Superfad: 'Mindfulness' in the NZ Defence Force

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Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD The New Zealand Defence Force uses mindfulness meditation to bolster soldiers' mental resilience throughout their career, and before overseas deployment. blogs

In the latest episode of Stuff's Superfad podcast, hosts Laura Walters and Katie Kenny examine mindfulness When your dog's in pain A succession of vets clucked over and meditation. They talked to the New Zealand Defence Force about how the military is training more his pitiful state. Now he's left with 'mindful' soldiers. You can listen to the podcast on iTunes or Android. scars. Soldiers quickly learn how to physically stand "at attention", but only recently have experts considered the benefits of mindfulness in order to keep their minds "at attention". Furry Friday: it's bath time Some pets love a bath or a shower. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) incorporates mindfulness practices as part of what it refers to as "a Others... not so much. broader holistic programme" based on the Te Whare Papa Whā model of wellbeing.

Mindfulness is a form of meditation, first practised in Buddhism and now associated with mental wellbeing. Broadly Furry Friday: dogs at rest speaking, it's used to focus the mind on the present. When dogs flop or stretch, they do it * Listen to the Superfad podcast on iTunes or Android with 100 per cent commitment.

Te Whare Tapa Whā model, used by the NZDF, is a Ministry of Health-endorsed Māori wellbeing practice, based on the four cornerstones of health: physical, spiritual, family and mental.

NZDF personnel executive, and senior Air Force psychologist, Wing Commander Maurice Jennings would not daily fix elaborate on the extent of the New Zealand military's mindfulness training, or the effects of using mindfulness. Horoscopes But Jennings did say the training was routinely provided to all military personnel as part of their initial induction What do the stars have in store for training. you today?

It was also provided to personnel at various points during their career, including in preparation for overseas deployments into conflict zones. Sudoku Rev up your mind with our numbers "It is but one tool of many taught to improve how our soldiers, sailors and airmen cope with the challenges and game stresses of military life and operations," Jennings said.

"On behalf of the New Zealand Government, the NZDF is required to place its people in challenging environments Crossword and we expect our people to adapt and continue to perform. Research on mindfulness shows it helps people reduce Test your knowledge with our daily stress and manage emotion, and improves focus and attention." crossword

This secular application of mindfulness in a conflict zone, and to keep military personnel focussed, seems at odds with its pacifist, Buddhist roots.

PACIFIST ROOTS

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD 4 Modern Ways to The UK’s First Meatless V ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF Rethink Your Place Se... ‘Bleeding’ Burger F Ajahn Kusalo at the Bodhinyanarama Buddhist monastery in Stokes Valley says having more mentally prepared soldiers can only be a good thing.

Ajhan Kusalo - a monk at the Bodhinyanarama Monastery in Lower Hutt - said some people might have concerns about this use of mindfulness, but he did not. top stories in

"One of the aspects of the mindfulness movement is that the military uses it: how to more mindfully kill your enemy, your community without suffering guilt and recriminations. Brand new Samsung TV for sale. "Surely it's going to be a better thing to have happier, healthier soldiers. That they can be more focussed and Hello I have got a brand new concentrated when they pull the trigger," he said. Samsung HD TV for sale. This is an unopened one and… "The implications as with so many 'technologies' - like nuclear you can build a bomb or cure cancer - that just seems to be the way of the world." Do you agree with new fuel taxes … MINDFULNESS FOR KIDS Should motorists pay up? The Government is proposing a fuel tax increase across … Te Whare Tapa Whā is also a key element of the locally developed and researched mindfulness programme, Pause, Breathe, Smile, used in schools around the country. Fridge Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD Grant Rix, co-founder of Mindfulness Education Group, which delivers the programme, said mindfulness techniques Is anyone selling a fridge? Must be in good also boosted children's wellbeing and helped reduce teacher stress in the classroom. condition. Also if someone has stuf…

"Using mindful breathing, the children can allow an emotion to pass before it gets too big and overwhelming," Peacock seen today by King Reserv… Rix said. Hi there, I went for a walk today at King reserve and was surprised to se a p… HOW TO LISTEN Previous 1 of 5 Next

THE RESEARCH Your neighbourhood is safer when A 2010 article from the US Department of Defense touted the benefits of mindfulness for soldiers deployed to Iraq. you know what's going on Army Major Victor Won, deputy assistant chief of staff for intelligence in 1st Armored Division's general staff section, said mental fitness was similar to physical fitness, and a daily routine of mindfulness would help strengthen soldiers' coping mechanisms, making it easier to recognise and react to negative emotions.

"It would be more effective for soldiers to learn and train mindfulness prior to deployment, since the practice will offer soldiers [a means] to cope with their mental stress before getting into a high-stress environment. However, practicing the meditation on a regular basis will help anyone, no matter where they are."

US researchers have also examined the effects of mindfulness meditation as a means to deal with post-traumatic Local News stress disorder in military personnel. One study found 49 per cent of veterans reported a dramatic reduction in PTSD symptoms after weekly mindfulness-based therapy, compared with 28 per cent of their peers who received other treatments. from your

And in 2015, the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command funded research at the University of Miami, which found mindfulness training ahead of deployment could bolster a soldier's resilience of cognitive capacities, community which were at risk of degradation in high-stress environments - like conflict zones.

Lead author Amishi Jha said mindfulness training might be one way to keep a soldier's mind "at attention", with "off- task thinking" occupying up to half of all waking hours.

Growing evidence suggested "off-task mind wandering" could result in performance lapses, which could be "a significant source of risk in the combat zone", and training to promote a mind "at attention" had become a priority when it came to resiliency training in the defence force, Jha said. Get up to date Superfad is a seven-part podcast series, brought to you by Skoda. A new episode is released every Friday on iTunes and Stitcher. Join the Superfad group on Facebook and look out for behind-the-scenes extras in a weekly Facebook Live discussion every Monday.

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