UCalgary Mindfulness University of Calgary

Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed, stressed, or burned out by the amount and intensity of our tasks and responsibilities. 
When we are burned out, feeling tired, irritable, sometimes cynical, detached, or ineffective, it can affect our health, happiness, and performance. 
 
One way to prevent or cope with burnout is by taking regular breaks throughout the day. 
 
Breaks can help restore our energy, motivation, and creativity. They can also help us manage stress, improve mood and enhance well-being. Meditation is a powerful tool that can help us take effective breaks. 
 
Starting at 2:04, this 10-minute guided meditation aims to reinvigorate and reconnect us to our breathe and bodies, fostering a more spacious, compassionate and rested state of mind. 


Facilitated by Justin Burkett, MN, RN, CHSE, leadership and meditation facilitator and assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary   
Presented by UCalgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy  

Listening is a vital skill we cultivate every day, whether in a classroom, during a meeting or conversing with others. We also listen to our thoughts and emotions that arise in our mind, the sounds of nature and music that surround us, or the silence that speaks deeply to us. Listening is more than simply hearing: it is a conscious act of paying attention and being present and receptive.
This mindful meditation session focuses on listening and how meditation can achieve deeper and more open states of listening — to ourselves, to one another and to the greater world around us. 
Facilitated by Justin Burkett, MN, RN, CHSE, leadership and meditation facilitator and assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary
Presented by UCalgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy

This session investigates how we want to arrive in our leadership and be present with others. One meditation explores self-compassion and grounding. The second borrows from Zen meditation and explores grounding in the body as well as a non-reactive form of attention.
Facilitated by Justin Burkett MN, RN, CHSE.
Resources and references:

Susan Piver’s Open Heart Project

Zen Mountain Monastery How to Meditate

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice, Shunryu Suzuki
 
Leading from Within: Poetry That Sustains the Courage to Lead, Sam M. Intrator
 
Presented by UCalgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy

In this session, we focus on cultivating compassion, both for ourselves and for others, using both a Loving Kindness meditation and a self-compassion meditation.
Loving Kindness meditation starts at 2:32
Self-compassion meditation starts at 11:32
Facilitated by Julia Imanoff, MN, RN, PNC.
Readings and resources discussed:
 Dr. Kristin Neff's 8 self-compassion exercises
The Issue at Hand: Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice Gil Fronsdal
Healing through Hope | Meditation By Rose Felix Cratsley


Presented by UCalgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy

This session aims to support the important biological function of sleep. We will use the meditative relaxation technique of yoga nidra to help support our ability to rest. This technique is for everyone, but it is especially effective for those experiencing burnout, trauma and anxiety.
Meditation begins at 3:25.
Facilitated by Justin Burkett BN, MN, RN.
References:
Are Canadian adults getting enough sleep?
The Origin and Clinical Relevance of Yoga Nidra
Presented by UCalgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy

In this session, we get mindful of life’s pushes and pulls by exploring how meditation helps us improve and become aware of intentional processes.
Meditation begins at 1:44. 
Facilitated by Justin Burkett BN, MN, RN.
References:
Meditation, Mindfulness, and Attention: a Meta-analysis by David Sumantry & Kathleen E. Stewart
Presented by UCalgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy