“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION

This is the inspiring and industry standard 8-week ‘gold standard’ Mindfulness course, as developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It is a skill that can be learnt by anyone, developing awareness and the ability to respond with the choice to challenging situations. Mindfulness allows you to take control of your life rather than being driven by habits you may not even notice.

Methods such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) teach practical skills to help us meet such challenges. By building emotional and mental resilience through simple yet powerful practices, it is possible to improve levels of happiness, concentration and creativity, bolster the immune system and reduce levels of stress and irritability.

Practising Mindfulness gives people new and effective ways to manage stress, and handle thoughts, moods and emotions more productively. It has been shown to help reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain, enhancing mental, emotional and physical health. The NHS is increasingly recognising the benefits of Mindfulness to combat stress and it is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a treatment option for people with recurrent depression.

The approaches of MBSR and MBCT have been developed by Kabat-Zinn and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre. They are an integration of ancient Buddhist meditation practices and philosophy of mindfulness with current psychological and neuroscientific understanding. The teaching is entirely secular with no religious context and no prior knowledge of Buddhist practices or meditation is needed.

The course is taught by Dr Gail Loudon who has thirty years experience of working in the NHS, including as a GP and elderly care doctor in the hospital. Student numbers are limited to a maximum of six participants per course, so advance booking is essential. The next 8 week programme starts on Friday September 27, 2019 from 11.30am-1.30pm.

“When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering, like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.”~ Krishna

MINDFULNESS – BEYOND THE BASICS

A five week programme for those already practising Mindfulness, maybe having completed an 8 week Foundation Course. It will help support your home practice, you will learn advanced techniques and how to overcome the challenges you may encounter trying to bring mindfulness into your daily life. You will revisit the core themes of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, explore the latest cognitive neuroscience research and expand your knowledge and use of mindfulness meditation.

Next Beyond the Basics Course starts Saturday November 2, 2019 from 10.45am – 1.00pm. BOOK HERE

WHAT OUR MINDFULNESS STUDENTS SAY

“Huge thanks, Gail for providing such a sanctuary in the middle of my chaos. I will be forever grateful for what this course has given and taught me.”

“The course covered more than I thought it would. It has helped in breaking from patterns of behaviour, not taking things too seriously and enjoying things more.”

“A really excellent course which I enjoyed enormously. It has contributed to my awareness, helped me understand and know myself better, together with being more compassionate to myself.  Comprehensive material, handouts excellent.”

“I rarely react to unpleasant situations now. I sort problems out faster and have a much happier relationship with myself. I have broken down some internal barriers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“I really enjoyed the 1:1 session and felt you concentrated on my personal journey and gave me good insight into myself and how I can use mindfulness to improve my life. Loved the medical background as well as the pure mindfulness. It gave it all context.”