Breathing Space Chicago

Breathing Space Chicago What is Mindfulness? It allows us to face each moment as it comes. Be it positive, negative, or neutral. This gives us a choice on how to best react.

"Mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness cultivated through meditation and applied to any aspect of one's life."-Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness is a way of being. We so often live in the future worrying about this or that or we find ourselves stuck in the past, thinking about what could have been. Instead of living in the present moment, we move through the day on auto-pilot reactin

g to situations out of habit. Being aware of the present moment helps us see and assess the situation more fully, including our own innate resources. Mindfulness meditation allows us to develop this type of present moment, non-judging awareness which is very powerful. What are the benefits of mindfulness meditation? In 1979, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Since its creation, many have found this approach helpful in facing difficulties in their life. Jon's work brought mindfulness meditation into the field of education from grammar schools to universities, hospitals, mental health clinics, prisons, and even corporate settings. Since the inception of MBSR, other mindfulness-based programs have been developed and evaluated such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Mindfulness meditation practices have been proven effective in reducing stress and improving overall well-being. One study has shown that those who meditate tend to recover more quickly from stressful events. Other benefits that come from a regular meditation practice that enhance life are:
• Increased ability to relax
• Improved concentration
• Greater creativity
• Increased energy and enthusiasm for life
• Greater self-awareness
• Improved self-esteem
• Better work/school performance


My name is Dianna Stencel: owner of Breathing Space: Mindfulness and Therapy. I am an experienced mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher who has been bringing mindfulness for well-being programs to a local university since 2002. Then, I began teaching mindfulness on research projects at another university in my spare time. Now I am offering these courses to the general public in the heart of the city in the community where I have lived for the past 16 years!

This quote dropped right into my heart. I've been asking myself what moment(s) took my breath away pretty often. Today, ...
11/13/2023

This quote dropped right into my heart. I've been asking myself what moment(s) took my breath away pretty often. Today, while walking in the forest preserve, I noticed at least two. Now I wonder how many happen below consciousness (whoa right?).
The photo of one of the moments, of course, doesn't really capture the magic but allowed for me to take the moment and savor it.
The sunlight hit the leaves on the ground in such a way that they glowed!

10/26/2023
I had such a wonderful time hosting and getting out to see the art and artists at Pilsen Open Studios this past weekend....
10/26/2023

I had such a wonderful time hosting and getting out to see the art and artists at Pilsen Open Studios this past weekend. I am thankful for connecting and reconnecting with some neat humans. For the art and conversation, and the sun appearing on Sunday. For the luck at stumbling into some live music at another festival in the neighborhood.

As it happens, since Monday life began to move too quickly and had more bumps than typical. I am grateful I went into the week with a full tank. I am grateful that my practices have helped me know what supports me in finding some kind of ground to stand upon (and I am still learning). Watching the trees dance outside the window, cloud gazing, feeling the fuzzy blanket on my lap, warm baths, and a well-chosen tune. Thank you trees, clouds, fuzzy blanket, and music. I am grateful for the people in my life who can hold space. And for my ability to reach out to these friends.

Hey there, friends! Guess what? I have a piece that will be shown as part of the Beautiful Souls Coffin show at the Pils...
10/10/2023

Hey there, friends! Guess what? I have a piece that will be shown as part of the Beautiful Souls Coffin show at the Pilsen Arts Community House (PACH). Wha? Let me fill you in... 

I was at an opening at PACH talking with my dear friend, Teresa M. She suggested I make a coffin for the show. I froze and thought, "I'm too busy" - but I knew I needed to slow it down and consider it from a state other than freeze. 

I was busy, and perhaps this was an opportunity to be creative, which can be a stress buster/life-giving. It could also be a vehicle to reconnect to the Year to Live course. The course, through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, is a year-long exploration of death through a Buddhist lens which helps me connect to life. As one of the wonderful teachers said early on, "We don't know how many breaths we have left, how do you want to use them" (Frank Ostaseski).

So glad I said yes to the coffin! Creating my coffin for the show did all of the above. 

If you're free, come by PACH this Friday, the 13th for opening night, and say hello :) Some of the other peices I have seen are amazing!

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What is Mindfulness? "Mindfulness is moment-to-moment non-judgmental awareness cultivated through meditation and applied to any aspect of one's life."-Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness is a way of being. It allows us to face each moment as it comes. Be it positive, negative, or neutral. We so often live in the future worrying about this or that or we find ourselves stuck in the past, thinking about what could have been. Instead of living in the present moment, we move through the day on auto-pilot reacting to situations out of habit. Being aware of the present moment helps us see and assess the situation more fully, including our own innate resources. This gives us a choice on how to best react. Mindfulness meditation allows us to develop this type of present moment, non-judging awareness which is very powerful. What are the benefits of mindfulness meditation? In 1979, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed an 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Since its creation, many have found this approach helpful in facing difficulties in their life. Jon's work brought mindfulness meditation into the field of education from grammar schools to universities, hospitals, mental health clinics, prisons, and even corporate settings. Since the inception of MBSR, other mindfulness based programs have been developed and evaluated such as Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Mindfulness meditation practices have been proven effective in reducing stress and improving overall well-being. One study has shown that those who meditate tend to recover more quickly from stressful events. Other benefits that come from a regular meditation practice that enhance life are: • Increased ability to relax • Improved concentration • Greater creativity • Increased energy and enthusiasm for life • Greater self-awareness • Improved self-esteem • Better work/school performance My name is Dianna Stencel: owner of Breathing Space: Mindfulness and Therapy.I am an experienced mindfulness based stress reduction teacher who has been bringing mindfulness for well-being programs to a local university since 2002. Then, I began teaching on mindfulness based research projects at another university in my spare time. Now I am offering these courses to the general public in the heart of the city in the community where I have lived for the past 15 years!