Mindfulness means having moment to moment awareness of, and attention to, the present. With the many demands placed on us by work, family, romantic partners, and friends, it can be difficult to fully inhabit our lives. With mindfulness practice, one can learn to observe thoughts and feelings, as they arise, without immediately judging them or acting on them. The practice of mindfulness enables one to live more fully in the moment, making it possible to lead a more creative, productive, and healthy life.
I specialize in Mindfulness-based psychotherapy. The approach is excellent for short-term problem solving as well as for long-term in-depth work. Mindfulness, in its manifold modalities, is about remembering who we truly are. I have seen how mindfulness practices such as meditation and yoga can reconnect people to their own intuitive wisdom, empowering them to live happier and healthier lives.
I have been teaching the practices of mindfulness for several years, to adults as well as young people, in settings ranging from schools, hospitals, and professional workplaces to spiritual centers and men’s groups. My mindfulness training is rooted in the teachings of Buddhism and Yogic philosophy, among other contemplative traditions. I am a Core Teacher for the East Bay Meditation Center.
Thich Nhat Hahn calligraphyYoga
“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
Yoga can be considered one of the oldest forms of somatic therapy. Somatic-oriented practices, as an accompaniment to psychotherapy, have been shown to offer tremendous benefits to clients dealing with trauma and other mental health challenges. I know, from my own life experience, that body-centered mindfulness practices have revolutionary potential for cultivating profound personal, interpersonal, and social healing.
Melvin L. Escobar, LCSW 