1. We can’t stop the waves but we can teach you to surf
Mindfulness for students with dyslexia and mental health needs
Sadhbh “Saive” O’Dwyer

2. Overview What is mindfulness? How do we practise mindfulness?
How can we apply it to our work?

3. Definition of mindfulnesss mindfulness?
“Paying attention in a particular way on purpose, in the present moment and non judgementally.” (Jon Kabat-Zinn)
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Focus is on your current state: body, breath
Example: Niggles that are getting in the way of you getting down to work
Bangor University - neuroplasticity

4. Focusing (Buddhist tradition)
Thich Nhat Hahn
Buddhist principles
(Mahayana Buddhism 8-fold path)
Mindfulness to be found in other major contemplative religions
When the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hahn first wrote about mindfulness he called it ‘focusing’. Not considered catchy enough so he had to change to Mindfulness.

5. Mindfulness of a raisin

6. Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness Exercise
Hold this moment in awareness and feel yourself breathing
D5Fa50oj45s

7. Mindful principles = ADSHE principles
Acceptance
Curiosity
Beginner’s mind
Kindness
Let go
Non-judgmental
Patience
Non-striving
Metacognition
Relevance
Overlearning
Modelling
Multi-sensory
Motivation
Little and Often
Acceptance is key

8. Criticality (not judgement)
“A critique is not a matter of saying that things are not right as they are. It is a matter of pointing out on what kinds of assumptions, what kinds of familiar, unchallenged, unconsidered modes of thought the practices that we accept rest.”
(Michel Foucault)
Criticality is key for HE students

9. Mindmapping and mindfulness

10. Useful information http://oxfordmindfulness.org/
edition.html
Foucault, M. (19880 “Practicing Criticism,” in Politics, Philosophy, Culture: Interviews and Other Writings , edited by Lawrence D. Kritzman, translated by Alan Sheridan and others, New York, 1988, pp
Gendlin, E.T. (2003) Focusing How to Gain Direct Access to your Body’s Knowledge. Rider: London.
Hanh, T. N. (1991) The Miracle of Mindfulness. Rider: London.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013) Full Catastrophe Living How to Cope with Stress, Pain and Illness using mindfulness meditation. Piatkus: London.
Vessantara (2005) The Breath (Art of Meditation). Windhorse: Birmingham.
Williams, M., Teasdale, J., Segal, Z. and Kabat-Zinn, J. (2007) The Mindful Way through Depression Freeing yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. Guildford Press: London.