If you are affected by stress, anxiety, depression, or chronic pain, mindfulness may offer the help you have been looking for. Esker Retreat House in Athenry will host a day-long mindfulness retreat on Sunday August 26. You will learn how to calm your busy mind and free yourself from discursive thoughts, mental chatter, stress and worries.
Mindfulness has been around for more than 2,000 years, and these days courses which teach it are springing up around the country. This is largely because a growing body of research shows that mindfulness can make a real difference to people's quality of life.
So how does it work? Mindfulness teaches us to pay attention to the present moment rather than fretting about the past or future. It helps us become more aware of our thoughts and feelings so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, we are better able to manage them.
Practising mindfulness can give you more insight into your emotions, boost your attention and concentration, and improve relationships. It is proven to help with stress, anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviours, and can even have a positive effect on physical problems such as hypertension, heart disease, and chronic pain.
We all know that exercising our bodies is good for us – mindfulness is simply the mental equivalent. Mindfulness is not easy, and it is not a quick fix, but the benefits are cumulative and can be life changing.
The retreat in Esker will be led by Carmel Sheridan, a psychotherapist who leads mindfulness courses around the country. Call 086 8185974 for information or visit www.mindfulnessgalway.ie
