New Mindfulness-Based Meditation Program at Vinland
November 9, 2010 - Vinland National Center is pleased to announce it has partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing to develop a mindfulness-based meditation program for Vinland’s clients.
This project was made possible by a grant from the Trust for the Meditation Process, a charitable foundation supporting contemplative practice among Christians and encouraging dialogue among all contemplative traditions.
The practice of mindfulness has taken root in many Western therapies, proving its effectiveness in conjunction with other forms of therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Mindfulness is a form of meditation that focuses on simply paying attention, without judgment, to what is happening with your mind and body in the present moment. An individual’s ability to “come back” to the present moment over and over again changes the mind’s relationship to stressful thoughts and body sensations. This practice offers a way for people with chemical use disorders to improve their ability to recognize stress reactions in the body and cope with their feelings in a new way. Shortly after completing mindfulness-based practice sessions, clients typically comment that they noticed a change in both their mood and body sensation. This change is reported by clients who find that they have the ability to change their mood and negative physical sensations without alcohol and other drugs.
Vinland has worked in partnership with the Center to develop a mindfulness program adapted to the needs of Vinland’s clients. Sessions are divided into four modules which teach sitting meditation, mindful yoga practice, body scan awareness, and aspects of the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi. After each practice session clients discuss the benefits of meditation and are encouraged to engage in ongoing meditation practice. Course materials and structure have been adapted to better fit the needs of people with cognitive disabilities.
This practice fits well within the complementary care programming offered in Vinland’s chemical health program. Vinland and the Center for Spirituality & Healing are very grateful to the Trust for the Meditation Process for their support of our collaborative initiative which we hope will continue for years to come.
Learn more about the Trust for the Meditation Process online at www.trustformeditation.org.
