User:Practically wise/sandbox

Applied Mindfulness: Applied mindfulness is the movement of classic contemplative practices, like Buddhist Zen or Vipassana Meditation practices, into the mainstream. Jon Kabot-Zin is the forefather of applied mindfulness in the United States and the driving force behind early Western research on clinicial mindfulness use of his Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction protocol. Initial research on the clinical benefits of regular mindfulness practice were based on the 8 week MBSR format, a time-limited, group-based behavioral medicine intervention that predated and influenced contemporary applications of mindfulness in cognitive behavior. As the established benchmark for clinical efficacy, MBSR was also used in early studies on neuro-plasticity. Current activity in applied mindfulness includes Corporate Based Mindfulness Training for improved mental efficacy, Workplace Safety mindfulness training for situational awareness, academic work Creativity and Collective Presencing, and internal programs for Engineeering Innovation as well as wisdom informed consulting solutions for leadership development, engagement and cultural strategy. The keys to successful application of traditional mindfulness practices include: 1) Clear understanding of the target population and the particular need behind the practice. Is the aim to relieve mental or physical illness, to shift employee engagement, to reduce stress or improve individual mental focus,  to increase leadership presence or emotional intelligence, or support innovation in creative design?  Each population will require a different kind of practice, both in language and program structure. 2) Appropriate languaging of the benefits of the practice and specific choice of practice techniques, so that participants are incented to change and the practice delivery meets the needs of the population (online or in person, movement based or seated focus, formal or informal practice?). 3) Cultural support for new behavior. Whether this is slower pace at home for a fibromyalgia patient or a designated quiet space for seated practice in the office, new habits require a sustainable support plan.  Any applied mindfulness practice brought in as a stand alone solution will end up as a short term band-aid, as cautioned by the McMindfulness backlash and the reality check on the usefulness of various mindfulness applicationscurrently flooding the market.