Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being

What is the relationship between mindfulness therapy and the physical settings in which it is practiced? Mindfulness is defined as ―paying attention to what‘s happening in the present moment in the mind, body and external environment, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness‖ (MAPG, 2015: 5), howe...

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Main Authors: Porter, Nicole, Bramham, Johanna, Thomas, Martin
Other Authors: Saavedra Macías, Francisco Javier
Format: Book Section
Published: Universidad de Sevilla, Vicerrectorado de Investigación 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48644/
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author Porter, Nicole
Bramham, Johanna
Thomas, Martin
author2 Saavedra Macías, Francisco Javier
author_facet Saavedra Macías, Francisco Javier
Porter, Nicole
Bramham, Johanna
Thomas, Martin
author_sort Porter, Nicole
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description What is the relationship between mindfulness therapy and the physical settings in which it is practiced? Mindfulness is defined as ―paying attention to what‘s happening in the present moment in the mind, body and external environment, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness‖ (MAPG, 2015: 5), however the qualities of the ‘external environment’ are rarely discussed in relation to mindfulness. As mindfulness based therapies increasingly applied in clinical and educational settings, this presents opportunities to explore how the design of a space – from the arrangement of furniture through to the qualities of a room, building, landscape, or wider spatial context – may influence mindfulness practice and its therapeutic benefits. In this workshop, a combination of research presentation and therapeutic practice was conducted. Literature from landscape architecture and architecture was presented, evidencing the effects of built environment design on mental health and well-being and emphasizing notions of ‘biophilic design’. Delegates were then invited to participate in guided mindfulness mediations, followed by facilitated group enquiry about the combined effects of formal mindfulness practice and the qualities of the physical space we were practicing within.
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spelling nottingham-486442020-05-04T19:06:40Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48644/ Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being Porter, Nicole Bramham, Johanna Thomas, Martin What is the relationship between mindfulness therapy and the physical settings in which it is practiced? Mindfulness is defined as ―paying attention to what‘s happening in the present moment in the mind, body and external environment, with an attitude of curiosity and kindness‖ (MAPG, 2015: 5), however the qualities of the ‘external environment’ are rarely discussed in relation to mindfulness. As mindfulness based therapies increasingly applied in clinical and educational settings, this presents opportunities to explore how the design of a space – from the arrangement of furniture through to the qualities of a room, building, landscape, or wider spatial context – may influence mindfulness practice and its therapeutic benefits. In this workshop, a combination of research presentation and therapeutic practice was conducted. Literature from landscape architecture and architecture was presented, evidencing the effects of built environment design on mental health and well-being and emphasizing notions of ‘biophilic design’. Delegates were then invited to participate in guided mindfulness mediations, followed by facilitated group enquiry about the combined effects of formal mindfulness practice and the qualities of the physical space we were practicing within. Universidad de Sevilla, Vicerrectorado de Investigación Saavedra Macías, Francisco Javier Español Nogueiro, Alicia Arias Sánchez, Samuel Calderón García, Marina 2017-09-15 Book Section PeerReviewed Porter, Nicole, Bramham, Johanna and Thomas, Martin (2017) Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being. In: Creative practices for improving health and social inclusion: 5th International Health Humanities Conference, Sevilla 2016. Universidad de Sevilla, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Seville, Spain, pp. 199-209. ISBN 978-84-697-3582-4 mindfulness built environment design https://idus.us.es/xmlui/handle/11441/65446
spellingShingle mindfulness
built environment
design
Porter, Nicole
Bramham, Johanna
Thomas, Martin
Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being
title Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being
title_full Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being
title_fullStr Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being
title_full_unstemmed Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being
title_short Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being
title_sort mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well being
topic mindfulness
built environment
design
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48644/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/48644/