RESOURCES FOR THE MINDFULNESS FACILITATOR
Research Articles
It can be challenging to stay on top of all the wonderful research happening in the world of Mindfulness. We recommend two web-based sources:
- The American Mindfulness Research Association (AMRA) is a comprehensive electronic resource and publications database available at https://goamra.org. The database is searchable and updated monthly. It’s the brain child of USC researcher David Black.
- The UCLA Mindful Awareness Resource Center (MARC) hosts a regularly updated research bibliography by topic and is available at http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=38
Compendium of the Teaching Assessment Criteria of Mindfulness-Based Intervention Teachers from the UK
The Bangor and Exeter Group has developed 6 main domains for different levels of competence in teaching mindfulness.
The six domains:
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Download the full article here:
Compassion – Bridging Practice and Science
Wonderful, free eBook by Tania Singer et al (Director of the Department of Social Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany). She and her team, which includes among many other leaders in the filed of mindfulness and compassion the Tibetan monk Matthieu Ricard “The happiest man alive”. One of our favorite parts of the interactive book is the differentiation between empathy and compassion. Guess, what: We can only burnout on empathy, not on compassion as compassion grows in the face of suffering (plus it can be trained). http://www.compassion-training.org
Chair Yoga Sequence
To download a free 8-page guide to Chair Yoga by Greg Serpa, click on the image above. (8 pages, 42MB)
Using simple stretches with students can help them to feel the body more in the following quiet meditation, which in turn will often make it easier to actually stay present with body sensations. Keep the poses simple and give clear instructions and demonstrate as in this handout, CHAIR YOGA . Give students full permission to skip poses they are not sure they can or should do and offer variations. If in doubt, don’t do it. Always err on the side of safety.
You can also find a simple and easy to adapt sequence of chair yoga poses here. On the page you can find a downloadable handout with the poses, too.
Selected Mindfulness Bibliography
Introduction to Mindfulness:
- Kabat-Zinn, J. (2011). Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment–and Your Life. Sounds True.
- Kornfield, J. (2008). A Wise Heart. A Guide to the Universal Teachings of Buddhist Psychology. Bantam
- Brach, T. (2004). Radical Acceptance. Embracing You Life with the Heart of a Buddha. Bantam
- Thich Nhat Hanh. (1992). Peace is Ever Step. The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Bantam
- Hanson, R. (2009). The Buddha’s Brain. The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love and Wisdom. New Harbinger
- Siegel, R. (2010). The Mindfulness Solution. Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems. Guilford.
MBSR Related Books
- Kabat-Zinn, J., & Hanh, T. N. (2009). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Random House LLC.
- Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. Hyperion.
- Stahl, B., & Goldstein, E. (2010). A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook. New Harbinger Publications.
MBSR Informed Books
- Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2012). Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression. Guilford Press.
- Williams, M., Teasdale J., Segal Z. & Kabat-Zinn J. (2007) The Mindful Way Through Depression. Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. Guilford.
- Bowen, S., Chawla, N., & Marlatt, G. A. (2010). Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors: A clinician’s Guide. Guilford Press.
- Orsillo, S. M., & Roemer, L. (2011). The Mindful Way Through Anxiety: Break Free from Chronic Worry and Reclaim Your Life. Guilford Press.
- McCown, D., Reibel, D., & Micozzi, M. S. (2011). Teaching Mindfulness: A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Educators. New York: Springer.
Compassion and Loving Kindness Books
- Germer, C. K. (2009). The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself From Destructive Thoughts and Emotions. Guilford Press.
- Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind. HarperCollins.
- Salzberg, S. (2004). Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Shambhala Publications.
- Salzberg, S. (2010). Real happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-day Program. Workman Publishing.
Stress
- Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-related Diseases, and Coping-Now Revised and Updated. Macmillan.
Trauma
- Levine, P. A. (2010). In An Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.
- Rothschild, B. (2010). 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery: Take-Charge Strategies to Empower Your Healing (8 Keys to Mental Health). WW Norton & Company.
- Van der Kolk, B (2014). The Body Keeps the Score. Viking.Discount Pharmacy Online, Prescriptions and Doctor Service
Pain
- Gardner-Nix, J. (2009). The Mindfulness Solution to Pain: Step-by-Step Techniques for Chronic Pain Management. New Harbinger Publications.
- Burch, V. (2010). Living Well with Pain and Illness: The Mindful Way to Free Yourself from Suffering. Sounds True.
Parenting/Childcare
- Kabat-Zinn, M., & Kabat-Zinn, J. (1998). Everyday blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting. Hyperion.
- Greenland, S. K. (2010). The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate. Simon and Schuster.
- Casarjian, B. E., & Dillon, D. H. (2007). Mommy Mantras: Affirmations and Insights to Keep You from Losing Your Mind. Random House LLC.
Professional Training Courses
MBSR TRAINING
- Oasis Institute for Mindfulness-Based Professional Education and Training is located at the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, Worcester. https://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/oasis/index.aspx
MBSR, MBCT, MSC, and others
- Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute at the University of California San Diego Center for Mindfulness. http://mbpti.org/index.html
Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting
Mindful Eating
Mindfulness for Children/teens
Personal Retreats/Classes/Meditation Centers
This list is not extensive, please google your area and “Mindfulness meditation” or “Vipassana”
UNITED STATES
West Coast
Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, CA (Residential retreat center)
(Many local Spirit Rock teachers have meditation groups in the Bay Area, search by teacher name)
InsightLA, Santa Monica, CA
www.insightLA.org (also excellent resource for free talks and guided meditations)
Mindful Awareness Research Center, Los Angeles
Against the Stream. Buddhist Meditation Society. Centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other US cities under the guidance of Noah Levine. Strong focus on recovery.
http://www.againstthestream.org
Insight Meditation Center, Redwood City, CA
www.insightmeditationcenter.org
(also excellent resource for free talks and guided meditations)
Insight Retreat Center (Santa Cruz area): donation based insight meditation retreats. http://www.insightretreatcenter.org
Cloud Mountain. Offers residential silent retreats in the Vipassana (insight) tradition.
Dhamma Vadhana. Southern California Vipassana Center in the S.N. Goenka tradition. Offers 10 day silent retreats, donation based. Strict.
http://www.vaddhana.dhamma.org
Deer Park Monastery (Tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh), Escondido, CA
Seattle Insight Meditation Society, WA
East Coast
Insight Meditation Society, Barre, MA (residential retreat center)
New York Insight Meditation Center, NY, NY
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, MA
The Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC
Free guided meditations:
Other online resources:
- Free talks from Vipassana (Insight Meditation) Teachers: Dharmaseed.org
- Talks and guided meditation from all traditions: SoundsTrue.com