5. MINDFULNESS STRESS REDUCTION PROGRAMS "The Intuitive mind is a sacred gift, the rational mind a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." - Albert Einstein
2009 turned out to be a year of unrelenting stress. The American Psychological Association revealed that eight out of ten people say the state of the economy is a "significant cause of stress." A cornucopia of ongoing stress. Thankfully, spa and wellness communities are always investigating new ways to tackle the negative effects of tension, anxiety and constant worrying. Consequently, it is never a surprise that each year one of the most prominent spa trends has something to do with transforming stress and increasing well-being.
What is the new stress reduction trend? Mindfulness. Mindfulness uses meditation to offer insight, transformation and healing. The practice is centered around being fully awake and engaged while "paying attention with intention and without judgement." Mindfulness teaches us to be fully present in all of our experiences and get back our focus instead of living a life of avoidance and distraction. It acknowledges fear, stress and confusion instead of pretending they don't exist. It shows that through peaceful observation of each experience, (physical, emotional and mental) we can gain a balanced approach to our lives with a deeper appreciation of our daily living. In short, out with denial and in with awareness. Mindfulness helps to end fretful thoughts (and there are plenty of those) by filling the mind with positive thoughts of gratitude. After learning to be mindful, we learn one very powerful thing . . . reality doesn't bite.
