Our Lab
The Mindfulness Lab at JCU (ML@JCU) actively promotes mindfulness and mental health research and mindfulness interventions across cultures, with a specific focus on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention program. We aim to increase access to mindfulness tools to enhance wellbeing for individuals and the community.
To support Hong Kong people whose native language is Cantonese to cope with the stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ML@JCU works with Dr Helen Ma to compile a list of resources of mindfulness meditation in Cantonese that can be used for meditation.
香港大學賽馬會「樂天心澄」靜觀校園文化行動
「學習減壓學靜觀」資源套
The University of Hong Kong Jockey Club "Lotte Hearts" observes campus cultural activities: "Learning to Reduce Stress and Learn meditation" resource set
https://www.socsc.hku.hk/jcpanda/resources-packages-mindfulness-in-the-face-of-academic-stress/
香港大學賽馬會「樂天心澄」靜觀校園文化行動
「疫」境中的靜觀空間 資源套
The University of Hong Kong Jockey Club "Lotte Hearts" observes campus cultural activities: A static space resource set in the context of the "epidemic"
https://www.socsc.hku.hk/jcpanda/resources-packages-mindfulness-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-epidmic/
香港新生精神康復會
「居家靜觀練習」
Hong Kong Renewal Spiritual Rehabilitation Association: "Home Meditation Practice"
https://www.nlpra.org.hk/TC/theme/mindfulness_covid19/163
MP3 audio files
Dr Ma also generously shares her downloadable recordings to help get you started. You can save these on your phone or computer to use at any time.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6sww6tm59oodm35/AACaTrCT6m0TWoi1eF9cJ40ka?dl=0
Apps
Within a few weeks after the 2022 Chinese New Year, Hong Kong’s COVID cases increased exponentially, with over 50,000 confirmed daily cases. Hospitals were overwhelmed, death toll exploded. No one was prepared, not the hospitals, not even the crematoriums. Sentiments expressed in social media were despair, helplessness, anger, and rage as Omicron was springing out of control. In the early part of 2020, when China battled with COVID, mindfulness teachers and researchers from universities around China came together. They offered free webinars to help calm the concerned and affected, but none was in Cantonese, the language used in Hong Kong. Because of the current situation in Hong Kong, the idea of a Cantonese webinar - “Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a COVID World” - was conceived. Dr Helen Ma, who is regarded as the most renowned Chinese mindfulness teacher and researcher, has kindly agreed to be our guest speaker. Together with A/Prof Wendy Li, this event will take place on 9th April via Zoom, sharing with people the signs of stress and anxiety to watch out for and how mindfulness can help.
Topic: Mindfulness: Finding Peace in a COVID World
Time: 10-11am (Hong Kong local time), 9 April 2022
Duration: 60 mins
Place: Zoom
Approaches: Knowledge sharing & experiential meditation exercises
Language: Cantonese
https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/-mindfulness-finding-peace-in-a-covid-world-tickets-302513284377
Rundown:
- 00 – 05 (1) Introduction of the webinar, organizer, speakers
- 05 – 15 (2) Recognizing COVID induced stress and anxiety, what are the signs?
- 15 – 20 (3) Short mindfulness exercise to help us be sensitive to bodily and emotional signs of stress and anxiety (e.g., focused meditation)
- 20 – 35 (4) Mindfulness, its mechanism and philosophy of maintaining psychological well-being (highlighting the issues with living in the head, autopilot reactivity, rumination etc.)
- 35 – 45 (5) Short mindfulness exercise on regulating stress and emerging anxiety (e.g. mindful breathing / 3-step-breathing-space / mindful walking)
- 45 – 55 (6) Panel discussion with speakers and other Hong Kong MBCT mindfulness teachers inviting questions from the audience
On the 18th February 2022, Barry Tse, a member of ML@JCU, shared with the UK’s University of Liverpool (UoL) students and staff how mindfulness can help maintain well-being for university life. Since graduation, Barry, a graduate of the UoL’s MSc in Psychology program, has been an active alumnus of UoL. Organized by UoL as part of their Feel Good February month, various events, talks, and activities are arranged targeted at informing, maintaining, and enhancing students’ and staff’s physical and psychological well-being. Barry’s talk on “A Mindful Way to Stay Mentally Healthy at University” was the first online event of the month.
In this 45-minute workshop, Barry packed his speech with relevant context and the latest research evidence. He shared with the audience the latest research findings on university students’ psychological health in the UK, the common fallacies our modern lifestyle has programmed us to believe in, and how mindlessness is taking a toll on our happiness. He then explained the mechanism of the mind from the evolutionary, neurological, and psychological processes perspectives and linked them back to how mindfulness meditation works. Barry closed the talk by leading participants through a 3-Step-Breathing-Space meditation, a staple technique from the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy program, and suggested various mindfulness practices to allow participants to taste how it feels like being present and mindfulness.
A/Prof Wendy Li completed Brown University’s Online MBSR Foundation Course (including 10-week seminar and 8-week MBSR Program with Orientation) in November 2021. Big congratulations to A/Prof Li!
The MBSR Foundations Training Program is the first formal program of Level One MBSR Teacher Training. This training combines participating fully in an 8- week, MBSR program as well as engaging in the Foundations seminar. The entire training spans both an 8-week MBSR program and the Foundations program.
Through reflecting on and exploring one’s individual experience with meditation, the MBSR curriculum, and class dynamics, trainees delve into the very personal nature of mindfulness practice, and begin to cultivate teacher qualities that will form the foundation of understanding the essence of MBSR and the aliveness and wisdom inherent in the curriculum.
Details of the training program please see: https://www.brown.edu/public-health/mindfulness/classes?field_mindfulness_program_locati_tid%5B%5D=16&pass=¤t_pass=
A/Prof Wendy Li participated in the online 8-week MBSR class, the most scientifically tested and well-established mindfulness training program and created by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD at the UMASS Medical Center, from 14 May to 9 July 2021. The training was offered by Mindful Leader. Details of the class please see: https://www.mindfulleader.org/mbsr-training
A/Prof Wendy Li, from 11 June to 20 June 2021 participated in the 9-day online meditation retreat, organized by Melbourne Insight Meditation. This online retreat exploring mindfulness and its practice will be conducted through Zoom. Guided bodywork will help develop mindfulness immersed in body. Morning practice workshops and evening dharma talks will integrate practical and theoretical understanding of the practice. The online format will allow us to directly apply our practice to our ordinary, everyday lives. Details of the retreat please see: http://www.melbourneinsightmeditation.org/events--retreats.html