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04/14/2016 12:01 AMThe Essex Wellness Center and Fitness on the Water are offering a new free mindfulness meditation sitting group on Mondays from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. at their new location at 1921 Boston Post Road, Trolley Square, in Westbrook. A guided meditation group also meets in Essex on Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., and from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. The groups are free, but a $10 donation is suggested.
Heidi E. Kunzli, director and owner, says that Westbrook location also will soon be starting a pre-teen and teen summer session offering mindfulness mediation, relaxation training, yoga, barre, and pilates classes specifically designed for those age groups. “There is so much recent research that has come out on the benefits of mindfulness meditation to support children and adolescents in these hectic times,” she says. “We are thrilled to have the space in Westbrook to offer this specialized wellness programming targeted to young people.”
“Mindfulness training and mindfulness-based counseling come from a variety of contemplative traditions throughout history,” the center said in a recent post on Facebook. “These practices put you in touch with your mind and body to restore a sense of balance, improve your sense of well-being and enrich your enjoyment of life. Mindfulness can be trained systematically, and can be implemented in daily life, by people of any age, profession or background.
“In the last 10 years, significant research has shown mindfulness to address health issues and helps to lower blood pressure and boost the immune system; increase attention and focus, including aid those suffering from ADHD; help with difficult mental states such as anxiety and depression, fostering well-being and less emotional reactivity; and thicken the brain in areas in charge of decision making, emotional flexibility, and empathy.
“It is a challenge to notice what is going on in our minds because it brings us into direct contact with our anxieties, our judgments, and our vulnerabilities. We come to see the often automatic nature of our thinking, which can take us into worrying about the future or reliving the past. But as we develop mindful awareness and we adopt a compassionate present moment way of observing the contents of our minds, we come to see what attitudes are helpful for kind and skillful interactions and which can cause problems. Grounded more and more in mindfulness, our minds are free to respond skillfully to any given situation.”
For more information, email info@essexwellnessctr.com.
Information provided by Essex Wellness Center.