What happens to our minds and bodies when confronted by overwhelming grief and trauma?
Living in the city and constantly hearing about crime and violence, we feel the trauma daily. Other stressful events, such as the death of a loved one for any reason, illness, financial concerns, work challenges, raising children, and many other issues that we face in our lives, might be stressors that affect our health and well-being.
According to Jon Kabat Zinn, an American professor emeritus of medicine and creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, “Mindfulness is an awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.»
In 1979 Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed a modest Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to help his patients manage their pain and stress. Mindfulness-based stress reduction allows us to constantly check on our stress levels and any changes we notice in our bodies. Throughout each day, we can practice basic breathing techniques and self-care to help us destress and have better relationships with our thoughts, actions, and decisions. A mindfulness stress reduction practice is essential for our well-being as we benefit from being aware of ourselves and what is happening in our minds and bodies.
Anyone can benefit from this practice!
Life is rarely easy for anyone, and everyone can all benefit from relaxation, meditation, and self-care. It’s not a «hippy dippy” concept either. There is a long record of research on mindfulness that assures us that the benefits are real and work!
In particular, the Mindful Stress Reduction Workshops at Mothers in Charge provide an outlet and self-care program for mothers grieving the death of a child from a homicide. This isn’t a grief support group but rather the self-care component to help with the pain and desperation of sudden traumatic death.
The group at Mothers in Charge is taught by Aleida Garcia, M.Ed. CPC (Certified Professional Coach) of My Mindful Happiness. The grief and mindfulness workshops meet in the conference room on the lower level at 990 Spring Garden. Right on the corner of 10th and Spring Garden Streets. Tuesdays mornings from 10 am to 12 pm and Tuesday evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm. It will be opening more workshop groups and a virtual group.
If you would like to join the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workshop/Group. Call or text Aleida at 215-815-0506. Be sure to leave a message.
