Saturday 1st July, 10am – 3.30pm (3 spaces remaining)
Start your mindfulness journey or refresh it at this one-day workshop retreat. I’ve been providing a free ‘what is mindfulness‘ video for some years, but many people have asked for something a bit more in-depth that doesn’t require the commitment of the 8-week course – and that’s what we have here!
So, if you’re:
- New to mindfulness, or
- You’d love a refresher to come back to mindfulness, or
- Your only mindfulness experience is with an app
then this is an ideal next step to learn more about or recall your mindfulness skills.
Really great session as part of a wellbeing day. Would thoroughly recommend!
Dr Jess
I’ll introduce mindfulness and move into mindful meditation practices, interleaved with discussion and the introduction of key concepts in developing your mindfulness skills – it’s these key skills that make the difference between ‘doing a meditation’ like many of us are used to with an app, and developing the skills of mindful awareness that lead to wellbeing and resilience. Here’s the outline for the day running from 10am to 3.30pm.
- Welcome and introduction from 10am
- What is mindfulness?
- Introducing breath meditation
- Body scan meditation
- Break
- Walking meditation
- Mindfulness of breath meditation
- Lunchtime (bring something nice!)
- Introducing breathing practices
- Mountain meditation
- Mindful stretching
- Sitting with gratitude
- Short break
- Discussion
- Close by 3.30pm
Mark was very down to earth; he explained the concept of mindfulness really well. The retreat was not about ‘do this or that’ rather he made us to understand the principles and the effects which was really useful for newbies like me. The day was a well spent day indeed; relaxing and refreshing! Would highly recommend the course.
Dr Helen
- When: Saturday 1st July 2023
- Time: 10.00am until 3.30pm
- Venue: Renewal Centre, Church Road, Swallowfield, RG7 1TJ and Live Online
- Cost of course: £90 (£80 if you’re attending for a second time, or you’ve attended my 8-week course)
If you’d like to know more, do get in touch – ask me anything!
FAQs
What should I bring?
Lunch – bring something nice to eat for lunch. The venue has a domestic-size fridge for items that need to stay cool, as well as a sink and microwave for heating something like soup (don’t plan to ‘cook’ anything).
Blanket, cushion, mat – bring a light blanket with you, particularly handy for practices like the body scan. Also, if you usually practice using a cushion or meditation stool, or have a yoga mat that you prefer, bring those too. We will provide yoga mats with head cushions, and there will also be enough chairs for everyone.
What do I need if I’m joining online?
If you’re joining online, then you’ll need a quiet place where you won’t generally be disturbed with a chair or cushion on which to sit for meditation. There is an opportunity to walk outside during the session, so ideally, you would have a place to do that too.
You’ll also need a computer such as a laptop or a tablet with good access to the internet (I use Microsoft Teams, which works on most modern computers and devices).
Should I bring lunch?
Yes, please. We will provide coffee, tea, water, and snacks, but do bring some lunch (see the ‘what should I bring?’ entry).
Is there an age limit to attend this workshop?
The course is open to anyone aged 18 years or over (or 16 if attending with another adult).
Attend online or face-to-face?
We’re often asked if it’s better to attend online or face-to-face. Ideally, we would all attend face-to-face to get the most engaging experience, but where that isn’t possible or appropriate, attending live via web conferencing is a good alternative and still an improved experience over a pre-recorded course.
Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?
If you have further questions, please get in touch with Mark via our Contact Us page.
Can I pay by…?
You’re welcome to pay by bank transfer or credit card; we ask for your preference on the booking form.
What is the refund policy?
A full refund is available if you cancel your attendance 72 or more hours before the day – though if you think you may have to cancel, please give me as much notice as possible so I can fill your space. We run the courses with small groups, and sometimes one additional person attending makes the difference between being able to run or not run the course. If you cancel closer than 72 hours, we don’t normally offer a refund – however, if I’m able to fill the space (perhaps via a waitlist) then I’ll happily refund your payment.
Naturally, if I have to cancel the course, you will receive a full refund, and I will give you as much notice as I can.
What size is the class? What if there aren’t enough people to run the course?
The course is run with a small group of up to 10 people and a minimum of 5. If we don’t get at least five people booking the course, then I will move or cancel the course (and any fees already paid will, of course, be refunded in full!)
Is the course suitable for those with depression or other mental illnesses?
Mindfulness practice can be beneficial for those who have suffered from depression or other mental illnesses. However, the course may not be suitable if you are currently suffering from clinical depression unless under the guidance of a medical professional. Partly, this is due to the nature of mindfulness practice which invites us to focus on and work directly with our thoughts and feelings – this can be very helpful for those who have suffered from depression but may not be productive in the middle of a depressive episode. Please do speak with Mark if you’re unsure about suitability.
What are the computer / technical requirements to attend online?
Online courses use the computer video conferencing software Microsoft Teams, which is free to use as an attendee and runs on all modern computers, tablets and smartphones – using a webcam and microphone.
Do I need to be able to sit in the lotus position or any other special position?
No! There is no special sitting position or physical requirements. For sitting meditation, the suggestion is to sit upright, with your upper body self-supporting (for example, away from the back of a chair). But if that isn’t practical, you can sit however you choose.
Everyone is welcome!
However you would describe yourself, whether by race, ethnicity, gender pronoun, ability, age, or anything else – if you are human and accepting of others, you are welcome on my courses (and assistance dogs are welcome too!)
Ethical Framework
I believe it is important to teach mindfulness both competently and ethically. Although mindfulness is not formally regulated in the UK, recommendations for ethical practice are provided by BAMBA (the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches) – which used to be called the UK Network for Mindfulness-Based Teachers – for training, practice and supervision. I am a registered BAMBA teacher, and I follow these guidelines. For example:
- Formal and continual training – my training followed the BAMBA requirements, and I teach according to the guidelines expected of mindfulness teachers. This is the same approach recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE; the UK body providing evidence-based information for health and care professionals, including the NHS).
- Under normal circumstances, we will speak on the phone before you start a course to ensure that the course is suitable.
- Confidentiality is key in all of my courses.
- I have regular supervision from an external qualified mindfulness supervisor.
A more detailed description of the guidelines is provided by BAMBA here: Mindfulness-based teachers Good Practice Guide.