Ooh I'm glad this thread was bumped, I think I was off the computer when it was around...

I'm about to start an 8 week mindfulness course paid for and facilitated by my workplace. Went to the taster session and I think it might be something that is very helpful - have actually been trying to apply it already to good effect.

I particularly like the idea of its being a way of noticing your feelings and experiences, but sort of distancing yourself from them and staying calm. Perfect for someone who needs to constantly focus on my PCS symptoms so that I can tell when I'm overdoing it, but cannot afford to get stressed about them since that would be damaging. Good to hear it is/was helping greenfrog too.

Other ways of coping eg through distraction I think would not work so well for PCS, since we really need to pay attention to our symptoms all the time.

I am told that there is a fair amount of evidence for its beneficial effects and that we will be exploring this during the course as well. I'm guessing the evidence must be ptretty convincing since my petty, grasping employers would definitely not be paying for such a scheme unless they were pretty confident that it would reduce the number of sick days!

With regard to the religious issue, the facilitator (who is in fact a Church of England vicar) told us that 'mindfulness' is as Mark says originally and essentially an aspect of Buddhist practice, but one which has been deliberately removed from this religious context. The promoters of mindfulness seem very keen to present it as something which, whilst derived from Buddhism, no longer implies or involves religious belief of any kind. I'm really looking forward to it.

Instead of making a new thread about this, I decided to just ask my question on this one.

Sometimes my brain gets very overwhelmed with everything it's taken in throughout the day...my thoughts will be racing and I'll start to get extremely anxious...to the point I feel like I'm going to go crazy (literally). There is a technique I've learned to do to release my mind of the racing, anxious thoughts.

I'll lock myself in my room, shut the blinds, put earplugs in, lay on the bed (on my back) and close my eyes...clearing my mind of everything. Once my mind is cleared, I just lay there relaxed, with a clear mind, occasionally taking deep breaths. I'll do this for probably 10-15 minutes.

My question: Is this considered meditation? I'm not doing anything spiritual, just clearing my mind of everything and relaxing.

Whatever it is, it works really well. And I recommend it to anyone who get overwhelmed with thoughts throughout the day.

I would call that "mindful breathing." Some people might use that as a way to meditate, but I don't think being aware of your body and its processes could be considered exclusive to any religion.

Okay, I obviously discovered this thread a little late in the game. I'd like to contribute my 2 cents.

Mindfulness practice goes way beyond sitting meditation. It is perhaps best described as paying attention with an attitude of openness, acceptance, and non-judgment. Here are some things in our life toward which we can apply such an attitude: thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, circumstances, other people, ourselves, etc.

In mindfulness-based meditation, a common strategy is to begin by focusing on one's breath, and perhaps gradually scanning one's whole body, focusing on different parts of the body as you go through the process. As for thoughts and emotions, they will come up. The idea is not to resist them, suppress them, react to them, judge them, or get attached to them. Instead of "clearing the mind," one simply mindfully observes one's thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations, without passing judgment on them or getting attached to them.

As I mentioned above, this strategy of mindfulness can be applied outside of sitting meditation sessions. Indeed, it can be applied in almost any context. Mindful walking, eating, and work (such as doing the dishes) are common examples of practices that can serve as an extension of a daily sitting meditation practice.

Pete