Mindfulness

About Mindfulness

Mindfulness is not about trying to relax, but more about learning how to accept things as they are.  Mindfulness is promoted in general hospital settings around the world for people who are experiencing distress due to physical or psychological problems.

People who practice mindfulness find exercises like the mindful body scan or sitting mindfulness helpful as a starting point in developing a mindfulness practice. There are instructions in the getting started section.

Healthcare professionals may like to share with their patients our Patient Information Handout which describes mindfulness and its value.

To download the audio files below please right click the link and choose 'save as' to save to your device.

Introduction to mindfulness
This is a short explanation of what mindfulness is—the art and practice of being in the moment and not judging.  This introduction is a recording from the Beaumont Hospital Morning Mindfulness programme.  Listen in if you have never done mindfulness or meditation before.

Introduction to mindfulness (3 mins)

AGE: 3 Step mindfulness exercise
This short mindfulness exercise can help you call your attention into the present and connect with what can support you.

AGE: 3 Step Mindfulness Exercise (9 mins)

Sitting with the breath
This mindfulness exercise begins and ends with bells.  The guidance supports a practice of awareness of breathing, acknowledging the wandering mind and sensations of the body.

Sitting with the breath (13 mins)

Mindfulness soundscape
Mindfulness practice includes being aware of the sounds around you.  This is a twenty minute exercise in paying attention to what you are hearing without worry or judgement.  This recording is part of the Beaumont Hospital Morning Mindfulness Programme.

Soundscape (20 mins)

Loving kindness meditation
This mindfulness practice encourages us to develop and tune into self-compassion, and kindness toward others, by allowing mistakes and imperfections to be a part of who we are.

Loving kindness meditation (9 mins)

Seeing Exercise
This mindfulness practice uses our vision as the awareness practice.  Waking up to what and how we see things can help us to notice how we react to what we see in our daily lives.  How much we take in, and how much we miss.

Seeing exercise (12 mins)

Mindful body scan
It can be very helpful to sometimes just listen to what is happening in our body, without judgment or worry.  This twenty minute exercise helps us to pay attention to our whole body with a sense of acceptance.  This recording is part of the Beaumont Hospital Morning Mindfulness programme.

Mindful body scan (20 mins)

Scanadh Coirp
Uaireanta bíonn sé ina chabhair dúinn aird a dhíriú go séimh ar an méid a mhothaímid inár gcolainn, gan aon bhreithiúnás ná imní a dhéanamh. Treoraíonn an cleachadh seo tríd an gcorp ar fad sinn, ag cabhrú linn nithe atá ann cheana féin a thabhairt faoi deara.

Scanadh coirp (32 mins)

Body scan 2
This longer body scan allows you to explore whatever is happening in your body in a mindful way; on purpose, in the moment, and without judgment. Follow the guidance throughout your entire body and notice what is already present for you.

Body scan 2 (46 mins)

Body scan 3
This body scan gently attends to the experience of the body using slow guidance and kind attention.  It focuses on your moment to moment awareness of your experience without trying to get anywhere.  There is no right way to be.

Body scan 3 (45 mins)

Live mindful body scan
This exercise was recorded live with a group of people practicing Mindfulness.  It encourages us to listen to what our whole body is feeling in the moment, without judgement.

Live mindful body scan (41 mins)

Short sitting mindfulness
This is another 20 minute sitting mindfulness practice which begins and ends with bells.  There are periods of silence during the guidance, which encourages awareness of the breath and the body as part of our experience.

Short sitting mindfulness (19 mins)

Sitting mindfulness
This exercise is a twenty minute sitting mindfulness meditation, which begins and ends with bells.  There is some talking, but you should also expect long pauses.  Mindfulness helps us to stay in the here and now and learn how to accept things as they are in the moment.  This recording is part of the Beaumont Hospital Morning Mindfulness programme.

Sitting Mindfulness (19 mins)

Sitting mindfulness 2,3 & 4
Sitting Mindfulness 2, 3 & 4 are longer sitting mindfulness meditations, which begin and end with bells. There is some talking, but you should expect long pauses to encourage awareness of your own experience.  Mindfulness practice is about focusing on what is happening for us in the here and now.

Sitting Mindfulness 2 (28 mins)

Sitting Mindfulness 3 (38 mins)

Sitting Mindfulness 4 (40 mins)

Sitting mindfulness with five elements
This sitting mindfulness practice begins and ends with bells.  With gentle guidance, awareness in brought to five elements of present moment experience with an emphasis on noticing what is present without judgement.

Sitting mindfulness with five elements (40 mins)

Lying down Mindfulness Exercise
This mindfulness practice suits a lying down position and brings awareness to the body and the breath.  It begins and ends with bells.

Lying down Mindfulness Exercise (23 mins)

Moving mindfulness
Meditation can happen when our bodies are in motion, not just sitting or lying down. This exercise describes a practice of mindful walking and goes on to lead a gentle stretching yoga meditation. Remember to pay attention to what your body is telling you and be gentle with yourself.

Moving mindfulness (18 mins)

Mindful movement 2
This exercise describes a number of stretches and movements to complete in a mindful way. Please remember to care for yourself during the exercises. If there is a particular stretch that seems difficult, remember that it is also possible to return to a lying down or sitting position, and imagine doing the stretch with your mind's eye.

Mindful movement 2 (48 mins)

Lying down yoga
Gentle movement can be used as a mindfulness exercise, and this practice describes a gentle yoga sequence that can be done in a lying down position.  Remember to care for yourself when following the sequence and pay attention to your own potential and your own limitations.

Lying down yoga (50 mins)

Standing yoga
This practice includes gentle movement and stretches that can be done in a standing position.  As always, listening to your own body is the most important guidance you can follow in working with balance and movement.

Standing yoga (35 mins)

Mountain meditation
This is a mindfulness exercise in which you are asked to imagine a mountain in your mind. Through guidance, you will explore the differences of the mountain throughout a day and over different seasons.

Mountain meditation (17 mins)

Lake meditation
This is a mindfulness exercise for a lying down or reclining position in which you are asked to imagine a lake.  It begins with awareness of breathing, and guides you through a gentle experience of being with a lake.

Lake meditation (22 mins)