I have developed some PowerPoint slides on mindfulness that can be accessed for free. I also include links and references to online and offline mindfulness and compassion resources below the slides.
Click on the ‘expand arrows’ at the bottom right of each slide to view them full-screen. Click ‘Escape’ to return to this website after viewing the slide full-screen.
You can download each resource by clicking on the link beneath the slide, this will take you to the Slideshare website, where you can click a button to download the PowerPoint slide.
Online and offline resources on Mindfulness and Compassion
Here is a list of online and offline resources on mindfulness and compassion, based on my own reading and searching. I have divided the resources by theme (mindfulness, compassion, etc.) and will add more resources over time. Have a browse at your leisure…
If you are short of time, my key recommendation would be to look at Krisin Neff’s website on self-compassion (www.selfcompassion.org) and her TED talk on why being kind to yourself is healthier than a focus on self-esteem.
I suggest this because being kind to yourself can be so fundamentally transformative.
If you are interested in mindfulness for sport, the first book I’d recommend is George Mumford’s ‘The Mindful Athlete’ – it’s a great introduction to the application of mindfulness and flow in sport from an experienced mindfulness practitioner, athlete and coach.
All the best,
Dr. Kris Chapman
Online resources
Externally published articles on mindfulness and compassion in sport by Kris
Chapman, Kris and Becca Lounds (June 2024) ‘Applying intrinsic motivations and extrinsic goals in climbing, part 1’, The Professional Mountaineer magazine, published by Mountain Training, summer 2024 edition, pp.30-32.
Chapman, Kris and Becca Lounds (October 2024) ‘Applying intrinsic motivations and extrinsic goals in climbing, part 2: working towards autonomous motivation, The Professional Mountaineer magazine, published by Mountain Training, autumn 2024 edition, pp.34-36
Chapman, K. (June 2022) ‘Fear in the dojo: how you can use mindfulness techniques to remain composed during training, grading, and competition’ in Shotokan Karate Magazine, issue 152, pp.28-31.
Chapman, K. (March 2021) ‘Curb your perfectionism’, Archery UK Magazine, Spring 2021 edition, pp.57-59 available at: http://flk.bz/tSi3. Go to the article and type in ‘perfectionism’ into the search box to find the article. Accessed on 16.5.2021.
Chapman, Kris & Becca Lounds (24.1.2024) ‘Heartmind, Technique, Body: applying an integrated martial arts pedagogy to climbing’, Strong Mind Climbing: available at: https://www.strongmindclimbing.com/news-resources/heartmind-technique-body-applying-an-integrated-martial-arts-pedagogy-to-climbing , accessed on 26.1.2024.
Chapman, K. (March 2021) ‘Mindfulness in the dojo’, Shotokan Karate Magazine, issue 147, pp.30-31. An abridged version of this article is available in the ‘articles’ section of this website.
Chapman, K. (27.10.2020) ‘Mindfulness in karate training’, MartialArtsOnline Magazine, previously available at: https://www.martialarts-online.co.uk/single-post/mindfulness-in-karate-training, no longer available at www.martialarts-online.co.uk, but a copy is retained at: https://mindfulkindfulness.co.uk/mindfulness-in-karate-training/, accessed on 07.02.2024.
Chapman, Kris & Becca Lounds (2021) ‘Helpful and Unhelpful Fear in Climbing’, Climber Magazine, July-August 2021 edition: pp.50-55.
Chapman, Kris & Becca Lounds (13.2.2023) ‘Mindfulness and Compassion Techniques for regaining composure in climbing’, Strong Mind Climbing: available at: https://www.strongmindclimbing.com/news-resources/mindfulness-and-compassion-techniques-for-regaining-composure-in-climbing, accessed on 14.2.2023.
Mindfulness
HuffPost published a really good summary of the benefits of mindfulness meditation on their website: Schocker, Laura (2017) ‘LOOK: What Meditation Can Do For Your Mind, Body And Spirit’ in HuffPost, available at: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/meditation-mind-body-spirit_n_5291361?winst=1628091286880&of=0, accessed on 4.8.2021
Mindful.org offers a useful article introducing the concept of mindfulness at: https://www.mindful.org/what-is-mindfulness/, including access to a 5-minute breathing practice, accessed 14.8.2019.
Andy Puddicombe, the founder of Headspace, does a great 10-minute TED talk introduction to what mindfulness is and how it can help us in everyday life: https://youtu.be/qzR62JJCMBQ, accessed 14.8.2019.
Simmons, Christian (5.7.2022) ‘Meditation for Seniors’, available at: Meditation for Seniors: Benefits & Techniques to Get Started, accessed on 27.1.2023. A brief guide to the benefits of meditation for retired people, with some information about introductory techniques.
Compassion
Binder, Per-Einar, Vivian Irena Woodfin, and Aslak Hjeltnes (2023) ‘Perfection is a sad and lonely place: A study of existential vulnerability in the life stories of persons struggling with perfectionism’, in Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2023; 18(1): 2219513; published online 2023 Jun 4. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2219513.
Neff, Kristin (30.9.2015) ‘The five myths of self-compassion’ available at: greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_five_myths_of_self_compassion, accessed on 14.8.2019.
Kristin Neff’s TED talk on why self-compassion is healthier than a focus on self-esteem (around 20 minutes): https://youtu.be/IvtZBUSplr4, accessed 14.8.2019.
www.selfcompassion.org – Kristin Neff’s website has lots of resources, including research references, guided meditations, and a test your own self-compassion page, accessed 14.8.2019.
Neff, Kristin (2021) Fierce Self-Compassion: how women harness kindness to speak up, claim their power and thrive, Penguin Life.
Mindfulness for sport
Baltzell, Amy (14.3.2019) ‘Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Performance’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZvFn0428Pc, accessed 16.8.2019.
BBC Scotland (20.7.2018) ‘What is flow and how can it help you achieve more?’ Available online at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/what-is-flow-and-how-can-it-help-you-achieve-more/p06dc8w8, accessed on 9.7.2021.
Ertheo (n.d) ‘Mindfulness Meditation for Athletes | Get in the Zone’, available at: https://www.ertheo.com/blog/en/mindfulness-meditation-for-athletes/, accessed on 18.9.2019. A useful, accessible blog-post on ‘flow’ and mindfulness, with links to relevant video clips on flow and mindfulness.
Meggs, Jennifer (24.3.2023) ‘Why athletes should develop mindfulness to up their game’, The Conversation: available online at: https://theconversation.com/why-elite-athletes-should-develop-mindfulness-to-up-their-game-199453?winst=1682495268686&of=0, accessed on 26.4.2023.
Strong Mind (Hazel Findlay) (3.10.2022) ‘The relationship between flow, mindfulness and performance | Sue Jackson | Strong Mind Podcast’, available at: https://youtu.be/TqSr7atUf7A, accessed on 24.10.2022.
The Mindfulness Project ‘Applying mindfulness in sport’ blog post, available online at: https://www.londonmindful.com/blog/applying-mindfulness-sport/, accessed on 14.8.2019.
Yamada, S. (2001) ‘The myth of Zen in the Art of Archery’ translated by By Earl Hartmann in Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 28 (1-2): pp.1-30, available online at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ded0/ef7d81129439a7d831bb0f421e52070425ab.pdf, accessed on 14.8.2019.
Yeager, Ashley (26.1.2022) ‘How mindfulness-based training can give elite athletes a mental edge’ in Science News, available online at: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/athlete-mental-health-mindfulness-psychology-elite-olympics, accessed on 2.2.2022.
Meditations and other mindfulness resources
Fingerprint for Success blog (accessed 14.2.2023) 9 mindfulness exercises to help you manage COVID stress, available at: https://www.fingerprintforsuccess.com/blog/mindfulness-exercises – this blog-post includes 9 simple but varied mindfulness exercises which are accessible and easy to do.
The Free Mindfulness Project offers free downloadable meditations at: http://www.freemindfulness.org/download (accessed on 14.8.2019). These include a range of different types of meditation for download (e.g. breathing meditations, body scans, sitting meditations).
www.selfcompassion.org – Kristin Neff’s website has lots of resources, including research references, guided meditations, and a test your own self-compassion page, accessed 14.8.2019.
Research on mindfulness and compassion
All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness (2015) Mindful Nation UK, available online at: https://www.themindfulnessinitiative.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=1af56392-4cf1-4550-bdd1-72e809fa627a, accessed on 14.8.2019. Includes key policy recommendations for implementing mindfulness in UK policy on health, education, criminal justice and work.
Stephenson-Farmer Review of Mental Health and Employers (October 2017) Thriving at work: the Stephenson-Farmer review of mental health and employers, available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658145/thriving-at-work-stevenson-farmer-review.pdf, accessed 14.8.2019.
Farias, M. & C. Wikholm (2016) Has the science of mindfulness lost its mind? BJPsych Bulletin, 40: 329-332. Available online at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5353526/, accessed on 14.8.2019.
Goyal, M. et al. (2014) Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being – a systematic review and meta analysis, Journal of the American Medical Association, 174 (3): 357-368. Available online at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1809754?e2token=SEN1cmNpb0BhYXJwLm9yZw==?cmp=MIV-SSMEMPG-LINK-20150316, accessed on 14.8.2019
Mindfulness Initiative, The (n.d.) ‘Research Overview’, available online at: https://www.themindfulnessinitiative.org/research-overview, accessed on 14.8.2019.
Mindfulness books
Batchelor, S. (1998) Buddhism without Beliefs: a contemporary guide, Bloomsbury.
Burch, V. (2008) Living Well with Pain & Illness: using mindfulness to free yourself from suffering, Piaktus.
Chapman-Clarke (ed.) (2016) Mindfulness in the Workplace: an evidence-based approach to improving wellbeing and maximising performance, Kogan Page.
Hanh, Thich Nhat (2017) Work: how to find joy and meaning in each hour of the day, Aleph.
Harvey, P. (2013) An Introduction to Buddhism: teachings, history and practice, Cambridge University Press (second edition).
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013) Full Catastrophe Living: how to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation, revised edition, Piatkus.
Peters, S. (2012) The Chimp Paradox: the mind management programme for confidence, success and happiness, Vermilion.
Compassion books
David, Susan (2016) Emotional Agility, Penguin Random House.
Neff, K. (2011) Self-Compassion: stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind, Yellow Kite.
Gilbert, P. and Choden (2013) Mindful Compassion: using the power of mindfulness and compassion to transform our lives, Robinson.
Wang, B.C. & K. Colbert eds. (2017) Compassion@work, Silver Tree Publishing.
Worline, M.C & J.E. Dutton (2017) Awakening Compassion at Work: the quiet power that elevates people and organisations, Berrett–Koehler Publishers.
Meditation Books
Catherine, Shaila (2008) Focused and Fearless: A Meditator’s Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity, Wisdom Publications.
Mindfulness for Sport books
Baltzell, A. and J. Summers (2017) The Power of Mindfulness: Mindfulness Meditation Training in Sport (MMTS), Springer.
Hegarty, James and Christoph Huelsmann (2020) ACT in Sport: improve performance through mindfulness, acceptance, and commitment, Dark River.
Jackson, S. and M. Csikszentmihalyi (1999) Flow in Sports: the keys to optimal experiences and performances, Human Kinetics.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013) Full Catastrophe Living: how to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation, revised edition, Piatkus. Pp.98-123 ‘6 Cultivating Strength, Balance and Flexibility: yoga is meditation’; and pp.398-400 on ‘athletes and pain’.
Kaufman, K., Glass, C.R. and T.R. Pineau (2018) Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement: mental training for athletes and coaches, American Psychological Association.
Mumford, G. (2015) The Mindful Athlete, Parallax Press.
Related topics
Mahdiani, H., Ungar, M. The Dark Side of Resilience. ADV RES SCI 2, 147–155 (2021). Available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42844-021-00031-z, accessed on 26.4.2023
Hand-drawn illustration on this website courtesy of Sophie Keegan Ilustration.