Mindfulness & Behaviour Change - Dr Tamara Russell, PhD

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The word mindfulness is increasingly entering our modern lexicon. In fact, it has always been there, but a secular “new variant” has appeared in the last decades. Secular mindfulness has rapidly proliferated as research on modern contemplative practices seems to confirm what the ancient traditions promised. Specifically, that taking care of our inner landscape returns benefits for our experiences in the outer world. Not only for our own physical and psychological health but more broadly, in how we see ourselves in relationship to others, society, nature and the planet. But how can these practices, where we are seemingly “doing nothing”, effect changes in the brain?
There is a growing field of contemplative neuroscience that aims to unpack the mechanisms of mindfulness. This lecture will share some highlights from this work to demonstrate how various practices can re-shape and re-wire the brain - no matter if your starting point is the everyday stresses and strains, or more serious mental and physical health challenges. Sharing a basic neurocognitive model of mindfulness, this lecture will demonstrate the 4 stages, 3 brain networks, 2 secret ingredients and 1 thing that makes all the difference if you wish to train your brain into more mindful states. It will demonstrate how we can use the neuroscience to optimize the teaching and contextualisation of mindfulness training. You will find out how you can use this brain-wise approach to increase your awareness and train your brain as soon as the lecture ends.
Dr. Tamara Russell works with individuals and organisations advising on how to use mindfulness techniques to optimise performance and improve mental and physical well-being. She is the Director of the Mindfulness Centre of Excellence, London, which has as its aim the evaluation of creative yet authentic mindfulness applications for all spheres of life.
Combining her clinical, neuroscience and martial arts training, Dr. Russell’s approach engages both body and mind, for a total solution to manage the stressors of our modern working environment. She specialises in delivering mindfulness training in the health sector, running introductory workshops for mental health workers and other health professionals.
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Tamara’s website: www.mindfulnesscentreofexcellence.com
Tamara’s ‘Death Incubator’ Workshop: www.virtual-awakening.com/dee...

[@WackyConundrum]

56:33 is finally the start of the "neuroscience of" part.

[@thoriqakbar]

thanks

[@GuerrillaNature]

Thank you so much for this helpful elucidation of the theory and basis of mindfulness practice!

[@aliriddick9428]

Great video thank you. Now i understand those stories of prophet Mohammad & his followers whos concentration in prayer was on a level i thought impossible Theyd stand in prayer all night oblivious to their surroundings. This has proven these stories were no exaggeration.

[@rachelcroft6894]

Thank you for this lecture, Dr. Russell! You explain these concepts in a way that is deeply insightful. I felt like I was learning about them for the first time!

[@ajmarr5671]

Mindfulness explanation in a nutshell: ‘Being in the moment’ induces relaxation, which increases opioid activity, and is pleasurable. If concurrent persistent meaningful ideation occurs (meaning is defined as thinking of or doing actions that have branching novel positive implications), this induces a feeling of arousal as mediated by dopamine systems. Both dopamine and opioid systems are synergistic, or reciprocally stimulate each other, causing feelings of greater pleasure and arousal, or ecstatic states. This explains why ‘loving kindness’, savoring, peak, or flow experiences are affectively different from mindfulness, yet nonetheless represent unremarkable and simple neural processes that can be explained and replicated with ease by anyone. More on this on doctormezmer, book of rest, found somewhere on the internet.

[@2MeditateTogether]

Thank you for sharing this! It’s very informative and engaging.

[@Contribute_TakeCare_Learn_Play]

Thank you Dr. Russel. Really

[@rpullman]

Good talk. I got a thing or two out of it but I am already on board about the importance of breath and relaxation. Descriptive semantics do not matter to me but of course do for the novice. Physical results do matter to me, and the mental benefits follow from the physical.

[@MacDruid1776]

Thank you very much Dr. Russell for this very interesting and informative presentation.

[@paigesessions3945]

Anyone know where can find the initial pic of green and red balls as can’t find anywhere

[@wallycheladyn1190]

I was expecting a lecture more focused on the research. If you're new to meditation, then this video will be of interest.

[@Ah_Yote]

There’s one neuroscientist who did a research of what he described to be an “Olympic level meditator” and saw something he thought was incredible

[@jimmy-jamesolivier-mccutch2126]

🙏🧠🥰

[@DJSTOEK]

😃😷

[@venugopal2227]

spirituality has nothing to do with mindfulness since the latter simply is a matter of maximising attentional faculties so that we get the most of what we focus on but the so called meditation business is just a traditional hermeneutics of self and it is appalling that some of the neuro scientists too make reductionist positions...

[@Ah_Yote]

Very false, and the fact you’re going against a Dr....and literal science is appalling

[@paigesessions3945]

Mindfulness is a modern word for spiritual practices and is deeply linked and originate from spirituality to start with lol people get spooked these days at spirituality because society values science and logic . So you mask spiritual practices with science so society accepts them and doesn’t disregard straight away