Disc 1 Track 1

Namaste!

Namaste is an Indian word meaning "The spirit in me greets the spirit in you"

Welcome to the Mindful Awareness Meditation Program at Peninsula Cancer Institute. This is an introduction to meditation for stress reduction based on the concept of mindfulness.

It is our vision at Peninsula Cancer Institute to provide each of our patients with a healing plan that includes state of the art medical treatment, as well as, a wide range of integrative services designed to provide support for the whole person.

We recognize that a health crisis is often a life changing experience and that people may need new "tools" for their journey to wellness. When you first come through our doors, it's like setting foot on a path you've never traveled before. There are decisions to be made that you've never thought about before and the stress involved can be overwhelming.

This program for Mindful Awareness Meditation is one of the most valuable tools you can use to help you deal with that stress.  We hope that you will find that consistent use of the guided imagery and meditation practices will be a great support for you.

This style of meditation is called “mindfulness” because it turns your attention inside yourself with total awareness and presence in the moment.  It’s like paying attention on purpose.  The philosophy of mindful awareness recognizes the truth that the only reality is in this moment, right here, right now.  Meditating with awareness calls us to let go of our habitual re-hashing of the past and what used to be or what might have been or grasping at what might be in the future.  You will find that focusing on life as it unfolds moment by moment is like a breath of fresh air.

While mindfulness is the simplest thing in the world, it can seem complex or complicated because we are conditioned from birth to think, to process thoughts, and instantly decide whether something is good or bad or right or wrong.  We get caught up in the emotionally charged stories of our lives and events in the lives of friends and family.  This conditioning can keep us in a constant state of stress that we come to think of as “just part of life”. There are current studies that show the real impact and detrimental effect that stress has on your immune system so, whatever you can do to reduce stress in your life will be very beneficial to your healing.

So, you might ask, “what can I do?” Well, the first part of the answer is that
mindfulness is not about ‘doing’, it is about ‘being’, it’s about being completely present in each moment of your life as it unfolds.  It’s about being awake, alert, and aware of the thinking  process as it goes on and on, but coming to a place where you can observe your thoughts without being driven by them.  The gift in the practice of mindful awareness is to know the joy of just ‘being’.

This program is designed to give you techniques you can learn to use on your own,  anytime or anywhere.  You may find them helpful at the beginning or end of your day or during your treatments.  Most people find that using a head set or earphones help with distractions that might be going on around you.

The Calming Breath

Most all meditation practices use something as a point of reference.  Without a focus, you might not be aware of how scattered and busy your mind is, leaping continuously from one subject to the next, this is referred to as “monkey mind”.  Sometimes the focus is on something outside yourself like a candle or an object, in mindful awareness meditation, we focus on the breath.  Your breath is an ideal focal point because it is always with you and the natural, involuntary flow is very relaxing when you visualize it as a wave that flows in and out with no effort. 

Focused breathing is something you can do anytime or anywhere.  Just make yourself as comfortable as possible, and, if you like, close your eyes.  As you inhale through your nose, be aware of where the air first makes contact just inside your nose and try to keep your focus there.  Then, as you exhale, stay with the same spot inside your nose even if it feels different to you.  Having a set spot will help your mind stay focused.

As you continue your gentle breathing, you may notice that your thoughts keep occupying much of your attention.  Just for a moment, bring your focus back to your breath and simply observe the stream of thoughts and let them continue on their endless flow without getting caught up in thinking.

Remember that this is a new concept, be patient with yourself, smile at yourself every time you notice that your mind has gotten swept away and gently bring it back to your breath.  That’s the reason we call the meditation “practice”.

As your breath flows in and out like a gentle wave, you may become aware of your body beginning to relax.  Keeping your focus on your breathing, see if you can release any muscles in your body where you sense tension or holding. 

Your calming breath will be the basis of your mindful awareness practice.  It’s your constant companion that only requires your focused attention.