Nederlands
What is Mindfulness
How much time, each day, are we fully aware, consciously aware with what we are doing? Whether it is from the moment we wake up, take a shower or when we are busy doing our daily duties?
At the end of the day, do we still exactly know what we did that same morning, or even what we had for breakfast?
Mindfulness simply means: being aware of what is happening as it is happening in the present.
A word connected with everything we do. Whether we are eating, sleeping or going to the toilet. Mindfulness is nothing but being aware with what we do, in the very moment. Every second of the day. Experience what is really going on, being aware of every single moment, feel, live. We are too much focused on our intellect with everything that goes on in our lives and less and less on what is going on in our heart.
It seems as if we do not want to feel anymore what is happening in our lives. Emotional blockades, stress, being in a hurry, no time left for one and another. These are all excuses not to focus on who we really are.
Because we focus too much on the outside we forget our sense to feel. Going back to our true nature which is only to be found inside. Within ourselves. Connect with our inner world. And from there live and experience everything we have – in this moment, the present moment. In a nutshell what Mindfulness is.
“There is nothing to do. Just be.
Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains or sitting in caves. I do not even say “be yourself” since you don’t know yourself. Just Be.”-Nisargadatta Maharaj
The Mindfulness training is initially set up as an experiment in 1979 by Jon Kabat-Zinn, who was working as a microbiologist at the University Hospital in Massachusetts.
The results of his MBSR “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction” program were surprising. It did not only reduce the physical symptoms of his patients, but they also felt higher in spirit.
Because Mindfulness can help you get rid of very specific complaints. Symptoms such as stress, loss or grief, burnouts or other stress-related symptoms. But also physical pain or unclear symptoms, of which the doctor cannot help you with can be made visible when starting with Mindfulness.
Even without direct cause or complaints Mindfulness can do a lot for you. You learn how to recognize your own prejudices and how to avoid them, your mind will open up for the rest of the world and you can be so much more with everything that comes on your way.
In The Netherlands, the Radboud University Medical Center of Mindfulness, is doing much scientific research on a permanent base. Some of their key findings on the effects of mindfulness meditation or mindfulness training are:
-There is a decrease in physical and psychological symptoms
-There is a positive change in lifestyle
-Clients are more able to relax
For more information about Mindfulness research from the UMASS Medical School in Massachusetts, USA, click here
“EVERYTHING COMES TO US THAT BELONGS TO US IF WE CREATE THE CAPACITY TO RECEIVE IT.” -RABINDRANATH TAGORE
WHO AM I
Farida Ishak, MBSR-trainer, Yoga Teacher.
After my study in Psychology, various management (support) trainings, working in large international corporate organizations for a significant period of time and regular travels abroad, I gained insight into the fact that we live in a world where it seems to be very important ‘what’ we are nowadays.
What status can we give ourselves just to belong? How much do we sacrifice to possess more material things to reach our “ultimate” state of happiness? Do we need an even better job with more salary, a bigger car, a bigger house? All this can only make us happy from the outside.
Several long intensive retreats in Nepal and India, two countries of extremes where one can find the cradles of great spiritual masters, where the “chaos” we feel to experience is actually keeping everything flowing and ongoing, all this has guided me in these beautiful countries towards several teachers of Mindfulness, Yoga and Meditation for which I am very grateful.
They taught me and made me experience various meditation techniques like Vipassana (meditation to develop analytical ability and insight), Shamata (meditation to develop concentration) and Metta (loving kindness meditation for ourselves and others, even to those who we see as “our enemies”, with the goal of solidarity and joy). Everything I have experienced and learned through intensive programs and retreats, which were quite intense sometimes, I would like to share and transmit to others who possess the curiosity and will to discover themselves.
We live in a society that is mainly focused on our ‘external’ selves and which pays too little attention to our inner selves. Our inner self has no chance to develop when we do not focus on it, causing various mental and physical symptoms to occur and we lose our way in life. Mindfulness, meditation and yoga are means to look at ourselves with open eyes and in an honest way. Who am I really in this world?
“MEDITATION MEANS DISSOLVING THE INVISIBLE WALLS THAT AWARENESS HAS BUILT.”
– SADHGURU
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
In an intensive training of 8 weeks using different methodologies you will learn to (re)discover your inner world. Through peace, focus, developing insight and awareness, focus on movement and breathing, one learns to view life in a whole new perspective without judgement or trying to change it. Gaining this insight and truth will put a major step towards easing difficulties and situations in order for change and acceptance to take place. Problems will never just disappear. Commitment, patience and regular practice with discipline at home is needed.
As the Buddha said: “Do not follow me, do not act like me, but do research yourself. Find the hidden Buddha in yourself, and you will find your original self.”
“AND YOU? WHEN WILL YOU BEGIN THAT LONG JOURNEY INTO YOURSELF?”
-RUMI
By practising various yoga exercises, you learn to develop more awareness of the body movements. Mindful exercise. To feel which muscles are used to perform a certain “difficult” pose combined with a better breath technique. To recognise the limitations the body may have in certain exercises and how to deal with them by using calmness in the breath. By exercising a proper, correct and conscious way of breathing you will learn to observe and connect in a new way with body and mind.
Through meditation techniques you will learn to sit still in a proper pose and be able to stay in all the experiences that might present themselves in body and mind while the training is unfolding itself. How beautiful is the experience to explore deeper inner qualities and be able to stay there in silence and peace.
The silence of body and mind to go into yourself to a very deep place with an open mind. When confident to reach this place, you can experience the silence and depth of your inner world through meditation. To learn to let go of external conditioning is to learn to feel the presence of peace, stability, joy, flexibility and from there on to be able to live from within the heart.
“DO NOT LET THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS DESTROY YOUR INNER PEACE”
– H.H DALAI LAMA
WHAT ARE THE COSTS
Farida is a Post-Bachelor certified MBSR Trainer, registered with the Association of Mindfulness Trainers in Netherlands (VMBN 2017930, category 1)
8 WEEKS OF MINDFULNESS TRAINING
For everyone from 18 years and older who has an open mind for growth.
Individuals
Costs €500,- including VAT for private one-on-one training
Compensation by Dutch health-care insurance companies:
Only if you have a supplementary health-care coverage besides your compulsory health insurance, the costs to follow a Mindfulness training are being compensated by most health-care insurance companies. The compensation can be up to E350,- and a referral by the General Practitioner is required to be eligible for this.
Please note that this compensation is only valid if the training is given by a Level 1 Trainer registered with the Association of Mindfulness (VMBN).
Employers
Costs: €600,- excluding VAT for a group training
In-company (max. 5 participants)
Costs €700,- excluding VAT for private one-on-one training
More and more employers are willing to reimburse the costs under stress prevention or education.
“Leave alone whatever arises in the mind. Do not seek to change or alter anything. It is all PERFECT as it stands.”
– Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
CONTACT
FARIDA ISHAK
Mindfulness | Yoga | Meditation
+31623466558
Chamber of Commerce no.: 66868173
VAT number: NL001612659B58
