Facilitation Technique Category: Mindfulness

Activity Title: Meditation Exercises: Mantra Meditation

Source: Baer, R. A. (Ed.). (2015). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Clinician's
guide to evidence base and applications. Academic Press.
Equipment: Yoga Mat
Activity Description: Mindfulness helps clients to attain a life of meaning, achieve
personal growth, and evoke positive emotions. The concept of mindfulness revolves
around achieving open awareness, which is attained through the acceptance of self, in
addition to the acceptance of both internal and external forces. Now the activity that falls
under this definition, and is a form of mindfulness is Mantra Meditation. Mantra
meditation is a formal type of meditation, where the main objective is for the client to
focus in on word or phrase, and then maintains that attention, rather than focusing on
breathe or bodily sensations. The process of Manta Meditation includes: 1) selecting a
word or syllable (can be anything that the individual prefers, or the conventional mantra
Om can be chosen as well), 2) Find your posture and center yourself, 3) Take several
deep breaths, and as out are doing this make sure to chant your mantra silently to yourself
(continually), 4) When/if your thoughts stray, or notice any sensations within your body,
make sure to note these changes in your body, but then make sure to return back to this
repetition of the mantra that you have selected, 5) it is important to note, that this process
should not be forced, you must allow the mantra to find its own rhythm , as it is being
repeated in your head, 6) it Is also important to note that meditation is meant to be
practiced with awareness (at time it can be possible that your inner voice can become
mechanical, and you find yourself lost in thought or rapidly approaching sleep), when
this happens, it is of utmost importance to remain cognizant and aware of each repetition
of each syllable. This process can be continued for however many minutes, and the
amount of participants also has no limits (except it is in indoors, the capacity of the
clients must be compliant with that of the room).
Leadership Considerations:. A CTRS will function as an instructor for this activity, and
he/she will assist if any help is needed. If there are any limitations that a client may have
or that has already been diagnosed as having, it is essential that the CTRS gather this
information as early as possible. This is done so the leader can have time to
prepare/adjust the activities, according to the specific clients needs. In the case of both
Gambling and Obesity Disorder, these disorders are heavily impacted by the brain so its
very important that the instructor constantly remind them that their mind is a powerful
tool, that can also help them combat this disorder that they are currently in. This
information, as well as positive reinforcement is a good way to inspire the clients into
making them thoroughly believe that this therapy/activity will work; which in and of
itself, is another objective the leader should strive for.
Adaptations: Participants with Gambling Disorder: Gambling Disorder or
Compulsive Gambling is defined as having an uncontrollable urge to keep gambling,

despite the toll it takes on your life. And the definition of gambling is the willingness to
risk something you value, with the hopes of getting something of even greater value.
Gambling can easily become very addicting to a different variety of people because of its
ability to stimulate the brains reward system, similarly to how alcohol or certain drugs
can do the same. Some signs and symptoms of compulsive pathologic gambling includes:
gaining a thrill from taking big gambling risks, preoccupation with gambling, taking time
from work or family to gamble, and concealing/lying about gambling. Oftentimes, for
compulsive gamblers, betting inst even that much about the money, its more bout the
thrill and excitement for them. The mantra meditation will assist people who have this
disorder because , meditation helps people to stay balanced and practices strengthening of
the mind. Both being qualities that can heavily make a positive change in the life of
someone with this disorder. Possible adaptations for this disorder includes not having any
competition/gambling related activities around or in sight (such as dice or playing cards),
keeping the activity stress, depression, and thrill-free of an environment. The point of this
being, because the whole point for gamblers is for them to try an stay calm and balanced,
and to not experience any extreme highs or lows (de Lisle, Dowling, & Allen, 2011).
Participants with Obesity Disease: Unfortunately in the U.S. obesity is the 6th leading
cause of disability, and as of 2011, 1/3 of our entire population is also obese. Obesity
involves occurs when a persons body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater. The main
symptom is excessive body fat, and as a result, can increase the risk of serious health
problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and certain cancers. The causes
behind participants with obesity include genetic, medical, environmental, psychosocial,
and behavioral problems. However, some kinds of causes for obesity like environmental
and psychosocial can be prevented by simply mentally telling oneself, that he/she does
not need to eat that much. And this can helped to be achieved by successfully the
mastering mantra activity. And certain adaptations for individuals who may be severely
obese include having an elevator or a large rated wheelchair/rail lift for if they were to
need to go upstairs, obtaining large-rated ergomatic chairs for sitting, and having a
wheelchair or scooter in able for them to move around the facility (Godsey, 2013).
Adaptations References
- Baer, R. A. (Ed.). (2015). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Clinician's guide to
evidence base and applications. Academic Press.
- de Lisle, S. M., Dowling, N. A., & Allen, J. S. (2011). Mindfulness-based cognitive
therapy for problem gambling. Clinical Case Studies, 1534650111401016.
- Godsey, J. (2013). The role of mindfulness based interventions in the treatment of
obesity and eating disorders: an integrative review.Complementary therapies in
medicine, 21(4), 430-439.