JW Mindfulness

28/09/2024

Today’s highlight listening to Gelong Thubten at the Wigtown Book Festival 🙏 Tomorrow an early morning meditation workshop. Just the thing to prepare for our afternoon performance at the Wigtown Fringe. Cakes have arrived 🙂

09/09/2024

Interesting thoughts and a free meditation from Shamash Alidina, a brilliant teacher 🪷

Imagine your brain is a forest. Dense, wild, full of life. Deep in the woods is the amygdala, like a watchtower, always scanning for danger. A spark, and the alarm bells ring, sending the forest into chaos.

But here’s where meditation comes in. It’s like rain falling gently on the trees. With each session, the forest quiets. The watchtower isn’t as frantic. The fires don’t rage as often. Over time, the watchtower gets smaller. The forest becomes calmer, more peaceful.

At the edge of the woods is the prefrontal cortex. It’s the wise old tree, standing tall, watching over everything. When the forest stirs, this tree holds steady. Meditation strengthens this tree, its roots running deeper, its branches reaching higher. It communicates with the watchtower, helping it stand down. The forest finds balance.

But there’s another part, hidden in the underbrush – the Default Mode Network. It’s like the wind rushing through the forest, stirring up leaves and dust. It makes everything restless, noisy. Meditation stills the wind. The forest grows quieter. The underbrush isn’t so wild anymore.

Then there’s the sap – the cortisol. Too much sap, and the trees get heavy, branches strain under the weight. Meditation thins the sap. The trees stand taller, lighter, the weight lifting off.

Finally, the gray matter – the heart of the forest – starts to grow. Especially in the hippocampus, the part that keeps the forest alive and thriving. With each moment of meditation, the forest thickens. The trees grow stronger. The roots go deeper.

So when you meditate, remember: you’re tending your forest. Calming the winds, growing the trees, and quieting the watchtower. Every breath you take makes the forest healthier and more resilient. Every breath brings you peace.

Try this New Guided Meditation

https://youtu.be/IpixCjO9LWk

30/08/2024

Update: piano lessons at The Vault Arts Centre , Newton Stewart now restarting on:
Tuesday 9th September

Call or email me to have a chat about learning the piano, reading music, improvisation etc. or contact Nathon at Vault to find available times and book 🎶🎶

Ps. Harry Mop is not a fan of the piano to be honest, but the algorithm likes him 🙂

19/08/2024

Lovely free meditation from one of my teachers, Shamash🪷

Enhance Your Inner Peace: Guided Breathing MeditationDive into a serene journey of self-discovery with our guided breathing meditation. This soothing practic...

17/06/2024

Good question…check your ‘battery’ before you start….100% …50%…..0%??

05/05/2024

Good advice on boundaries….

04/05/2024

03/05/2024

PLEASE NOTE:
The popular 'Introduction to Mindfulness' Courses have been delayed.
They will now start on Thursday 9th May at 6.00pm or Friday 10th May at 10.30am.

We have a few spaces left on both courses, please contact Jan directly for more information or to book your place. We look forward to welcoming you to these interesting and unique courses.

22/04/2024

Today is Earth Day. Let's make everyday Earth day. Take one action today, however small, to care for our home, Planet Earth.

Not sure what to do? Start by visiting this site for more free ideas and resources for
https://www.earthday.org

18/04/2024

Love this - a good practice at the end of each day 💕

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Artist: Demelsa Haughton

12/04/2024

Tara Brach 💕

12/04/2024

Definitely recommend this, it’s part of my own practice and Mimi’s approach is lovely 🪷

This 5-day course teaches you the traditional qigong sequence alongside essential qigong philosophy.