Why Mindfulness?

The course aims to assist you in taking better care of yourself, restoring balance in your life, and in getting the most out of living.

Physical and psychological benefits include:

• an increased ability to relax

• greater energy and enthusiasm for life

• an increased ability to cope more effectively with both short and long-term stressful situations.

 

We all have times in our lives when we experience difficulty, stress and struggle and for some of us this is our daily experience. The problem itself may not change but the way we relate to and cope with the difficulty may shift, making it all feel easier. Developing greater awareness can open us to be able to change how we approach our experiences – taking more pleasure in the good things and dealing more effectively with the difficulties. We can see how often we are missing the moments of our lives.  We can see how our habitual and reflex reactions to events often add layers of difficulty for us on top of the original problem.

 

What happens during sessions? 

Sessions follow a consistent pattern. After greetings and getting settled, we begin with a guided meditation practice, followed by reflection on the experiences of the practice. Then we discuss the experiences of the home practices during the week. Each session has a theme that is woven into the discussions. We often do another short practice or a cognitive exercise and reflect on what can be learned from that. Near the end of each session, I explain the home practices for the following week. 

It is best to arrive a bit early for each session. This helps to ensure a prompt start. Tea and biscuits will be available before the session begins. Please do join each session even if you get delayed and are late arriving.  I will be available at the end of each session, if you would like to speak to me individually. 

 

Home Practice

An important part of the course is daily home practice.  You will receive handouts with reading related to the theme for that week, and will be provided with links to guided practices each week. 

You may need to reorganise aspects of your life to fit this in. If you're finding this difficult, experiment with practising at different times of the day, and remember to keep an open mind as best you can. You may notice that your experience changes from day to day or week to week. I will be available to discuss any difficulties you are having with home practice.

 

Is this the right time and the right course for me?

When you register for the course, you will be asked a series of questions in the application form that will help me determine whether the course is likely to be safe and beneficial for you at this time. In some circumstances, I may suggest that you consider either waiting a while to take the course, or that you explore other options, including more specialist mindfulness-based programmes designed for people experiencing specific difficulties, or support from a GP or mental health professional.  This includes for example, if you have experienced a recent bereavement of someone especially close to you, or if you are experiencing major depression.  Please feel free to get in touch to arrange a call in strictest confidence, if you wish to discuss whether this is the right time for you.