Stress is a much used and abused word these days. A certain amount of ‘stress’ is needed for all of us, to provide motivation and creativity. However, the level and nature of stress that so many people are under today is quite unnatural, and leads directly to a number of common symptoms and problems, as well as us being much less effective in our lives generally.

Learning to stress-manage is not so much a luxury as a necessity now, and there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved, some of which are done to you, and others, which you are taught how to do to yourself.

Stefan Chmelik uses Mindfulness and MBSR to teach stress management. This comes from his own meditation practice of 25 years, through extended silent Vipassana retreats and several years spent working with a Buddhist Masters, including Ajahn Sumedho, Abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery. He has completed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR) training.

"I need to thank you very much for your suggestion of Mindfulness practice. After that initial tricky start I seem to be doing OK! Stress levels have gone down enormously, which may also be attributable to the change in nature of my symptoms. And I am experiencing a shift in clarity, focus and responsibility that is entirely due to the regularity of practice. Fantastic - I'm so pleased, so thank you very much indeed in leading me by the nose into this! A friend had suggested Mindfulness a while ago - but I wasn't listening".

Jane Morrell, Ashburton, Devon

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