Table 2. Qualitative themes outlining mechanisms by which MB-BP may influence blood pressure.

Breath & body awareness were the most applied mindfulness practices.	Representative Quotes
Breath awareness	“I think just the awareness of breathing and being able to kind of lower my heart rate and relax. If I sit there and focus on it, it's been helpful.” (female, IDI)
Body awareness	"For me the body scan. Particularly at night when you’re trying to go to sleep you realize your shoulders are up, your back is tight, your jaw is tight. That’s very helpful to me and realizing through the day when my jaw is clenched and just can start the breathing and do the body scan." (female, FGD)
The increase in self-awareness allowed participants to emotionally regulate.
Shift to self-kindness	“You’re aware of that stress level, and you’re able to say, ‘Yeah that’s stress, and let’s step away and back from that stress to take care of yourself, and relax.” (female, FGD)
Attentional redeployment to decrease reactivity	“Taking the necessary steps to regulate it [anxiety]. Whether it be breathing or just noticing it in my body and just most of the time its stopping and breathing I can just feel the tension dissolve. I think for me that has to be helping my blood pressure.” (male, FGD)
Emotion regulation strategies impact specific hypertension risk factors.
Improved stress management	"You’re aware of that stress level and your able to say 'yea that’s stress' and let’s step away and back away from that stress to take care of yourself and relax." (female, FGD)
Improved dietary behaviors	“Being conscious of what I eat and making responsible choices and all. I’m still working on that one and sometimes I could through periods there were several days of being mindful of that.” (male, IDI)

IDI: In-depth Interview, FGD: Focus Group Discussion.