This course provides a powerful way of making a difference in your life.
It is an excellent introduction to mindfulness practices both for individuals and for workplace settings. Learning the skill can help you wake up to the present moment in order to change the way you handle stress. You will learn life-long skills to replace unhelpful habits such as worry, self-criticism or blame with mindful ones such as self-compassion, acceptance and tolerance.
About the course
People come to mindfulness for a variety of reasons. It might be that you feel overwhelmed and in need of some headspace, or perhaps you are lost in worries or experiencing health issues. You might be retired and searching for more meaning and connection or perhaps you simply want to investigate how mindfulness might help you live your life with greater ease or meaning.
This group-based mindfulness course is based on the best-selling book “Finding Peace in a Frantic World” by Prof Mark Williams and Dr Danny Penman. It’s a practical and accessible introduction for anyone who is new to mindfulness, those who have done bit and pieces, or anyone who wants to refresh their practice. It is a structured course with a psycho-educational content and practical exercises to build the mindfulness muscle.
The programme’s themes include:
Gathering the scattered mind
Grounding in the body
Practising new ways to cope with stress
Bringing kindness and care rather than judgement
Enhancing appreciation for the small things in life
What to expect on a course: In each session there will be an opportunity to try out various practices through guided mindfulness meditation. This will be followed by discussion about your experience of the practice and any insights. Each session builds on the skills learned in previous sessions so it is important that as far as possible, you attend all sessions to get the most out of the programme.
There will also be home practices to do between sessions to enhance and deepen your learning as well as chance each week to review home practice. The first session is two hours long to give more time for introductions and welcoming everyone into the group. After that, each session is an hour-and-a-half long including the introduction of the evening’s theme as well as guided meditations and discussion of experience.
Considerations:
You will need a copy of the book "Finding Peace in a Frantic World" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, upon which the course is based. Second-hand copies can usually be found on line.
You will get most out of the course if you attend all sessions.
There will be home practice of 20 to 30 minutes each day. So checking in with your motivation and making time to practise are worth considering.
The programme is for adults.
Some Mental health Considerations Please note that this course is not a treatment for mental health problems or addiction. If you have recently received or are currently receiving treatment from a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or counsellor for an on-going mental health problem, please seek advice from your mental health professional about the suitability of the course for you.
Also, if you have recently or are currently going through a difficult life event such as a bereavement, separation, or redundancy this may not be the best time for you to embark on the training. This very much depends on your current psychological health and support so please do contact me to discuss on 07813 359622 or email: info@themindpool.co.uk
Course dates:
April 28 - 6.30pm - 8.30pm
May 5 - 6.30pm - 8pm
May 12 - 6.30pm - 8pm
May 26 - 6.30pm - 8pm
June 2 - 6.30pm - 8pm
June 9 - 6.30pm - 8pm
June 16 - 6.30pm - 8pm
June 23 - 6.30pm - 8pm
Venue: The Hilltop Centre, Mossley Hill Church, Rose Lane, L18 8DB
""I've loved the programme. It's been very beneficial to me at a difficult time in my life."
A.
"Brilliant - great teacher. Provides insight to several aspects of mindfulness. I fully recommend the course. I found the practices very inspiring and liked the poems read out to clarify what the focus was."
Bethan
"I loved it and think that everyone should do it! These practices are life skills and so beneficial. Thank you Philippa."
Lauren
"I have found the course very helpful in increasing my mind body awareness and the ability to deal with stressful situations in a calm and more reasoned way. Pip is an empathetic but focused teacher and I would have no hesitation in recommending her courses."
Margarette
"This is one of the best things I have ever done. I feel more confident and happier when I practise being mindful and I have become more aware of my behaviour to myself and others.
Sheila
I have gained a number of useful tools to help live life in the here and now and to let go of thoughts and feelings that do not help."
Pat
"I feel I have really benefited from practising with the group and sharing thoughts. I have greater awareness and acceptance - and the realisation that I can change only my thoughts and perceptions."
Brenda
The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course is a slightly more intensive programme with sessions lasting two hours and longer home practices.
Like the Finding Peace course, it is an experiential training programme where you will discover how to focus on the present moment to change the way you handle stress. You will learn how to replace stress-promoting habits with mindful ones and explore how to live your life with more ease and awareness.
Frequently asked questions
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a basic
human capacity that we can tap into at any time. It involves actively
paying attention to what is happening in the present moment, without
judgement. It is rooted in kindness and compassion and can become a
life-long exploration and way of being in the world.
What mindfulness courses do you offer?
The two courses I offer are derived from the Mindfulness Based Stress
Reduction programme and also from the "Finding Peace in a Frantic
World" programme. My training is in keeping with the requirements of the UK Network of Mindfulness Based Teacher Trainers. The network requires
training with a clear rationale to last for a minimum of 12 months.
Who are the courses for?
People
come to Mindfulness with a variety of life experiences and will find
different aspects of the course resonate for them. Some might decide to
sign up for a course because they are feeling stressed at work or at
home, while others want to explore how to deepen their appreciation of
life or because they are going through a difficult time.
NB. If
you are in the middle of a serious depressive episode or are
experiencing other mental health issues or trauma it may be best to
consider a different approach. Mindfulness is not therapy and it may be
that counselling is more appropriate at such times. Please have a chat
with me first.
Is Mindfulness a religion?
No
it is not a religion although it has roots in Buddhist philosophy and
has an ethical basis, helping us to nurture wholesome mind states such
as kindness, compassion and patience. Some teachers describe the words
heartfulness and mindfulness as being interchangeable.
Do I need to attend all the sessions?
As
with anything new, mindfulness improves with practice and you will get
more out of the course if you attend all sessions. This is a choice
rather than a "have to" and it might help to reflect on why you are
investing the money in coming on the course. If for any reason you have
to miss a session you can soon catch up and the hand-outs will be
provided for you. If you are in a particularly busy period of your life
it might be best to wait.
I'm not sure if mindfulness is for me
Many
people start out with this thought and mindfulness helps us to be with
uncertainty. If you feel drawn to try it or are simply curious and
approach it with an open mind, then that is a good starting point. I am
happy to have a chat with you to discuss in more detail and I
occasionally run taster sessions.
What can I expect to happen during a session?
Each
week we will do a guided practice, such as mindfulness of breathing, a
body scan or other practice. There will be talks and also group work and
discussion. The aim is to make the course very hands-on and practical
so that you can relate it to your everyday life.
What about the home practice?
Home
practice is an integral part of the course - you could describe it as
1% theory and 99% experiential/practice. To get the most out of the
sessions you will be invited to commit to a daily practice of about 40
minutes or two shorter practices twice a day. This gives a better chance
for the practices to sink in and to become something you build into
your life, rather than an extra thing to stick on your "to do" list.
Like anything else, the more you practice, the more you get out of it.
Can you tell me about the group work?
You
will never be forced or expected to speak in class; the atmosphere is
one of safety, support and confidentiality. Discussion, pair work and
group work help make the practice of mindfulness real and relevant and
you will probably find you get more out of it by taking part. If you
want to discuss this further, just give me a ring.
What happens on the day-long retreat?
This
gives us the opportunity to spend more time on the practices and to see
what it is like to come out of "driven-doing" mode and into "being"
mode. The days are taken in silence (including lunch) and we gently come
out of silence towards the end of the day. These sessions are open to
those on a mindfulness course and anyone who has already completed an
eight week course.
