Mindfulness Association

17/06/2026

Sign up for our Mindfulness in Nature Weekend
18-19th July at the Chrichton
With Fay Adams and Carol Carr https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/mindfulness-in-nature/

Mindfulness can be applied to any aspect of our life one of the most interesting and beneficial ways that we can apply mindfulness to life is in our engagement with and emergence in our natural surroundings.

Practising mindfulness in the midst of nature allows us to connect with the moment through all of our senses, am experience that invites us to step away from the structures and busyness of our normal everyday lives allowing us to truly slow down.

The Mindfulness in Nature weekend is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the beautiful nature of the Crichton just outside Dumfries. On this environment you will be able to boost your mindfulness practice, connect directly with others in our community and restore yourself in the midst of natural beauty.

Spending time in a natural setting has been shown to reduce stress markers, slow ruminative thinking and to make people feel more calm and happier. Sign up to spend that weekend with us our community and nature.

Click here to sign up https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/mindfulness-in-nature/

16/06/2026

July Charity Mindfulness Challenge – Appreciate the Summer with Mindfulness!
https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/31-day-challenge-online/

For many the summer months are a welcome relief from the cold, wet and often gloomy weather (especially here in the UK) of winter and spring. With the summer on the horizon, we are inviting you to join our July Charity Mindfulness Challenge so you can bring mindful awareness to the joys of the season

This is an opportunity to boost your mindfulness practice whilst raising money for charity!

Every morning over July an email with a 10-15 minute mindfulness practice with a summer twist will arrive in your inbox led by a Mindfulness Association or Everyone Project Tutor. Practices include reflecting on happy summer memories, mindful movement including yoga and qigong, cooling self compassion, mindful barefoot walking, mindful paddling and kindness practice whilst taking in the warmth of the sun.

About the Everyone Project - https://www.everyoneproject.org/

The Everyone Project is committed to offering evidence based mindfulness courses, such as the eight week Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) to people who are not otherwise able to access a mindfulness course.

In particular we want to help disadvantaged and isolated groups, and those living with multiple stressors. We do this because we are passionate about the power of Mindfulness to empower all in our society to flourish and achieve their true potential.

If you would like more information and to sign up to the challenge, please follow the link https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/31-day-challenge-online/

#2026 #2026 British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches

14/06/2026

Did you know that when we practice mindfulness, we are physically remodelling our brains?!?

Thanks to neuroplasticity, consistent practice alters the structure of your grey matter to build emotional resilience and mental clarity.

Here is what happens to your brain structure through regular practice of mindfulness:

1. Shrinks the Amygdala
The amygdala acts as the brain's "stress centre," triggering our fight-or-flight response. Mindfulness physically reduces this region, lowering stress, anxiety and helping you stay grounded when life gets chaotic.

2. Thickens the Prefrontal Cortex
This area governs executive function, including decision-making, focus, and emotional regulation. Mindfulness thickens the cortical layer here, which directly sharpens your concentration and problem-solving skills under pressure.

3. Thickens the Hippocampus
Crucial for learning and memory, the hippocampus also governs perspective-taking. Mindfulness thickens this area, boosting your capacity to retain information and helping you view challenging situations from healthier angles.

4. Calms the Default Mode Network
The Default Mode Network (DMN) is active when the mind wanders, often leading to worry and rumination. Mindfulness quiets this network, reducing the frequency exhausting overthinking and anchoring you in the present.

By practicing mindfulness, you are quite literally rewiring your brain for a calmer, more emotionally intelligent and settled life!

13/06/2026

12/06/2026

Mindful Poetry Blog – “Bluebird” by Charles Buckowski

In our latest poetry blog, Fay explores the words of Charles Buckowski, but not through the voice of the author or even her own voice, but that of the voice of the person reading the poem to her.

The poem explores how we build walls around us, act tough to avoid pain and difficulty, and protect ourselves. However, the simple act of reading the poem to another creates an immediate bond of shared humanity where human fragility finds its place to express itself.

To read the poem and the blog, click https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/words-of-wonder/bluebird-charles-bukowski/

11/06/2026

One of the great things about compassion is that is allows us to live the idiom “do not judge someone else’s until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes”.

This is because it helps us realise that for all our differences, we all share a common humanity and a major realisation in this is that we are all carrying things with us that other people do not see. This important realisation helps us relate differently to people in life, allows us to be more supportive and sympathetic and even bring that compassion to situations where we need to say “no”, set boundaries or push back.

The knowledge that we suffer as humans is, perhaps somewhat ironically, something that can help bring us together and even increase our enjoyment in life.
The knowledge that we all struggle and have difficulties can help us be kinder to others, to understand that we don’t know what they are carrying – to walk in their shoes. Isn’t that wonderful?

If you are interested in developing your own compassion practice, we have two courses coming up.

Compassion in Nature Weekend: 15th – 16th August
https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/compassion-in-nature-weekend/

Mindfulness Level 2 – Compassion – Starts 5th September
https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/course/mindfulness-level-2-compassion-summer-intake/


British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches

09/06/2026

Why Practice Mindfulness? - Helping us reduce stress and burnout

Perhaps the question we ask ourselves most frequently is “why”. When we want to engage in any activity we will weigh up what it is we want to achieve and why we might be doing so, even if only on an instinctive level.
It is no surprise then that one of the first questions we often ask ourselves when starting mindfulness is “why do I want to do this?”.

The reasons that prompt individuals to start practicing mindfulness are personal, but they are often related in some way to unease and wanted to be able to manage that better. Stress and feelings of burnout are often - at least in part - what drives people to the cushion and it is because this wonderful practice is so effective at helping people manage stress and burnout but also create new behaviours that allow us to be more accepting of difficulty when it does arise.

At the Mindfulness Association we are committed to helping as many people as possible engage with mindfulness, to help them, guide them and reduce stress and chances of burnout. At the moment, the world is going through some turbulence and perhaps now more than ever we need to be able to manage our response skilfully.

If you would like to start mindfulness or develop your practice, head on over to our website where we have a variety of courses and other resources available. https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/

If you want to dip your toe in the mindfulness waters, then why not join us for our free online Mindfulness Association offer free online guided meditations from
Monday to Friday on Zoom (the sessions are at 10:30 and 19:00 UTC). https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/free-resources/free-daily-online-mindfulness-meditation/

09/06/2026

Why Practice Mindfulness? - Helping us reduce stress and burnout

Perhaps the question we ask ourselves most frequently is “why”. When we want to engage in any activity we will weigh up what it is we want to achieve and why we might be doing so, even if only on an instinctive level.
It is no surprise then that one of the first questions we often ask ourselves when starting mindfulness is “why do I want to do this?”.

The reasons that prompt individuals to start practicing mindfulness are personal, but they are often related in some way to unease and wanted to be able to manage that better. Stress and feelings of burnout are often - at least in part - what drives people to the cushion and it is because this wonderful practice is so effective at helping people manage stress and burnout but also create new behaviours that allow us to be more accepting of difficulty when it does arise.

At the Mindfulness Association we are committed to helping as many people as possible engage with mindfulness, to help them, guide them and reduce stress and chances of burnout. At the moment, the world is going through some turbulence and perhaps now more than ever we need to be able to manage our response skilfully.

If you would like to start mindfulness or develop your practice, head on over to our website where we have a variety of courses and other resources available.
https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/mindfulness-courses/all-courses-and-retreats/

If you want to dip your toe in the mindfulness waters, then why not join us for our free online Mindfulness Association offer free online guided meditations from Monday to Friday on Zoom (the sessions are at 10:30 and 19:00 UTC)
https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/free-resources/free-daily-online-mindfulness-meditation/

08/06/2026

My Mindfulness Journey - A New Blog

James is one of our tutors. He has practiced mindfulness since 2011, has built a career as a mindfulness teacher and, perhaps surprisingly, he is the mindfulness teacher who never wanted to practice mindfulness!

As you will read, James didn’t even know what mindfulness was when it was suggested to him and was quite dismissive of the whole idea! This blog explores James’s journey from sceptic to the mindfulness teacher and tutor that he is today.

It shows that mindfulness practice itself convinces people from all walks of life take up and maintain this wonderful practice, even those who perhaps roll their eyes at the idea of meditation!

This personal blog shows how the benefits he felt from early on were enough to put him on the path to the mindful life he lives today and reminds us that mindfulness is open to all and beneficial to all, no matter what their starting point!

To read this blog click here - https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/team-blogs/my-mindfulness-journey/