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29
Sep

Professor Mark Williams – An Introduction to Mindfulness

Professor Mark Williams – An Introduction To Mindfulness

Professor Mark Williams is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology at Oxford and was also the Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre until his retirement in 2013.

Professor Williams, along with colleagues John Teasdale (Cambridge) and Zindel Segal (Toronto), developed Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for prevention of relapse and recurrence in major depression. He is also co-author of the best selling book ‘Mindfulness: Finding Peace In A Frantic World.’

In this interview Mark elegantly answers the question ‘what is mindfulness?’ He also leads 2 simple introductory practices for beginners and talks about why mindfulness is so effective for the treatment of depression relapse.

In this interview you’ll also discover…

  • The difference between mindlessness and mindfulness.
  • Why mindlessness often gets us into so much trouble.
  • The cutting edge research on mindfulness for depression (Mark is one of the world premiere researchers in this field).
  • The ‘breathing space’ mindfulness practice, which is great to use in times of stress and difficult emotions
  • How to use ‘habit releasers’ to bring more mindfulness into daily life.
  • An experience of the ‘body scan’ mindfulness practice.




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Listen to the audio version here

 

Show Notes

Join the The Mindfulness Summit Journey here

Come and join the community discussions at any time on our Facebook page

Check out Melli’s blog, events and retreats at MrsMindfulness.com

More about MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy)

Check out Marks books ‘Mindfulness: Finding peace in a frantic world’

More about the Oxford Mindfulness Centre

 

Audio

Video

Transcript

Download Mark Williams audio interview

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Download Mark Williams audio meditation

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Download Mark Williams breathing space meditation

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Download Mark Williams video interview

Download MP4 – High Def, 1280×480 (Right click to save)

Download MP4 – Standard Def, 640×240 (Right click to save)

Download Mark Williams interview transcript

Download PDF (488kb)

 

Leave a Comment

1165 Responses

  1. Lynn

    I have to admit, day one was so much better than I had hoped from a free course. I’m thrilled to be here among so many others who are in the right place at the right time ready to encourage and be courageous. This intro was fascinating.

  2. Sari Bülter

    Thank you so much for the first day! Melli, you were doing a great job just the way it was! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and giving inspiration, Mark!

  3. R J

    I experienced a little more of self confidence and peace. I liken it to a bud of a flower just learning to bloom and enjoy full blossom.

    Thank You

    RJ Palinkas
    Whiting NJ USA

  4. Ana Buede-Fletcher

    Must be the only person who could not get any sound to the interview. Could only play the audio but it was most frustrating as I wanted to watch Prof Williams. Did anyone else experience this problem?

  5. Debbie Cooper

    Hi Just listened after a lovely yoga class – what a great evening, feeling very relaxed and inspired to practice mindfulness more regularly 🙂 Thank you

  6. m_chelle_b32969

    Loved the interview with Mark Williams – very insightful. I too found Meli’s comments very distracting but kept listening because I was so interested to hear Mark. Thank you Meli for all that you’re doing and for taking the feedback on board. Much appreciated x

  7. Irina Carrasco

    Hi everyone, tuning in from Venezuela. Great conversation! I really liked the first part of how sometimes we’re in automatic pilot in the wrong way. It happened to me with a job that wasn’t fulfilling me anymore. So I finally took the decision of leaving my 5 years job and now I’m starting to focus more in my thoughts, my actions, my feelings. I’m really looking forward to make mindfulness part of my daily life. Thanks for this awesome summit! 🙂

  8. Claudia Ponce

    Hello everyone! Greetings from Las Vegas, NV.
    I have enjoyed today’s interview very much!. I want to thank Mrs. Mindfulness for the efforts and intentions to put all this together along with her team, and of course, I would love to thank Professor Mark Williams for such a kind and charming, warm lecture. There are a lot of things that can only be transmitted or expressed, shared from the very bottom of the heart/soul, from the eyes, from the very inside. There was not a single word I didn’t believe or couldn’t receive from you, because it all feels studied, backed up by your experience, and it all feels honest and experienced by yourself as well.
    Thank you very much! I am very glad my friend Scott shared this and I could join this summit. Looking forward to listening to the following interviews and to reading Professor Williams books.
    Have a beautiful rest of the moment that you are living.

    Claudia. 🙂

  9. Christine Neidhardt

    Hi Greetings from Germany and Franconia. Thanks for this wonderful initiative. Just got in and I’ll try to link my activities in the Ulab with this mindfulness summit and create my own project on the way a Leadership Academy for new leaders. Let’s see how this goes .-)) All the best for everybody.

  10. REBECA

    What a great way to start the summit. I’m begining the journey of mindfulness and feel so grateful for this oportunity. Thank you Meli and Mark. Best wishes to all of you from Spain.

  11. Carol Rawson-Woods

    Greetings Mark, Melli and the world. What an amazing opportunity and concept. I fully appreciate the privilege and look forward to much watering of seeds. Staying connected 🙂

  12. MHM

    Joining you from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean – Azores, Portugal.
    I was only able to watch the first half of the interview in the morning. Came back later to listen to the other half and was not able to access any link on the webage. They all seem to be inactive for some reason. I am on an iPad and have tried using Chrome and Safari with no success. I hope you are able to fix this sometime soon. I am looking forward do the next 30 days!

  13. MaryBeth

    I loved the emphasis on kindness and compassion towards ourselves in our practice in the interview today. I’m also excited to start to work on “habit releases” . Very grateful for The Mindfulness Summit.

  14. Jonni

    That was so good to listen too 🙂 I am listening in from Golden Bay, South Is, New Zealand. I have been doing a mindfulness meditation practice for a few months now & have found it has had a significant impact on my depression, i feel more at peace with myself & the world around me.
    Thank you for speaking on this. jonni

  15. Simone de+Verteuil

    Hi, thanks for this opportunity. I am tuning in from Georgetown Texas. This is my first ever guided meditation and first time listening to a talk. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more. Thanks for making this available. My sister in Canada told me about the Mindfullness summit.

  16. jenmarkow1677

    Thank you for his wonderful summit! I loved the interview with Mark today and am so grateful for this opportunity to learn and to practice with so many other people around the world. With deep gratitude.

  17. Jacqueline McTaggart

    Hi,
    I really enjoyed Mark Williams talk and am listening in from Glasgow in Scotland. One question I have is that I noticed that when was doing the 8 minute meditation i experienced lots of physical sensations of itching skin and i wondered why this was? Is this usual , i wondered that it maybe that it happens anyway but haven,t been aware of it before.

  18. Mona Choudhary

    Thanks to both of you. logging in from Delhi India. I have gotten up in the middle of the night to go through this as my little boy is sleeping. with him awake no work can be done on laptop. I really kind of liked it ,it just gives a little more perspective when you said Mind Wandering is necessary for Mindfulness practice and it is not a one Stop solution to all your life’s problems. But may be it will give us perspective on is there actually a problem and how big it is. Hurdles are going to be there but are handling of it will become better if we are mindful.
    Another thing I liked is asking self how can I nourish myself in the next hour. may be we will find some doable things and find joy. Because presently vacation is just a distant dream for me and so it must be for most of us.
    Thanks again

  19. Kay Smillie

    Hello to everyone! I am signing in from Bonnie Scotland. Love to you all.

    I would like to say ‘thank you’ for providing a transcript for the video. For people like myself who have severe sensitivity to sound, a transcript is a precious thing. Thank you so much for this!

  20. Kari

    I am so happy to be participating in the mindfulness summit with you all! It is the first I have ever heard of it..it came up as a suggestion through my face book page a few days ago. Perfect timing! Just what I am needing.

  21. Jenny Dakins

    Hello from Mishawaka Indiana! Loved the first day content!! Thank you Melli and Mark. I am working to bring mindfulness to my high school students as well as deepen my practice. Wonderful and directly applicable information in today’s session. I loved the 3 minute breathing space – am going to give my students a chance to experience it tomorrow in class. Can’t wait! Blessings 🙂

  22. Angela Brier-Stephenson

    Thank you everyone involved in putting this together and offering out. Mark, I could listen to you forever, thank you and love your book. I did the frantic world teacher training with Chris Cullen, such amazing work. Thank you. Namaste. Angela, UK, near Margate, Kent

  23. Tessa Mcewan

    Mark thank you for your inspiration. MBCT transformed my life from existing to finding beauty and peace. I then trained to continue spreading the practice to the workplace. Thanks Melli for helping so many others benefit from Marks work 🙂

  24. Sarah Hurrell

    I’m curious about above comments on Melli acknowledging Mark as he speaks (otherwise known as uh-huhs and hmms). Perhaps minds had wandered at the bit where Mark spoke of kindness and compassion? We can always be hopeful that at the end of the month, Jon Kabat-Zinn may enlighten some with the concepts of patience and non-judgement.

    Thank you Melli and Mark Williams for Day 1 and for the opportunity to observe, listen to, and practice with, the biggest names in the field. Handed to me on a plate. Free. I can’t begin to imagine the logistics, planning and preparation that has gone into this initiative. Again, thank you.

  25. Feng Guo

    Hello from Hangzhou Wisdom-Flow Mindfulness Center,Hangzhou ,China!Thank you Melli and Mark. I am working to bring mindfulness to my family ,my school and university ,and my Chinese society. Wonderful and directly applicable information in today’s session.Blessings 🙂

  26. Mimi Knox

    Thank you Mr. Mark for your life’s dedication to work on depression. Your experience and this summit is creating positive ripple effect.
    I’m happy to be part of the early adaptors.ay the wave reach far and when it returns from shore may it bring amazing results. 🙂 are we looking after the people that are being ignored. When Mr. Mark asked this well. I’m ignoring myself. I’m on autopilot. How can I care for others. Well. I will and it will be mindfully <3 may we design a mindful world . Happy Day 1. I'm enthusiast. Hope I can pull through the end. Saludos de Ecuador!

  27. Kristin Violette

    As an aspiring future nurse, I am wondering if mindfulness is taught in nursing schools? I think it would be invaluable to learn not only for the benefits while being in school but also in a nursing career. Caring and compassion are certainly the hallmarks of nursing. Patients would benefit twofold – by being cared for by a nurse who is “mindful” and teaching patients mindful techniques would be quite beneficial to their health and well being. And, help with a speedier recovery time?

    1. Gerri January

      Hi Kristin,
      To my knowledge, the is no nursing school that teaches aspiring nurses how to do mindfulness. But you don’t need to get it at school. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction may be available in your area. If not, the Summit has a great 8 week online course you can take here or online at Palouse Mindfulness via the Internet. Personally, I think being in a class with others has great value but if it’s not an option, this online class is a great alternative. As a nurse, I totally agree that nurses could benefit from learning how to use it!

    2. Anne

      Great question and I love that idea. I hope you encourage it wherever you are in school. I do know that my sister-in-law, along with an MBSR teacher/MD at the School of Nursing here in Indianapolis Indiana support patients, patient families and oncologists. It’s come from the idea of doing “research” but obviously, they are teaching. They’ve been working with palliative care, breast cancer survivors and “active” cancer patients. And, they’re publishing /speaking about results reported by those who are doing. When my brother was being treated for his terminal cancer, he had a wonderful social worker who gave him lots of tools and support to start using mindfulness practice. It may be something you have to just start incorporating and sharing 🙂

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