Mindfulness is fast becoming the go-to practice for wellbeing. · 2019-05-07 · Mindfulness is fast becoming the go-to practice for wellbeing. Currently, it is scientifically proven

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MINDFULNESS Mindfulness is fast becoming the go-to practice for wellbeing. Currently, it is scientifically proven to help with depression, anxiety and lack of sleep - but there is so much more research being carried out, so watch this space! Mindfulness also teaches us how to feel more calm in challenging situations, and thus more able to re-spond, rather than re-act. Plus!, we become:- less distracted less stressed less judgemental & critical of ourselves

And:- more focused more confident more kinder to ourselves.

Below, you will everything you need to know about Mindfulness. And if then you still have a question or two, please don't hesitate to email [email protected].

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What is Mindfulness? Let’s start by providing some definitions from a couple of well-known sources:- “A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations….” - Oxford Dictionary. “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally” - Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder of MBSR (see explanation below).

So what does that actually mean? In order to explain this, allow me to digress slightly………... Recently, it has been discovered that on average our minds wander 46.9 percent of the time.

46.9%! Really…. it's true. Two students from Harvard created an app called 'Track your Happiness'. This app tracks people’s every day activities in order to gauge their level of happiness. People choose from general activities like walking, working, eating, shopping, watching television etc., and the research has proved that on average our minds wander 46.9% – almost half our daily lives!

cambridgenetwork.co.uk

So where do you suppose our focus is, then, in all that time? Mostly, we are either thinking of the past, or being concerned about the future – this is otherwise known as automatic pilot, or the monkey mind - you know the one, talks at you, says I must/should do this/that, judges everything, beats us up, keeps our minds really, really busy all the time.

Imagine this scenario. You are walking down the road.........here is the kind of mind-wandering that might go on.......

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“Look at that dog! So tiny. Oh, there’s another one in that car. That’s a really old car - wonder if it’s here for that car rally at the Royal. Mmmmm, that Hotel’s got that lovely swimming pool and Jacuzzi; Jo and I had a great day there. Must give her a call, about time us girls had a night out, when was the last time? March! Blimey, just before Sarah gave birth to Megan. I should call her, we haven’t spoken for a month! John must have his promotion by now. I’m such a bad friend. They were going away to celebrate. Wonder where. Maybe Venice. Sarah will love Venice. Oh yes, Sis was going to fix Daniel’s toy boat. Bet she’s forgotten. I’m always having to remind her – like that time she forgot Mum’s birthday. Oh! I forgot the flowers for tomorrow’s dinner party. Wonder if Stu will get them for me......I left it to the last minute as usual! Really hope Stu’s boss appreciates our efforts..........” So you see, we are less focused than we really could be, and therefore we have to ask ourselves then, how much are we actually enjoying our day at all? How much are we making the most of right now - this present moment? This brilliant video explains this all very clearly. This is Matt Killingsworth, one of the students that created Track Your Happiness - and who is now a Scholar of Psychology. What’s this got to do with Mindfulness I hear you ask? Well, Mindfulness is about becoming aware of what is happening in the here and now, and allowing things to be just as they are. By paying attention to that mind-wandering, and allowing it to be there (rather than judging whether it's right or wrong), this gives our minds a much needed rest - it's like pressing the ‘pause’ button, switching off from all that busyness.

We have all had moments like that, for example when over-awed by a stunning view, or when totally engrossed in painting, dancing, listening to music etc. That moment when the mind is completely focused, calm and clear.

As we build more and more moments like these into our daily lives, this helps us change our relationship with our thoughts, and gives us more control over what we focus on!

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“If you can learn to pay attention and not get dragged into unhelpful thoughts, you've broken the chains of slavery. Our thinking mind will beg, scream, urge, tantalize you

to drag you off to wherever it wants but if you can keep focus, the benefits are biological, psychological and neurological. Boom! I bet you never connected all that

with paying attention”. Ruby Wax - Huffington Post, 06/08/15.

Mindfulness-based Therapies Various therapies have been devised to help those with diagnosed mental/physical conditions. MBSR MBCT

The two most well known and most widely offered are Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Therapy (MBSR) and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).

Both MBSR and MBCT courses teach the basic principles of Mindfulness - paying attention to the present moment. MBSR, however, particularly teaches those dealing with physical illness and pain, and so concentrates primarily on the body. MBCT particularly teaches those dealing with anxiety and depression, and so concentrates primarily on thoughts and feelings. They do also use each other’s exercises. Generic Mindfulness courses teach the basic principles, and touch lightly on MBSR/MBCT exercises. Other less widely known Mindfulness-based therapies include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

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What's So Great About Mindfulness?

Over the past decade, lots of scientific research has been carried out about Mindfulness, and the results have been phenomenal! - that's why it has become such a hot topic recently.

On top of that, the latest findings in Neuroscience are proving how effective it is in aiding well-being. It is, therefore, now being recommended by many different institutions, for example:-

In 2004, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – the guiding body for the NHS – ruled Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy be recommended to patients with depression. This is still in place.

Publication

CG90: Depression in

adults

In 2008, the Government spelt out five ways to mental well-being – and recommended ‘a specific form of training such as Mindfulness’.

Foresight report 113-08-FO/B: Mental Capital and Wellbeing.

In 2010, the Mental Health Foundation’s Be Mindful report to the Government concluded that "Mindfulness could be helpful to a very wide mix of people.....much, if not all, illness is influenced by stress, mental attitude, and behaviour choices......." :-

81% of the general public agreed “the fast pace of life and the number of things we have to do and worry about these days is a major cause of stress, unhappiness and illness.........”.

86% agreed they “would be much happier and healthier if we knew how to slow down and live in the moment”.

66% of GPs agreed they “would support a public information campaign to promote the health benefits of Mindfulness”.

Nearly 75% of GPs thought it “helpful for themselves to receive training in Mindfulness skills”.

Be Mindful

Report

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In 2014, the Government set up a Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group all about Mindfulness, and published their final report in October 2015, which states '.....what is already clear is that (Mindfulness) is an important innovation in mental health which warrants serious attention from politicians, policymakers, public services in health, education and criminal justice, as well as employers, professional bodies, and researchers....................' The report recommends Government train 1,200 NHS staff in Mindfulness, that three Teaching schools be designated for teaching Mindfulness, and that extensive research be carried out on Mindfulness in the workplace.

Mindful Nation Report October

2015

In 2015, the latest 'World Happiness Report' was published (by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations), which highlights four components of well-being; Mindfulness is one of them.

World Happiness Report

In 2016, the Mindfulness All Party Parliamentary Group (otherwise known as the Mindfulness Initiative) produced a further report - Building the Case for Mindfulness in the Workplace - which highlights the business benefits of Mindfulness, and provides a proven strategy for implementation, as well as some successful case stories.

Building the

Case for Mindfulness in the Workplace

Also in 2016, two very interesting reports came out, backing up the current drive for improving Mental Health. Business in the Community's Mental Health at Work Report - which highlights the latest shocking statistics of Mental Ill Health. The Mental Health Foundation's Mental Health as a Workplace Asset Report - which outlines how tackling Mental Health at work can actually save businesses money.

Business in the

Community Mental Health as

a Workplace Asset

As word has got out, well-known companies such as Apple, eBay, Reebok, Intel, Google, Twitter, Starbucks, Xerox and Yahoo – have started training their staff in Mindfulness (from top executives down). Organisations like the Bank of England, the police, the prison system, Transport for London, the Military, and many schools, have also started to follow suit.

“I was initially skeptical about the Mindfulness course. However, I went with an open mind and it was life changing. I am much calmer and much more self-

aware, and use some of the techniques every day”. Sergeant Kay Howarth, Durham Police - Northern

Echo Newspaper, 26/07/15.

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Celebrities are also talking about Mindfulness To top it off, many celebrities have now come forward to highlight how Mindfulness has benefitted them - Gwyneth Paltrow, Arianna Huffington, Oprah, Will Young, Emma Watson, Davina McCall and Giselle Bundchen to name a few. “What I have realised in my work life, is that there is a ‘me’ that stands back from all the noise. He had always been there. He watched everything and it took some time

to tune into him and meet him. I like him.... he's cool”. Will Young – Huffington Post, 14/05/15.

“When my “obnoxious roommate” knocks on the door in my head, I’ve found it’s

better just to let him in. If you try to tune him out, he just bangs louder. If you let him in, he sits down, watches TV and shuts up. Know what I mean?”

Kobe Bryant - New York Times, 28/09/14. Got your professor's hat on? Well, you won't need it in the scientific research section, as I've made it all super! easy :-).

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The scientific research on Mindfulness

Outlined below is some of the most pertinent scientific research on Mindfulness to date.

LATEST! November 2017 The BBC's Trust Me I'm a Doctor series performed a research study on how best to reduce stress. The results? Mindfulness came top of the list. Here's the Telegraph's article with eye-opening percentages.

c/o Pixabay

Now, starting with the research that really sparked off current interest in the first place. 2007 - Mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Authors: Norman A.S. Farb, Zindel V. Segal, Helen Mayberg, Jim Bean, Deborah McKeon, Zainab Fatima, Adam K. Anderson This research study broke new ground in understanding Mindfulness from a neuroscience perspective (neuroscience studies the functioning of the nervous system and brain). Two groups of people, those who practiced Mindfulness, and those who didn’t, were studied using MRI imaging of the brain. This highlighted two distinct networks in the brain – ‘Default’ and ‘Direct’. The Default network is often called the ‘Narrative’ as it's the one that’s constantly planning, daydreaming or ruminating. This of course does have its uses. The Direct network doesn’t think that much at all; it's more about experiencing, coming into your senses in real time. What is happening right now – the present moment. When the Direct network is activated, all our senses "come alive" at that moment. When the Default/Narrative network is activated, you don't see as much, hear as much, feel as much, or sense anything as much.

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Imagine sitting by the sea on a sunny day, a breeze blowing through your hair, and you have a nice cold drink in your hand. The Direct mode is experiencing the warmth of the sun on your skin, the cool breeze in your hair, and the cold drink in your hand.

The Default/Narrative mode, however, is thinking about what to cook for dinner tonight, whether your partner will be home in time for the family to sit together etc etc., and missing this beautiful day entirely. Those with a good level of Mindfulness were more likely to notice they were in Default mode, and could bring themselves back to Direct mode to enjoy the experience.

Summarised from an article by David Rock, co-founder of the NeuroLeadership Institute and Summit.

2007 - The effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on sleep disturbance Authors: Winbush N.Y., Gross C.R., Kreitzer M.J. Conclusion: There is some evidence that suggests increased practice of Mindfulness techniques is associated with improved sleep and that participants experience a decrease in sleep-interfering cognitive processes (eg. worry). More research needs to be done.

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2008 – Mindfulness skills and interpersonal behaviour Authors: Dekeyser M., Raes F., Leijssen M., Leysen S., Dewulf, D. Conclusion: All elements of Mindfulness were positively associated with expressing oneself in various social situations. A greater tendency for mindful observation was associated with more engagement in empathy. Mindful description, acting with awareness, and non-judgmental acceptance were associated with better identification and description of feelings, more body satisfaction, less social anxiety, and less distress contagion.

2009 – Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction for stress management in healthy people Authors: Chiesa A., Serretti A. Conclusion: A direct comparison study between MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction) and standard relaxation training found that both treatments were equally able to reduce stress. Furthermore, MBSR was able to reduce ruminative thinking and trait anxiety, as well as to increase empathy and self-compassion. MBSR is able to reduce stress levels in healthy people.....necessity of further research.

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2010 - Mindfulness practice leads to increases in brain gray matter density Authors: Britta K. Hölzel, James Carmody, Mark Vangel, Christina Congleton, Sita M. Yerramsetti, Tim Gard, Sara W. Lazar. Conclusion: Participation in MBSR is associated with changes in gray matter concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes, emotion regulation, self-referential processing, and perspective taking.

2012 – Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and Zen meditation for depression, anxiety, pain and psychological distress Authors: Marchand W.R. Conclusion: The evidence suggests that both MBSR and MBCT (Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy) have efficacy as adjunctive interventions for anxiety symptoms. MBSR is beneficial for general psychological health, and stress management in those with medical and psychiatric illness, as well as in healthy individuals.

2013 – Mindfulness-based therapy: a comprehensive meta-analysis Authors: Khoury B., Lecomte T., Fortin G., Masse M., Therien P., Bouchard V., Chapleau M.A., Paquin K., Hofmann S.G. Conclusion: Mindfulness-based therapy is an effective treatment for a variety of psychological problems, and is especially effective for reducing anxiety, depression, and stress.

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Recent scientific research on Mindfulness 2015 - Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy compared with anti-depressant treatment in the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence Authors: Dr Willem Kuyken, Rachel Hayes, Barbara Barrett, Richard Byng, Tim Dalgleish, David Kessler, Glyn Lewis, Edward Watkins, Claire Brejcha, Jessica Cardy, Aaron Causley, Suzanne Cowderoy, Alison Evans, Felix Gradinger, Surinder Kaur, Paul Lanham, Nicola Morant, Jonathan Richards, Pooja Shah, Harry Sutton, Rachael Vicary, Alice Weaver, Jenny Wilks, Matthew Williams, Rod S Taylor, Sarah Byford. Conclusion: The time to relapse or recurrence of depression did not differ between MBCT and anti-depressants over 24 months, nor did the number of serious adverse events.

OK, that's enough scientific research on Mindfulness don't you think? If you would like to see the latest research, check out the Twitter feed 'at mindfully_u' - this is constantly tweeting new research. Now, come find out about the benefits!

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What are the benefits of Mindfulness?

So what are the benefits of Mindfulness? Let's start by backing up just a little. Have you noticed how 'well-being' seems to be one of the latest fads? This isn’t just some clever marketing ploy; it is because everybody is waking up to the fact that it really matters. In fact, one could say it matters more than anything else.

According to www.dictionary.cambridge.org, well-being is defined as “the state of feeling healthy and happy”; the World Happiness Report even highlights well-being as its main factor. The truth though, is that we are far from a well-being nation. In the Mental Health Foundation’s 2007 booklet ‘Fundamental Facts’, the figures are quite alarming - in any one year 1 in 4 British adults experience at least one mental disorder - anxiety and depression being the most common. And well, isn’t it any wonder, when so many of us are leading extremely busy, stressful, lives? When we aren’t commuting, we are working 8 hours a day, looking after the children/animals/parents, catching up with household chores, helping the children with their homework, going shopping etc. etc. Add the whole social media side of things, and we are never relaxing for more than 30 seconds before pulling out our phone, logging onto facebook, twitter etc. etc............our minds are constantly! on the go. And many of us are running on empty.

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In 2013, the Mental Health Foundation’s survey found that nearly half the public felt stressed every day or every few days, and 59% said their life was generally more stressful than it was five years ago.

Now whilst a little stress every now and again is fine (and we can help ourselves by eating well, exercising, getting regular sleep etc. etc.), prolonged stress can be detrimental to both mental and physical health.

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Mindfulness has been proven to be especially effective in reducing anxiety and stress (see scientific research link below). The techniques we learn can be put into practice during the day whenever we feel stressed. It helps us to calm down, and it is particularly useful for handling those moments when we feel totally overwhelmed. It also enables us to re-spond rather than re-act. But that’s not all it’s good for. Here’s what the Mental Health Foundation’s ‘Be Mindful’ report says of the benefits of Mindfulness:-

can snap out of bad moods quickly lower social anxiety less frequent negative thoughts can express oneself better improved problem-solving increased focus and attention increased self-awareness higher self-esteem more optimistic greater insight easier to let things go better physical well-being fewer visits to the doctor/hospital better immune system lower blood pressure.

better identify and describe feeling more satisfying relationships better at communicating less likely to react defensively not so stuck in repetitive thinking more connected with others greater life satisfaction better memory improved creativity more compassion for self and others better at learning new skills easier to handle challenges sleep better more in control improved motivation.

Sounds like a pretty great list of the benefits of Mindfulness! Mindful Living We can reap some of the benefits of Mindfulness quite easily by taking time-out to practice on a regular basis, however, if we wish to make the absolute most of the benefits, we need to incorporate Mindfulness more fully into our daily lives – what we call Mindful Living. Once we have grasped the principles, it becomes so portable, so easy to weave into our everyday life. Imagine mindfully walking, commuting, sitting, working, speaking on the telephone, talking to your partner/clients, listening to your screaming child etc etc. Mindful living really can be life changing!

“It’s very transportable. People can do it in their cars, and turn ordinary, dull moments like standing in a supermarket queue into a Mindfulness exercise, instead

of getting angry with the person in front of them because they’re not moving fast enough…………...”.

Professor Mark Williams, Director-Oxford Mindfulness Centre, Oxford University - ‘Be Mindful’ Report.

January 2010

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How Mindful are you? Would you like to find out how mindfully you currently live your life? Below is a link to a simple, well known, and scientifically tested Mindfulness questionnaire. It was devised by Kirk Warren Brown and Richard M. Ryan of the University of Rochester, USA, in 2003. All you need to do is answer 15 questions, add up your score, and then divide it by 15. There’s no sign up and it's totally anonymous. The total score ranges from 1 to 6. The higher the score, the more mindful you are.

Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"

Made famous by John Lennon; actually dates back to Readers Digest 1957

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Tell me about the Exmouth Mindfulness course

The Exmouth Mindfulness Course The Exmouth Mindfulness course is based on the recommended industry standard, secular, course - which purely teaches the effective techniques. It is designed for anyone looking to thrive in life - and is especially helpful for those with current low levels of depression or anxiety.

Mindfulness and MBCT (Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy) courses are run via www.mindfullyu.co.uk

Summary Outline of the Exmouth Mindfulness Course The course usually follows a set format of 6-8 group sessions, and each session comprises of:- One or two directly experienced guided practices in Mindfulness. Group reflection. Simple exercises. Home experiments to try.

Week 1 - Automatic Pilot Participants practice really coming into the present - as opposed to being caught up in automatic pilot. Week 2 - Dealing with Barriers When trying to start a regular practice at home, difficulties can arise. This week, we focus on letting go of those difficulties; allowing things to be just as they are. Week 3 - Mindfulness of the Breath A quick Mindfulness practice is introduced that can be used anytime, anywhere, to calm ourselves down at will. Participants now start to see how easily Mindfulness can become part of daily life. Week 4 - Staying Present Participants are more ready now to practice being in the moment for longer. We also learn how to effortlessly build Mindfulness around our busy schedule.

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Week 5 - Allowing/Letting Be This week, we learn how to be with, and accept, a personal difficulty; consciously choosing to approach it. Week 6 - Thoughts are not Facts Participants start to gently question just how accurate their thoughts really are. Week 7 - How can I best take care of Myself? The penultimate week is spent learning how to move from 'doing' to 'being' mode after a very busy day. Week 8 - Handling Future Moods. Further ways to bring Mindfulness into daily life are introduced, and the course ends with a kindfulness practice.

Mindfulness isn't difficult. What's difficult is to remember to be mindful.

John Teasdale (one of the Founders of MBCT) What to consider before attending this Mindfulness course? If you are going through an unsettling period in your life, it would be wise to consider whether this is the right time for you to take this course. If you are currently in therapy, or are alcohol or substance dependent, you are advised (not discouraged from attending) to discuss this with your doctor first.

If you are in serious physical pain, you are advised to consult your doctor with a view to being referred onto an MBSR (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction) course. These courses can be available on the NHS.

What can I realistically achieve from this course? You will learn various Mindfulness practices that can be used anywhere, anytime, within your daily life. These are designed to help you to switch off from your busyness, to better handle difficult situations, to calm yourself down at will, and to feel generally more in control.

With sufficient practice, however, this can change your life entirely - depending on your level of commitment.

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What happens after the Exmouth Mindfulness course? Participants are highly encouraged to regularly practice at home. It can be challenging, however, to keep up momentum, therefore ongoing post-course group practice sessions will be offered to help with this. Further one-to-one sessions will also be an option.

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Why should I choose this Mindfulness course?

I am a trained Mindfulness Teacher, trained by Shamash Alidina, well-known and respected international bestseller of ‘Mindfulness for Dummies’.

Shamash has trained directly with Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of MBSR (Mindfulness- based Stress Reduction), and also extensively with the Centre for Mindfulness at Bangor University. I have personally practiced Mindfulness for more than 18 years, am a member of a private Mindfulness Teacher co-coaching Group, and part of an on-going mentoring programme. I follow the UK Mindfulness Teachers’ Good Practice Guidelines, adhere to all UK legal requirements (including GDPR & Data Protection Act), and am fully insured. I score 'high' on the well-known Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and high on About.com's Emotional Intelligence test. MY COMMITMENT TO YOU At all times, participants are treated with the utmost respect, kindness and courtesy. All personal information shared, whether in group, or in person, is held in complete confidence - unless it is considered to breach any legal reporting requirements. Even then, I will discuss this with all concerned first.

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Frequently Asked Questions What's the difference between 'Mindfulness' and 'Meditation'? True Meditation involves sitting and observing the breath, and/or an object or mantra. Meditation brings the mind temporarily into the Now - a state of relaxed, calm, focus. The challenge, however, is that once outside of the meditation room, our distracted minds within our busy lives stop us from staying in that space. Mindfulness uses meditation as a tool to bring our mind into the NOW, and then introduces further techniques to help us stay in that space, even in the midst of everyday life. An added benefit to this, is that we start to recognise our automatic re-actions, and can therefore instead, choose how we re-spond to people/situations. The longer term effects of this are more numerous - these are documented here - 'benefits' and 'science'). As with anything, the more we practice, the better we become at it - hence the 8 week course is specifically designed to help us embed this practice into our daily life. I don’t have the time to learn Mindfulness It can feel that way at first, however, even top Chief Executives can find the time to learn Mindfulness, so really it is a question of re-assessing our priorities. By taking those few minutes to practice, your day becomes more effective and less stressful. Please do watch this video again. My mind never switches off It's the same for almost everyone at first. Practicing Mindfulness, however, helps us to find that pause button :-). I can't afford it, are there any free places? Certain Mindfulness courses are available on the NHS by referral from your GP. Please discuss this with them. Unfortunately, there are no free places on this course - however, it is hoped to be able to offer this in the future. Some participants do actually manage to gain sponsorship from their employers. How accessible is the room? The room is physically-challenged friendly. Should you wish to discuss any particular special needs, however, please don't hesitate to email as above.

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Do I need to be physically fit? This course suits all levels of physical ability and mobility. At no time are you expected to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you have any concerns regarding this, please email as above, so we can discuss any necessary work-arounds.

Who will be on the course? People from all walks of life - all just wishing to learn how to be more mindful in their daily lives. How many people will be in the group? There is usually around 6-8 people. I’m really shy. You are never requested to speak out in any way – this is at all times optional. What should I wear/bring? Just wear something comfortable – and bring a cushion/blanket if that suits you, and perhaps a bottle of water if you like for refreshment. Can I attend at the same time as friends/family? Taking the course along with someone close to you is not recommended as it may discourage one of you from speaking as you wish, and thus could hinder progress. This is, of course, a decision for you to make together. What do I need to do/read to prepare for the course? There is no preparation required - in fact it's better that you come with a completely open mind. Further reading will be recommended in the course. Do I need to bring a pen and paper? This is not like a normal training program. You are encouraged not to write anything at all actually (phew!........bet that feels better already) - as this takes you away from truly experiencing the full effects of the practice. You are invited, however, to write a private journal outside of sessions, if you like, as it can be really helpful to read back and reflect on progress. I have no time to practice in between sessions It is very important that you commit to practicing regularly outside of the course. But don’t worry - you will be guided on how to easily find that ‘extra’ time during your day.

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Can I re-join if I miss a session or two? Yes of course - sometimes this is completely unavoidable. You will, however, have missed some very important steps that will a. put you behind, and b. likely hinder progress. Catch-up one-to-one (chargeable) sessions can be made available if you wish - please request details. You will also be more than welcome to join the next course at a discounted rate. Does this have anything to do with religion? Absolutely not. The Mindfulness practice does derive from ancient religions, however all religious connotation has been removed, leaving just the effective technique. All faiths and none are encouraged to join the course. I want to learn so that I can teach Mindfulness to others This course is a great start in that direction, but please note this is purely an experiential course. There are plenty of courses available to learn how to Teach Mindfulness, however, their usual prequisite is that you have been practicing personally for at least a year.

I hope this little booklet has convinced you of just how much you have to gain by attending a

Mindfulness course!

If you would like to get in touch, please don't hesitate to email [email protected].

I would love to hear from you!

Dawn