INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS 

This is a 4-week course suitable for anyone.

·      curious about ‘mindfulness’ and have picked up some ideas about it through social media, websites, friends… (not always reliable).

·       feeling stressed… anxious…having some difficulty with mental and/or physical health…

·      be worried about changes happening in life and how you will cope….

·      feeling out of control…. overwhelmed ….

·      feeling isolated…. I

·      n a ‘recovery’ situation perhaps feeling a bit of support might be useful to help you along the way….

·      ………………there are many reasons people come to mindfulness meditation programmes.

The best way to learn about mindfulness is by being open to learn through experience. This short course will be led by an experienced and qualified teacher, who can help you to develop some qualities which can be helpful for your situation.  While being part of a group – especially a new one – can be difficult initially, the group will add support while you are learning.

The course is a combination of taught material and mindful exercises. These practices might be sitting practice, lying down meditation, visualisation, gentle movement, and walking. The practices are developed to bring a sense of calm and relaxation in the body and mind. 

You might also begin to explore how thoughts, thinking and our ‘stories’ not only ‘trigger’ stress and anxiety in your body and mind, but actually ‘feed’ these feelings and sensations.

The course will help you 

●               develop resilience - coping better with life’s ups and downs

●               reduce anxiety

●               develop a sense of connection with others and feel less alone

●               recover more easily from difficulties and stresses

●               begin to see how you can bring more kindness to yourself

Online guided audio practices and course handouts are provided.

MINDFULNESS BASED LIVING COURSE

(mblc - 8 week programme)

An 8 week course developed by The Mindfulness Association and based on the work of leading meditation teacher Rob Nairn.  

Participants in this programme might come for similar reasons as to the 4 week programme initially. They will want to understand more about these practices and how they can be developed more deeply.

They might also feel they could use what they learn to begin to help others (family, friends, at work..) It is essential to do the longer programme before going on to any teacher training.

Sessions are 2 hours long and consist of a blend of the theory and science behind mindfulness and compassion, with a strong emphasis on the experiential. Mindfulness and Self-compassion

have been the subjects of extensive and thorough scientific

research for more than 30 years.  The benefits of learning and

establishing a daily practice have long been verified.

The practices involve sitting and lying down meditations,

some with visualisation… gentle movement…. learning about the breath….. paying attention to sensory experience ….learning about and changing, our relationship with thought/thinking.

It is suitable for both beginners and those with experience. Some home practice is advised to get the most benefit from the course. Online guided audio practices and course manual provided. In addition to the benefits from the 4 week programme, participating in the full practitioner programme (MBLC) can result in:

·      Improved physical and mental health eg reduced blood pressure and heart rate

·      Reduced stress and anxiety

·      Improved sleep patterns

·      Beginning of developing self-compassion and kindness towards self

·      Awareness of self-criticism and how our thoughts/thinking perpetuate our stresses and anxieties in daily life

·      Coping with change more positively

·      Developing an understanding of how to strengthen positive qualities and weaken negative pattern

·      Improved general wellbeing

CULTIVATING COMPASSION

CULTIVATING COMPASSION is a second level course developed to support the inner cultivation of self compassion and compassion for others. This work has been researched and supported by pioneering psychotherapists such as Kristin Neff, Chris Germer, Paul Gilbert and many others over several decades.  The cultivation of compassion is an essential quality for our mental health and wellbeing and an integral quality to the training and practice of mindfulness.

Through the cultivation of compassion you can learn

●     how to stop being so hard on yourself - recognise and work with your 'inner critic'

●     how to handle difficult emotions more skilfully and easily, with kindness

●     how to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism

●     how to transform difficult relationships, both old and new

●     mindfulness and self-compassion practices for home and everyday life

●     how to be responsible more compassionately, for our habits and behaviours

The course can be taught in a variety of formats from 6-8 weeks face to face or online session .

Kindness and compassion practice is always integrated to some extent with every programme, but spending time on a programme targeted to develop kindness and compassion can be very beneficial.  Often participants tell us that it is in developing those qualities that they have found greatest and deepest benefit.

HEALING RELAXATION

Relaxing the Mind is a course that can be run as an introduction for 4- 6 weeks or can be ongoing as a way of deepening and supporting the practice and sense of community between participants.  The course was developed by Dr Akong Rinpoche, the founder of Samye Ling Buddhist Monastery in the Borders.  Tara Rokpa Therapy is only one aspect of the tireless work, which he carried out to alleviate suffering. His work was based on the belief that the mind can never be permanently damaged or destroyed and has its own capacity for balance and healing. To develop over time  - a calm state of mind,  which can become ‘who we are’. This requires regular practice in using visualisation/imagination, breath work and body awareness.These practices are designed to be accessible to anyone and to be specifically relevant to those in the West. The Tara Rokpa way is one of gentleness and compassion and comes from a genuine motivation that all beings be happy and free from suffering.  It consists of a blend of breathing and relaxing exercises, some gentle self massage, movement and visualisation.

RETREATS

ASK ABOUT OUR RETREATS – a way to spend some concentrated time to explore your practice more deeply and make a deeper impact on the mind, health and wellbeing

MORE

The 4 week, 8 week, Self-Compassion and Learning to Relax are some core examples of the services we offer.  However, The Mindful Partnership aims to meet the needs of those who feel they might benefit from the support we can provide.  The format of that support can – and should – be designed and developed to meet those needs. The experience of our teachers/facilitators makes it possible to respond…….we can design and  deliver suitable content for each group, organisation and in our one to one work… individuals .