Mindfulness For Life

The Mindfulness For Life course (MBCTL) is an accessible blend of Mindfulness-based practices with cognitive-behavioural techniques designed to support you through the ups and downs of life with a practical set of skills.

Learn how to see things differently and face life’s inevitable challenges with compassion, equanimity and resilience even when things are painful or difficult.

Develop the skills to work with the recurring patterns of thought and behaviour that can amplify suffering whilst savouring all that is joyful about life.

Mindfulness For Life is an evidence-based deep dive into ancient wisdom and modern neuro and psychological science designed to give you a lasting and sustainable means to flourish.

NB: This course is not being offered as a treatment for any specific physical or psychological conditions. Please do not sign up for this training if you are currently experiencing severe problems in these areas.

“We suffer more in imagination than in reality” Seneca

What will you do on this course?

• The course comprises eight weekly sessions, each with a duration of approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. It's worth noting that the initial session extends slightly, lasting 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Following the sixth session, there is a supplementary event known as the 'Day of Practice.' This day-long session typically spans about 5 hours. During this event, we revisit previously introduced mindfulness practices and introduce some new ones.
• This course is highly structured, with each session building upon the knowledge and practices from the preceding ones. Therefore, attendance at all sessions is crucial for a comprehensive understanding.
• Participants will be placed in groups of up to 16 individuals, led by one of our experienced mindfulness instructors.
• Each session will incorporate guided and structured meditation practices, and many sessions will include exercises rooted in contemporary psychology.
• Following each practice or exercise, there will be a review segment where participants can share their experiences and insights. It's important to note that these discussions won't delve into participants' personal histories.
• At the end of each session, you will receive recommendations for personal mindfulness practices, lasting up to 45 minutes. This includes guided practices and techniques to integrate mindfulness into your daily life.
• With the exception of the first session, each subsequent session will include a review of the previous week's personal practice.
• As a participant, you will also gain access to a web resource containing guided practices and written materials to provide support and reinforcement for each session. This resource serves as a valuable companion throughout the course.

What will you learn?

Mindfulness for life is not group therapy, it is a skills-based course designed to cultivate key understandings:

• When we notice that the mind has been caught, perhaps slipped into autopilot mode, mindfulness begins. Operating on autopilot means missing much of life’s potential. Mindfulness allows us to skillfully step out of autopilot and start to notice what we might otherwise have missed in present-moment experience.
• Greater awareness allows us to notice how often we get caught up in our thoughts and emotions. Bringing awareness into our bodies and our breath allows us to observe our thoughts, feelings, sensations and urges with skill and clarity; to gather our scattered minds and return, with appreciation, to the present moment.
• It is very human for our attention to get hooked into the past or the future and it’s easy to get lost in unhelpful patterns of thinking, feeling and even acting. Mindfulness allows us to recognise and reduce our automatic reactivity with compassion and kindness.
• We learn to nurture attitudes of curiosity and friendliness to our experience, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, and we develop the skills to keep our balance and remain grounded even when the skies are stormy; responding skillfully when life is challenging, prioritising what is truly important in our lives, leaning towards joy, contentment and gratitude. Learning to flourish.

What are MBCT-L sessions like?

Each week we will settle into the session with a guided meditation practice followed by reflections on what we have experienced followed by a discussion about our home practice experiences during the previous week. We will then enjoy a blend of meditation practices with cognitive exercises and reflect on what might be learned from those, building our learning week by week with different key themes for each session. Towards the end, we will explore the home practices for the coming week.

The course includes a longer Day of Practice, usually held on Saturday or Sunday towards the end of the course. This is an opportunity to deepen practice and, whilst an invaluable learning experience, does not form part of the core teaching.

What does home practice look like?

You will be provided with recordings of the main practices and we will discuss how best to build them into our busy lives. Adding new priorities to our lives can always be challenging and it can be helpful to discuss this with family and friends; garnering their support ahead of time. There are lots of ways to integrate regular practice into your life; it’s building a positive habit, but keeping an open mind and being prepared to experiment a little can really help. I will always be available to discuss any challenges you might have with home practice.

What are the challenges?

• Starting a meditation practice may seem unfamiliar and strange to begin with, but keeping an open mind and moving gently can help.
• Everyone is different, we respond differently and it can take time to notice the benefits emerging. This is not an overnight project, it’s a whole of life process. Persistence is key
• To begin with, the amount of practice can feel daunting but with time and consistent practice, the benefits will emerge.
• It’s normal to be apprehensive when joining a group but we focus on cultivating a compassionate and supportive environment. You will learn from your group’s experiences and knowing we are not alone can be very beneficial.
• It’s possible you’ll notice strong emotions arise during sessions that you’d rather avoid, but this can be informative and the course will teach you skilful ways to respond.
• When things are difficult it’s common to want to give up at times. Talk to me about any issues that are making things challenging for you.

What are the benefits?

There is an ever-increasing amount of research on the benefits of mindfulness-based courses, benefits can include:

• Reducing feelings of stress, anxiety and depression
• Improved ability to cope with pain and illness
• Reducing worry and obsessing over things
• Noticing more of what is pleasant and enjoyable in life
• More clarity on what is really important, living life with a greater sense of purpose
• Improved overall wellbeing, even in the midst of difficulty

Of course, we can’t guarantee the same results for everyone, we are all gloriously different, but in our experience and increasingly via the published research, we know changes like these are very common and certainly outweigh any challenges of participating.