- Invok -
Research shows that about half of our time we are acting without paying attention. To change this situation, we need to develop Mindfulness. Mindfulness is essentially learning how to control our attention, when we develop the ability to pay full attention moment to moment, without judgment, in an open and curious way. Being in the present, without getting lost in thoughts, in the past or future.
Mindfulness has now been widely studied in thousands of scientific research studies which consistently show the benefits of this practice: improved concentration and focus, reduction of stress, and greater overall health and well-being. Why does practicing mindfulness so effective? Explaining in a very simplified way, these techniques stimulate the pre frontal cortex (the front part of our brain) which allows us to reduce our thinking and negative self-talk that tends to activate our amygdala, that controls our emotions and our “fight or flight” response.
Invok offers custom-designed mindfulness programs adapted to a company’s specific needs. We work with a broad spectrum of organizations in the areas of business, health, food, education, sports, ngos and specific professional groups.
We offer our programs in different formats, such as short workshops to raise awareness and basic understanding, to more intensive and comprehensive programs of 5, 6, 8, 10 or 12 weeks. We offer in-person, distance (by internet) and mixed programs. Many people believe that they cannot improve their focus and work in a calm and relaxed way. They believe that stress and anxiety is necessary for being productive and achieving high performance.
Our programs break that myth. let us show you how.
Also visit our module / workshop "Mindfulness is riding a bike" and our expanded concept of Mindfulness, which we call Presensification.
Invok understands that Mindfulness is a meta-competency, because it supports the development of several other skills which are key to our work with high performance, in the company and in our professional and personal life. This is one of the reasons why Mindfulness is one of the three pillars for every work offered by Invok.
Mindfulness extends our perception of reality, of what is important and what really shall be done. So we decided and perform better, with positive impacts on service, sales, productivity, creativity, leadership, teamwork, communication, relationships, resilience, prioritization, changing, among other important points in the company (and life).
Mindfulness is something that can be developed in people in the company from the teaching and practice of various techniques. It is no coincidence that Harvard, Stanford, Google, Goldman Sachs, Facebook and thousands of other institutions and companies are already working with Mindfulness. Invok works with Mindfulness in business in a customized, practical and effective way. See some of the general formats that we have, both in-person and distance. Please contact us and ask for a detailed proposal for your company, with phases and objectives.
Mindfulness is a state and at the same time, a key tool for the success of the operation of businesses and health professionals. Its applications are immense, both in helping to treat various diseases (such as high blood pressure, heart problems, psoriasis, mental illness, pain, etc.) and for stress management, as to the professionals and patients relationship to a more humanized care and better business management (leadership, teamwork, focus, performance etc.).
Hundreds of health centers around the world now offer Mindfulness programs for its professionals and patients, since its foundation is rooted in evidence-based science (neuroscience). A good example is Aetna, one of the largest Health insurance companies in the US, which offers Mindfulness programs to employees, professionals and patients.
Mindfulness really got its start in the U.S. by mindfulness pioneer, Jon Kabat-Zinn, who was a professor at the University of Massachusetts. he founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) which has certified hundreds of practitioners over the last 20 years.
Invok develops customized programs for health organizations, focusing on the reality of its professionals and clients / patients.
The application of mindfulness techniques has been shown to have a dramatic improvement in student’s test scores, emotional intelligence and resilience. And it helps teachers too!
Thousands of schools in many different countries (predominantly in the US and England) have been dedicated to the implementation of Mindfulness programs, with excellent results measured in students, such as:
Neuroplasticity, stimulated by the practices of Mindfulness, is responsible for the impact on learning and the creation of new mental habits, which focuses on the development and cultivation of positive qualities in students.
In addition to the benefits already mentioned, Mindfulness becomes important when we remember that it is in childhood and adolescence that most marks, traumas and beliefs occur or are formed, and it is a tool to help deal or reduce the negative impacts in adulthood.
The practices and techniques used with students are often different in length and format, applied in adults, respecting the reality and needs of this audience.
There are also times and situations where the understanding and use of Mindfulness techniques make all the difference in performance and welfare of the student, because stress is intensified, as in preparation for college entrance, the day before the examination, verification of situations competence (as in foreign language tests), among others.
Invok offers custom designed programs, workshops and trainings for teachers, students and faculty.
Elite athletes and coaches have long known the importance of the mental game when it comes to achieving peak performance. By the 1996 olympics, most of medal winners admitted to working with a sports psychologist.
The fear of failure, performance anxiety, lack of focus, and negative thoughts cause athletes to perform below their potential. Mindfulness practice is proven to help athletes remain calm and focused under pressure in competition enabling them to perform at their best.
In fact, the more professional the player, the greater the importance of an approach that unites body and mind. A well-known example is the super bowl champion Seattle Seahawks football team.
Their coach, Pete Carroll, is a big proponent of mindfulness. Several years ago he brought meditation and yoga practitioners in to work with the coaches and players. Carroll believes it was an important factor which led to their super bowl victory.
Invok helps to bring focus, calm and high performance for athletes and teams.
In addition to all the health benefits, and stress management for its internal public, Mindfulness allows a preparation for the team (internal and volunteers) in a way that they can give their best, and be engaged and focused on the purpose of the organization. This directly reflects the performance, in relationships, in humanization, in the strength of the people (teamwork) and in the results.
This "spice" that Mindfulness adds allows many problems and limitations the organization may experience to be viewed realistically, without pessimism. This helps people find creative solutions to these challenges and maintain the positive spirit of the organization, while including different people (diversity) and making processes (internal and external) easier and more agile.
As we only give what we have, being fully focused and engaged will also affect the results in of the organization, which can be positively effected by mindfulness techniques.
Invok develops customized programs for organizations and associations, focusing on their realities and needs.
Our relationship with food is central to our life, health and happiness as well as the environment that surrounds us. So it's critical to have a greater awareness of eating in a positive and pleasant way, using knowledge about nutrition, ethics and mindfulness to focus our attention, expanding our perception and being present and aware in food.
In Mindful Eating, or conscious eating, Mindfulness is used to help identify, understand and overcome the emotional motivations, inattention and the vices of eating, which often generate disorders, compulsions, obesity and diseases. Then, we can understand and choose to eat from the body’s needs, what it is good for the individual and for everyone (society and environment). In other words, Mindful Eating means:
Invok has experiential workshops and coaching targeted to Mindful Eating, in an independent format or serving as a support and complement to the approach of other professionals (such as nutritionists, doctors, psychologists, physical education teachers, trainers etc.). Contact us and let us work together!
Invok develops customized programs for organizations and associations, focusing on their realities and needs.
This workshop (30 minutes to 2 hours) brings an innovative language and engaging format, showing the similarities between Mindfulness and cycling. This comparison, which uses an existing reference (the cycling), shows that the elements, the needs, possibilities and tools are similar, which helps participants understand and experience mindfulness concepts and techniques in an easier way.
In this workshop are also used edutainment techniques (education + entertainment), with interaction and experimentation possibilities with participants, making the content even more striking. Ideal for events with the aim of raising awareness and early involvement with the subject.
One of the biggest obstacles to expressing our full potential and performing at our best in any area (personal, professional or business) is what we call “fragmentation”, that is, the existence of different parts within us that are disconnected and unintegrated, and often act contrary to each other. One side wants A and the other side wants B. One part loves something or someone, and another part is indifferent or reject. Often these forces act almost unconsciously, but they generate much suffering and avoid to be whole in action, and consequently, the full realization of what we want.
The place where these opposing forces are aligned and transformed, from where it is possible to act with integrity and wholeness, where things happen as they should be, can be called presence or Presensification (term coined by Invok). Simply put, this term comes from the concept of the presence of your whole being, here and now, aware of everything that is related to that moment, all that is really important and choose positively from this consciousness. It is to be 100% connected with your purpose and open to the new.
The Presensification unites knowledge / practices of Mindfulness, Self-Awareness, Ethics and Purpose. In other words:
When we are in full state of Presensification, we are masters of ourselves, just making positive choices. This state is 100% inclusive. The words are limited to explain it, though its assessment is very objective, verified by a deep and continuous feeling of fulfillment and unity.
The application of this work of Invok helps to bring awareness about the importance of Presensification, in a practical and engaging way, and is intended for people, professionals and companies. It is a deeper work, which presupposes the existence of a particular stage or degree of maturity of the persons. It is necessary to have the will and courage to venture out in search of the presence of Presensification.