They gather weekly to meditate together -- a practice that leaves them refreshed, relaxed and energized. They come from varied spiritual backgrounds, range in age from 18 to 80, and include lawyers, health care professionals, school counselors, university professors and computer technology experts.
"It's about grounding yourself, so if your day gets hectic or if you get challenged by a very abrasive personality, you understand you have a choice on how you react," said Eric Carlson, 36, a computer technology consultant. "I run into that every day. My practice [of mindfulness] allows me to stay calm and cool and ensures that I'm hearing what they're saying."
The techniques of mindfulness -- also called Vipassana or Insight Meditation -- are drawn from the teachings of Buddha but are nonsectarian. They are used by health care professionals to treat a variety of psychological disorders, including depression in adults and attention deficit disorder in children.
Practical applications include the treatment of anxiety, borderline personality disorders, chronic pain, obesity and addiction, according to Paul Lukasik, a mental health counselor who founded Buffalo Mindfulness Community in 2003. (MORE)
Source: Buffalo News
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