Introduction to Mindfulness - Dean Amory

more”. Another member spoke of becoming aware of a stiffness in
her neck, she hadn’t previously noticed.
Those who had found the CD unhelpful now began to wonder if the
whole course was designed “by-Americans-for-Americans” and
voiced their concern that maybe none of it would work for them,
particularly with their complex history of drug abuse. But one man
challenged this view and pointed out that “just because we’re addicts
it doesn’t make us any different”. He added: “I feel quite honoured to
be part of this. I didn’t always feel like that. I just thought I was there
to line the counsellors’ pockets. Now I’m opening my mind. Before
I’d rebel, but all I ever did was rob myself of opportunities like this
one”.
Post-group team reflection:
It was felt that the group had been much more engaged and “real” in
this session and that the message had gotten through that
mindfulness was not magic and that it required some degree of work.
There had been a moment when TB responded a little too defensively
to one comment that the group were all guinea pigs. Again a key
theme in running mindfulness groups is to be able to take whatever
arises and respond in a curious but somewhat neutral way. It was
agreed by all the team that producing our own, somewhat briefer,
body scan exercise would make this key ingredient of mindfulness
training much more accessible. For the time being, we would provide
them with copies of Mark Williams’ body scan CD next week.
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