Participants of the Keio University School of Medicine's "Healthcare Venture Award" experienced mindfulness meditation as part of their team building!

At studio mindflow , we offer mental conditioning classes centered around mindfulness meditation in a space with a great view and a white base, where you can casually train your mind.

This time, members of the Keio University School of Medicine "Healthcare Venture Award" team visited us as part of their team building activities .

Background of the request

From the team leader:

The amount of speaking up as a team naturally increases
To create a sense of security among members and foster an open environment

The client requested that these two points be emphasized. Also, since a social dinner was planned after the session, we also incorporated an "eating meditation (raisin exercise)" to connect the mind and body.

Program Structure and Intention

This session lasts approximately 1.5 hours .

The program was designed to help participants understand the fundamentals of mindfulness, focus their attention on the here and now through practice, and become aware of their connection with themselves , and from that awareness naturally open themselves up to connections with others .

From "Doing" to "Being": Time to reconnect with yourself

At the beginning, we took the time to learn the basics, touching on the definition, effects, history, and types of mindfulness. After that, we experienced a formal meditation in which we sat quietly and focused on our breathing. Through the process of quietly switching gears from "Doing" to "Being," we placed importance on cultivating a connection with our own mind and a sense of awareness .

After this first meditation, we had a time for "inquiry," which is always important in my classes, and asked each participant to put into words their feelings and realizations.

Eating meditation and reconnecting with the senses

We conducted an "Eating Meditation Using Raisins." It was an experience where you used all five senses to thoroughly savor just one raisin for about 6-7 minutes.

Many people shared their unexpected discoveries, such as, "It looked like a stone," "It was a little transparent," "It smelled like incense," and "I was surprised at how strong the flavor was."

But what's really important is that the raisins allowed them to reconnect with their own senses. I think this was conveyed through comments like, "It was the first time I'd ever felt food in this way," and "My sense of taste is different depending on whether it's at the tip or the back of my tongue."

The experience of quieting one's thoughts

At the end of the session, we did some work to convey gratitude to the team and a compassion meditation to spread warm feelings. At the end of the session, we introduced the words of Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

“If we take good care of ourselves, we help everyone. If we suffer, we are not helping anyone at all.”

After the session, some people said, "It's not often that I get to take this much time for myself, so it was a good experience," and "I still can't really tell how my body feels, but my mind feels clear," and everyone seemed to nod in agreement.

For all of you who are required to make highly intellectual decisions and engage in high-level intellectual activities every day, the experience of "calming your thoughts" must have been a refreshing and valuable experience. Since we are living in a world where we often have to face life, I hope these words will remind you of the importance of self-care. I look forward to the day when we can join together again.

What this program aimed to achieve

Stress reduction and brain relaxation
Increased team focus and engagement
Cultivating an environment where people can speak up without worry (psychological safety)
Developing emotional intelligence, empathy and resilience

Although these are not things you can acquire in one go, I believe that "taking time to face your own mind and body" and "sharing that with your team" will be the catalyst for gradually changing your daily life.