Mmm (Monthly Metta Meetup)

Metta is the meditation practice that the world desparately needs. It is most commonly known as loving kindness meditation (in the buddhist tradition). Through the practice of metta we develop the capacity to have compassion for ourselves and others.

Every month Core Health & Wellness hosts a free metta mediation on Sunday afternoon from 11-12, followed by a pot luck lunch. Come meditate and meet other likeminded souls. Claim your space by "buying" a free ticket.

Metta meditation tends to increase the frequency of positive emotions, life satisfaction and compassionate pro-social behaviour. Research on this specific type of mindfulness meditation is still fairly sparse, but based on what we know so far this method should be helpful for people with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, addictions, and any conditions associated with self-criticism, shame or unworthiness (Schuman-Olivier et al. ,2020; Zhang et al., 2021; Shapero et al., 2018; Cresswell et al., 2019).

To be honest we could all do with a bit more self love.

TW: The practice involves the visualisation of giving and receiving loving attention. This can be quite triggering for people who don't currently or haven't experienced many positive relationships. If you are concerned reading this paragraph please get in touch with Dave from Core Health & Wellness to discuss options before coming to class.

Metta strongly supports the process of therapy with a psychological health professional. One of the essential elements of the therapy process is learning to tolerate and accept our difficult feelings through self-compassion, a skill that we develop through metta.

We also recommend it as the starting point for any insight meditation practice (e.g. mindfulness).

If you can't attend Mmm, Dave from Core Health and Wellness would like to offer you a short-form metta recording. This short-form metta meditation can be easily incorporated into your day or your meditation routine. The recording is just over 17 mins. Once you have the general idea it will take you less time than this.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d9c48DgEc2h-9iPT9wemfIakoXyZ-yQ-/view?usp=sharing

Lindsay, E. K., & Creswell, J. D. (2019). Mindfulness, acceptance, and emotion regulation: perspectives from Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT). Current opinion in psychology, 28, 120–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.12.004

Schuman-Olivier, Z., Trombka, M., Lovas, D. A., Brewer, J. A., Vago, D. R., Gawande, R., Dunne, J. P., Lazar, S. W., Loucks, E. B., & Fulwiler, C. (2020). Mindfulness and Behavior Change. Harvard review of psychiatry, 28(6), 371–394.

Shapero, B. G., Greenberg, J., Pedrelli, P., de Jong, M., & Desbordes, G. (2018). Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 16(1), 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20170039

Zhang, D., Lee, E.K.P., Mak, E.C.W., Ho, C.Y., Wong, S.Y.S. (2021). Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review, British Medical Bulletin 138(1): 41–57. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldab005