Mindfulness: What Is It, What Are the Benefits, Where to Begin

COVID-19 Special Series Stress, fear, and anxiety are common responses to the uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with the regular practice of mindfulness, the meditative process of bringing your attention to your body in the present moment, has been seen to help calm the worry. Our guest joins us to discuss using mindfulness methods to maintain and mange an overall wellbeing. Guest: Vincent Minichiello, MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Episode Topics:

• How do you define mindfulness? 2:55
• How does mindfulness affect our body? 5:15
• Is it common to feel muscle relaxation while practicing mindfulness? 8:24
• What are mindfulness-based interventions? 9:54  
• Can mindfulness be health focused? 13:36
• Where do you see mindfulness fitting into healthcare, especially during the pandemic? 14:01
• How can mindfulness be useful during the COVID-19 pandemic? 16:11
• Can mindfulness be beneficial for individuals with cognitive impairments and caregivers? 18:21
• Where should you begin with a mindfulness practice? 20:20
• How helpful are online or phone apps for mindfulness practices? 22:50
• What are you doing to maintain your wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic? 25:18

Show Notes: For listeners local to Madison, the UW Health Mindfulness Program offers in-person classes. They have also expanded to online classes due to the pandemic. Another great resource is The Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Apps our guest recommends are Mindfulness Coach, Calm, Buddhify and Headspace. A good starter book is Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn. All of the important issues happening right now cannot be fully covered, so we strongly encourage you to go to trusted sources for specific information, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, your state and local health department websites, and the Alzheimer's Association. You can also find resources on our website, and that of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute. For other interesting and important stories on the COVID-19 pandemic, I would recommend my colleague at UW Health Jonathan Kohler, MD, MA, of the Surgery Sett podcast who has a special series called The Frontlines of COVID.