Gwyneth Paltrow does it. So does potential U.S. “first husband” Bill Clinton. It’s possible your kids are doing it at school, too.
Once the pursuit of the saffron-robe set, the modern practice of mindfulness has moved beyond New Age ashrams into one of Canada’s most troubled neighbourhoods. There, it’s offering much-needed hope to marginalized people—giving them a new set of skills to cope with life’s stressors.
Inspired by the work of American Jon Kabat-Zinn (creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and founder of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare, Society at the University of Massachusetts), mindfulness involves intentionally focusing on your breathing, thoughts and emotions, and “being in” the present moment, not judging anything you’re experiencing.
Gwyneth Paltrow practises mindfulness. Reuters
It’s a lot harder than it sounds. But according to Kabat-Zinn, when we practise mindfulness, we stop ourselves from being lost in thoughts and emotions, and gain clarity, wisdom and self-compassion.
Perhaps what’s most fascinating about mindfulness is that it’s a powerful and free tool for people of all ages facing vastly different challenges—in the boardroom, school, or on the streets.
The Harvard Business Review recently called mindfulness a “must-have” for corporate executives. The endorsement is based on a study led by the University of British Columbia (UBC), that shows people who practise mindfulness have healthier brains, make better decisions and are more resilient against chronic stress.
A separate UBC study found that mindfulness programs for schoolchildren (which include breathing and movement exercises), boost kids’ social skills and learning.
In Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, the Centre for Mindfulness Studies (CMS), launched a pilot project to help marginalized people deal with their physical and mental health challenges.
“On my walks I can just wander around downtown and tune out the bustle of the city. I hear only the sparrows singing. And I know I’ll never raise a hand to anyone again.” – John Rogers
Canadians with low incomes suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses at double the rate of those with higher incomes. And Tita Ang-Angco, executive director at CMS, points out mindfulness is an always accessible, low-cost resilience booster.
By his own description, John Rogers was a “miserable cuss.” Raised by an abusive mother, he struggled to keep a job and scrape together rent. “Whatever money was left over came with me to the bar and I got into trouble. I was more fists than words.”
Rogers took tranquilizers “and other pills I can’t pronounce” to deal with bipolar disorder.
Today, you would never know the 61-year-old Parkdale resident had a violent bone in his body.
Rogers participates in the CMS group mindfulness therapy training program, and sometimes even leads the group in mindfulness meditation. He has learned to manage his emotions and potential outbursts without resorting to violence.
When an acquaintance recently picked on Alice, his wife of almost 20 years, Rogers felt a familiar rage welling inside. “I took a deep breath and looked him in the eye,” he told us. “I said, ‘You’re upsetting my wife. You’re upsetting my friends. And you’re upsetting me, and that’s not a good idea.’ Then I walked away to calm down. He apologized to Alice, and now we’re good.”
Parkdale resident, John Rogers, has found a new freedom through mindfulness. The Centre for Mindfulness Studies
Rogers has also started journaling. “It’s like therapy. I write it out instead of lashing out.”
Other participants in the pilot project report similar benefits from mindfulness, including fewer mood swings and spirals of self-doubt that prevent them from holding down jobs. Some also experience less pain from chronic physical illness and feel generally capable of “experiencing life without feeling so overwhelmed,” as one participant says.
For Rogers, mindfulness is inner peace and a new kind of strength.
“On my walks I can just wander around downtown and tune out the bustle of the city. I hear only the sparrows singing. And I know I’ll never raise a hand to anyone again.”
Canada’s marginalized communities still face a myriad of poverty-related challenges. But empowering their residents with the skills of mindfulness is a low-cost step toward finding solutions.
Brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger founded a platform for social change that includes the international charity Free The Children, the social enterprise Me to We and the youth empowerment movement We Day.
