM, DIP.NB, MNAMS, CYMP
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
MO-in-Charge: Holistic and Stress Research Clinic
Department of Psychiatry
Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram

Welcome to the MLM Workshop
• You will be introduced to –
“Mindfulness”.
• You will listen to – what it
is, explore it’s meaning
• You will – discover why
mindfulness is so popular
• You will listen to – how
mindfulness can help your
body, thoughts, emotions
and even for self-discovery.

What is Mindfulness?
How far it is useful?

Myths About Mindfulness
1. Mindfulness is a relaxation technique.
2. Mindfulness is a cult phenomenon.
3. Mindfulness is about transcending or escaping from ordinary
life.
4. Mindfulness is difficult.
5. Mindfulness is easy
6. Mindfulness is having empty mind.
7. Mindfulness is selfishness.
8. Mindfulness is psychotherapy
9. Mindfulness is yet another form of mysterious treatment.
10. Mindfulness is a panacea treatment.
11. Mindfulness is all about the mind
12. Mindfulness is the latest craze

Myths About Mindfulness
14. Mindfulness is for the vegetarians
15. Mindfulness is positive thinking
16. Mindfulness is only for the religious
17. Mindfulness is only for difficult times
18. Mindfulness is a set of techniques
19. Mindfulness is a form of meditation
20. Mindfulness is without any side effects
21. Mindfulness is a form of psychiatric treatment
22. Mindfulness is not for me
23. Mindfulness is a substitute for medical management
24. Mindfulness is complicated and boring
25. Mindfulness can be done by anybody

“Mindfulness”
• Roots in eastern traditions – Tibetan
Buddhism, Ashtanga yoga
• Mindfulness = ‘to remember’ ‘to be aware’

MINDFULNESS
Dr. John Kabat-Sinn Dr. Saki Santorelli

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Major Components
• Pychoeducation about stress…
• Formal mindfulness meditation – guided and
non-guided…
• Body scan meditation…
• Loving kindness meditation…
• Mindful movements…
• Mindful yoga practices – a list of 7 selected yoga
asana positions...
• Life skills...
• Mindful Eating, Mindful Walking etc………

How can you get trained?
• Stress Clinic at the Massachusetts General
Hospital, USA
• Kerala – Holistic and Stress Research Clinic,
Department of Psychiatry, Medical College,
Thiruvananthapuram

Our Workshops
• An introductory workshop of 2 ½ hour
duration
• An intensive one day workshop from 9.00 AM
to 05.00 PM
• An extensive 3 day workshop
• An extensive 8 week workshop with eight 2 ½
hour session separated by one week (to be
introduced from July-August, 2014).

8 weeks MLM Workshops
From March 2014

“Our Team”

Current uses
Medical Conditions
• Chronic pain
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis
• HIV/AIDS
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Headaches
• Insomnia
Mental health conditions
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance use and the like
• Pain management
• Emotional Problems of
Adolescents

All that we Need…
A Yoga Mat
OR
A Bed sheet
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Mindfulness
• Ability to attend with purpose our moment
to moment experience non-judgmentally
(Jon Kabat Zinn)
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You Have Only
Moments to Live
1. Patience
2. Acceptance
3. Non-Judgmental
4. Let Go
5. Beginner’s Mind
6. Non-Striving
7. Trust
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