Mindful voices

When did you first start practicing mindfulness and why were you motivated to do so?

I have always had an interest in meditation and dabbled with it over the years, but without real commitment, understanding or discipline. Then in the summer of 2010 I developed a daily practice of meditation/ relaxation and started reading about mindfulness. For the first time in my life, I felt comfortable in my own skin and felt my relationships (especially with my son) change and my stress levels decrease.

Sadly, shortly after, this my mother became ill and died. I then had a 6 month period off work with severe depression (having suffered, I realized in hindsight, with mild to moderate depression for the last 8 years). I knew mindfulness meditation would be my way out, but for a few months I didn't have the energy, motivation or concentration to do anything about it. Then I read The Mindful Way through Depression by Jon Kabat-Zinn et al which turned me around. I began a daily practice of 10 minutes of sitting meditation, as well as mindful moments through the day and I felt myself start to ease out of the valley very slowly.

When did you first start practicing mindfulness and why were you motivated to do so?

I've been practicing off and on for years at the recommendation of a therapist I had as a teenager.  Only recently have I started becoming more serious in my practice. I think it's because I've finally grown up enough to see the benefits and appreciate them.

Did you take a class? If so, what sort of class did you take?

No, although I do plan to take an insight meditation class.