Embodied Mindfulness

In this paper, we review different definitions and operationalization of mindfulness according to both Buddhist tradition and western conceptualizations, namely mindfulness as defined in modern mindfulness-meditation programs and Langerian mindfulness. Additionally, we compare and contrast these different approaches and propose a common link between them through the theory of embodiment. Using evidence from neurobiology, we explicate the concept of embodied mindfulness and argue for its utility in the empirical study of mindfulness and its mechanisms of change. To conclude, we briefly discuss the implications of embodied mindfulness on research and clinical interventions.