Mindfulness Matters
The Daystar Awareness Project 527 W. 9th St., Front Wood Door Erie, PA 16502 US
The Daystar Awareness Project
“Thank you for taking the time to visit our space. Our mission is to challenge incarcerated individuals to seek a new life—one free from the patterns shaped by generations of harmful conditioning. Through mindfulness, compassion, and community connection, we work together to build less violent communities.
Support The Daystar Awareness Project's Mission
The Daystar Awareness Project - Empowering Communities
Our organization is dedicated to empowering communities by providing resources, education, and support to those in need. We believe that everyone deserves access to a better life, and we work tirelessly to make that a reality. Through our programs and partnerships, we strive to create a more equitable and just society for all. Join us in our mission to make a difference!
Evidence Based
🧠 Evidence-Based Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness isn’t just spiritual—it’s scientifically supported. Daystar’s practice of breath-based awareness mirrors decades of peer-reviewed research that shows real, measurable change:
🔹 Mental Health & Emotional Regulation
- A meta-analysis in JAMA Internal Medicine reviewed 47 clinical trials and found mindfulness significantly reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain—sometimes matching prescription-level results.American Psychological Association+3TIME+3Verywell Health+3
- Another meta-analysis reported effect sizes of 0.97 for anxiety and 0.95 for mood improvement, comparable to therapy. PMC
🔹 In Carceral Settings
- A Northeast Netherlands study showed inmates who completed a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program had reduced stress and better psychological outcomes.PMC+10PMC+10PMC+10
- In one prison study with 1,350 participants, MBSR led to decreased hostility and hopelessness, and improved sleep, self-esteem, and emotional stability. PMC
🔹 Neurobiological Impact
- A Hepatitis C study showed short guided meditation altered activity in brain regions tied to memory and emotion processing—the amygdala and hippocampus. arXiv+1New York Post+1
- Functional MRI meta-analyses identified consistent activation changes in brain areas linked to attention, empathy, and emotional control (e.g. prefrontal cortex, insula, anterior cingulate).Health+1JAMA Network+1
🔹 Behavior & Addiction Recovery
- MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) and MBSR are proven to help reduce rumination, relapse in depression, and decrease addictive behaviors. ResearchGate+8Wikipedia+8Health+8
- A 2019 review found mindfulness reduced substance cravings by over 60%, even among people who didn’t intend to quit. Health+2Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
🔹 Overall Well‑Being
- Regular mindfulness practice has been linked to enhanced sleep quality, reduced blood pressure, strengthened immune response, and fewer chronic pain symptoms.
- A UK meta-review of over 11,600 individuals found moderate reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly when compared to no treatment—but mindfulness had similar effects as other wellness strategies like exercise.
✅ In Summary
- Mindfulness has been shown to reduce mental health symptoms and support emotional regulation.
- Carceral settings using structured programs like MBSR or MBCT see lower violence, disciplinary incidents, and relapse rates.
- Neuroimaging studies and clinical trials demonstrate physiological changes and improved brain function alongside emotional growth.
Mindfulness isn't a cure-all—but it’s a low-risk, high-value tool proven to promote clarity, healing, and behavioral transformation, especially when grounded in community and consistency—just like Daystar’s mission.
Beads are used for focus and release of thought.