Mindfulness is a very simple form of meditation that was little known in the West until recently. A typical meditation consists of focusing your full attention on your breath as it flows in and out of your body. Focusing on each breath in this way allows you to observe your thoughts as they arise in your mind and, little by little, to let go of struggling with them. You come to realise that thoughts come and go of their own accord; that you are not your thoughts. You can watch as they appear in your mind, seemingly from thin air, and watch again as they disappear, like a soap bubble bursting. You come to the profound understanding that thoughts and feelings (including negative ones) are transient. They come and they go, and ultimately, you have a choice about whether to act on them or not.
Mindfulness is about observation without criticism; being compassionate with yourself. When unhappiness or stress hover overhead, rather than taking it all personally, you learn to treat them as if they were black clouds in the sky, and to observe them with friendly curiosity as they drift past. In essence, mindfulness allows you to catch negative thought patterns before they tip you into a downward spiral. It begins the process of putting you back in control of your life.
Over time, mindfulness brings about long-term changes in mood and levels of happiness and wellbeing. Scientific studies have shown that mindfulness not only prevents depression, but that it also positively affects the brain patterns underlying day-to-day anxiety, stress, depression and irritability so that when they arise, they dissolve away again more easily. Other studies have shown that regular meditators see their doctors less often and spend fewer days in hospital. Memory improves, creativity increases and reaction times become faster (see What can mindfulness do for you?).
Despite these proven benefits, however, many people are still a little wary when they hear the word ‘meditation’. So before we proceed, it might be helpful to dispel some myths:
• Meditation is not a religion. Mindfulness is simply a method of mental training. Many people who practise meditation are themselves religious, but then again, many atheists and agnostics are keen meditators too.
• You don’t have to sit cross-legged on the floor (like the pictures you may have seen in magazines or on TV), but you can if you want to. Most people who come to our classes sit on chairs to meditate, but you can also practise bringing mindful awareness to whatever you are doing, on buses, trains or while walking to work. You can meditate more or less anywhere.
• Mindfulness practice does not take a lot of time, although some patience and persistence are required. Many people soon find that meditation liberates them from the pressures of time, so they have more of it to spend on other things.
• Meditation is not complicated. Nor is it about ‘success’ or ‘failure’. Even when meditation feels difficult, you’ll have learned something valuable about the workings of the mind and thus have benefited psychologically.
• It will not deaden your mind or prevent you from striving towards important career or lifestyle goals; nor will it trick you into falsely adopting a Pollyanna attitude to life. Meditation is not about accepting the unacceptable. It is about seeing the world with greater clarity so that you can take wiser and more considered action to change those things which need to be changed. Meditation helps cultivate a deep and compassion- ate awareness that allows you to assess your goals and find the optimum path towards realising your deepest values.
This book, Finding Peace in a Frantic World combines mindfulness with cognitive therapy and draws on the highly effective MBCT programme developed by Professor Mark Williams and colleagues at Oxford University and other universities around the world to combat anxiety, stress, exhaustion and depression. It’s been clinically proven to work, but more importantly it also works for those of us who aren’t depressed but who are struggling to keep up with the constant demands of the modern world.

We run the Mindfulness Course, Finding Peace in a Frantic World.

If you would like to attend one of our Mindfulness Courses in Leamington Spa please see our courses page for upcoming dates.

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 have a hectic lifestyle as I have two small children and run my own business. I was looking for a way to feel more relaxed and increase my attention span both at work and with my children.

Too often I would be worrying about an email or some other matter when I should have been fully focused on relaxing with my family.  At work I wasn't concentrating for long enough and my overall performance was suffering.

I'd read an article in a magazine about how mindfulness and meditation could help to reduce mental clutter and fatigue so decided to try it out.  A friend recommended me to Katie Brazier, a Mindfulness teacher in Leamington and though slightly sceptical I contacted Katie and booked onto one of the Sunday morning practice classes suitable for a beginner like me. 

The first thing I noticed was the relaxed ambience of the building, the room itself was clean, comfortable and tranquil. Katie was very welcoming and put me at ease immediately, the group was small and overall the experience was friendly and calming. Katie guided us through a simple sitting meditation and some breathing exercises, it was refreshingly subtle. 

For the rest of the day I felt calm and composed and able to relax and think clearly. I was able to enjoy my day off with the kids without the hassle I always felt from external factors. I went to work on the Monday and felt invigorated and motivated.  

Michael - Leamington Spa


Katie Brazier Teaches Mindfulness Meditation Courses, Classes and offers 1-1 Individual Sessions in Leamington Spa