Imbokodo Hosts Mindfulness Workshop

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The Imbokodo Women in Leadership Programme at UKZN hosted a virtual mindfulness workshop as part of the organisation’s celebrations this year.

Imbokodo was created to inspire women leaders to achieve greatness and provide a platform for them to engage on issues as well as for women at UKZN to network.

Recalling the first Imbokodo webinar which took place last year and saw women share their experiences around COVID-19, Professor Colleen Downs of the School of Life Sciences assured participants they would learn a lot from this year’s event.

Guest speaker and specialist psychiatrist Dr Theshenthree Govender noted how there had never been a better time to be mindful with South Africa currently facing the third wave of the pandemic as well as unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Govender described mindfulness as an awareness of something; a quality relating to oneself and the environment, and a way of life through practise. Discussing differences between mindfulness and meditation she said: ‘Meditation is a directed process, while mindfulness is being present within yourself and trying to gently refocus your thoughts recurrently but without forcing it and accepting it when your mind wanders.’

Govender noted how the amygdala - a collection of cells near the base of the brain - was responsible for responses to things in a person’s environment, especially those triggering an emotional response. Referring to research conducted by Harvard scholar Gaelle Desbordes, she spoke about an MRI scan that shows evidence of reduced activation of the amygdala - for those trained in mindfulness - which results in reduced thoughts and feedback on the frontal lobe and a decluttering of the brain.

Referring to Rakesh and Saundra Jain’s research on the combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness as ‘a marriage made in heaven’, she shared a practical example of how the two can make an individual more present and aware (through mindfulness) and change a person’s thought patterns, affect their emotions and in turn change their behaviour (through CBT).

Govender highlighted how the diverse roles of a working mother, COVID-19, and the recent unrest and looting could all contribute to poor health and a wellness deficit disorder. Examining wellness interventions, she encouraged participants to exercise for 30 minutes each day, practise mindfulness, sleep, nurture social connectedness (even if it’s virtual) and ensure they ate healthily.

Focusing on mindful activities individuals could participate in, Govender urged participants to start with a daily routine; use their smartphones to search for relevant apps such as Mindfulness, Headspace and Simply Being; practise mindfulness stretching, breathing and meditation; practise mindfulness and gratitude, and act mindfully in everyday things such as driving, sitting and eating.

In closing Govender said: ‘Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives and perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment. We can also gain immediate access to our own powerful inner resources for insight, transformation and healing.’

A clinical sociologist from the College of Humanities Professor Mariam Seedat-Khan facilitated a Q & A session and a senior lecturer in the School of Arts Dr Gugu Mazibuko thanked Govender, the Corporate Relations Division and the Imbokodo task team led by Ms Busisiwe Ramabodu for organising the event.

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Image: Supplied