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29
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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

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

Download Mark Williams interview transcript

Download PDF (488kb)

 

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1165 Responses

        1. Dolores MacNeil

          Liked the Hokusai also. Enjoyed the mindfulness focus on the breath as well as the soles of our feet. From St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

  11. agi smith

    Hello Everyone, I just finished watching day 1. I’m here in Napa Valley, California. Loved it! Feeling grateful, feeling calm, feeling peaceful. Great job pulling this together. Let the movement begin… Agi ~

  13. Colette Ridehalgh

    I just had the pleasure of wacthing the interview with Mark Williams. I love the fact that this man is not only producing world class research, but he clearly values the thoughts and opinions of those who practice mindfulness. I too worry that mindfulness will become a fad, and that in a couple of years it will have moved on to the next fad, but I hope that by inspirational people like Mark continuing to talk about it in a non-guru practical way, and making it more real life and less “out there” that people will see the value of it, and encourage those aroud them to keep the faith. I teach my children the practcie, and was surprised that they would actually sit down to do it- they really enjoy it. I have to say I probably have not suggested they do it regularly. Mark’s research and suggestions about doing it as often as you can has made me re-think this. Thank you

  15. Deborah Kowalski

    What a fantastic way to start my morning, thank you. I am really looking forward to the rest of the summit. Feeling refreshed, energize and yet somehow, quiet. This was a wonderful introduction to practicing mindfulness, thank you, again.

  20. Chandra

    Good morning from Ottawa Canada looking forward to this . A new beginning. I was wondering how I could sign up for the 31 Day Summit. Is there a link I am missing. Thank you and all of you have an amazing day.

  21. Alicia Kennedy

    Hi from Saigon, Vietnam. I’m an EAL teacher at the International School of Ho Chi Minh City. We’ve adopted a mindfulness program at my school. It’s amazing walking through the hallways and watching the power of mindfulness in action. Even my EAL students are able to participate in this process. Simply amazing!

    1. Yasmin Bador

      Hi. Joining from Malaysia. Wanted to ask Alicia about the mindfulness program at her school as am school counsellor her. Thanks to Mrs Mindfulness for the event

    2. Elaine Leavitt

      Hi Alicia,

      I’m a teacher at Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS). That is awesome that ISHCMC has adopted a mindfulness program. I’m wondering if you would mind sharing with me, please, the name of the program? Is it Grades KG – 12? Have all teachers been trained in this program?

      Thank you for your time and any information:)

  25. Mariko　Nakagawa

    Thank you, it was very interesting!
    I didn’t know mindfulness is getting so popular and now introduced to parliaments in some countries and CEOs. Could you please tell us why such a movement has begun? What is the background? I’m in Japan and it doesn’t seem to happen here.

    1. mark williams

      Thanks Mariko
      It took some time for the mindfulness movement to grow in the UK, starting with the recognition by the National Health Service of its power to help prevent recurrence of depression.
      You have some great mindfulness teachers in Waseda University in Japan.
      Warm wishes
      Mark

  26. Mandy Humphreys

    Hi. I’ve just watched the video from today. I suffer from OCD. Mindfulness is helping me to treat thoughts as events in the mind and not take them seriously. It is hard when all you want to do is enter into dialogue with a bad thought intrusion. But the difference with mindfulness is that alowing my attention to refocus in my sensations, gives me a space so I do not react. I acknowledge the thought, take a step back and that usually gives me time to let the thought go. I am on a journey of re training my mind and I am hopeful that mindfulness will help me overcome this condition. Thank you so much for your words. X

  27. audrey-Jane Clarke

    Hello all,

    I am listening from Ireland. I am really excited to of found the summit and be part of the next 31 days with you all! I have been interested in the practice of Mindfulness for a long time and delighted to get on the road to introducing the experience into my everyday life!

    Best of luck and good wishes to you all. !
    AJ

  30. Kristine Willems

    The first video, Introduction to mindfulness was amazing thankyou. I have two methods to start with in my day and the advice to break one session up into two is something I will follow. Very excited to be part of this new shift, and thank you for the opportunity.

  31. Aruna Kambhatla

    That was a wonderful talk by Mark Williams. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am quite regular in meditating but the 3 point Breathing Space just gave me an “Aha” moment. Now, how often can the Body Scan meditation be done in a day? Thank You once again.

    1. mark williams

      Dear Aruna,
      Great question.
      It is really useful to experiment with different times. We use a single body scan in our clinical work, that last around 35 – 40 minutes; but have a shorter (15 minutes) body scan to use twice a day in the Frantic World book. I think it is lovely to explore different approaches.
      Warm wishes,
      Mark

  36. Hayley

    Hi everyone, I’m joining in from way down South, in Victoria, Australia. I really enjoyed Mark’s session – I’m a “sciency” girl, as well as a spiritual girl – so starting off in a way that was down-to-earth, practical and research-based has really helped to frame my thinking around mindfulness. The final message about “the working week” and “the illusion of productivity” have really resonated with me – we are about to begin a new business and my partner is discussing 60-70+ hours a week…. how do I “sell” the idea of the 8 hour day?????!!!! (alongside the idea of beginning mindfulness!)

  44. Zara Ellis

    Enjoyed hearing from Mark and participating in both mindfulness meditations, right here at my work station. A great way to get the month started. See you soon. Zara Ellis

  46. Gayle

    Good morning from Thousand Oaks, Ca! Looking forward to learning about mindfulness and how it can help living my day to day life. As a person living with type 1 diabetes and diagnosed in my late 40’s, it’s been a real challenge and everyday is a roller coaster ride of emotions and blood sugars! Hoping this will make a difference!

  47. Pam Heliste

    Good day to all…I’m joining today from Louisville Kentucky, USA, where i;m attending a professional conference. I am actually from Dallas, Texas area and glad to be joining you all on this journey.

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