Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, in order to achieve a mentally and emotionally calm state.

As one form of meditation, mindfulness can be defined as maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them. We are fully present in the ‘now’ – without rehashing the past or imagining the future.

For evidence supporting the benefits of meditation and mindfulness, see our Research page which provides links to articles published in peer reviewed journals.