Practical Mindfulness & Compassion for Life
A gentle and accessible 4 week course designed to help you learn how to practice mindfulness and compassion and integrate them into your life.
Tuesday evenings 12 May – 2 June, 7 - 9 pm
Who is this course for?
This course is for: (i) people who are brand new to the practice of mindfulness, (ii) those who have dabbled with meditation apps over the years and are curious about learning more in a live group and (iii) for established practitioners who might like to renew / deepen their practice.
Why this course?
Many of the established mindfulness courses with significant evidence bases are longer courses with quite a lot of home practice. I love teaching them and I deeply value their depth and rigour. I think there will always be a place for them. And it’s fair to say that participating in them isn’t always “easy”. There is quite a big time commitment, both in terms of attendance and home practice. The content can be quite challenging too.
This course is designed to be really easy. In this moment in time, I think that is what a lot of people need.
Working from home and the advent of AI hasn’t made life easier. Most people I speak to describe having less time for themselves. They experience more pressure. The need to be “productive” is pervasive. Many people I speak to feel tired and disconnected. I think quite a lot of people are experiencing burnout.
In this context, mindfulness might feel like “another difficult thing I have to do and the very idea of it makes me feel more stressed!” If that resonates with you, this course is for you.
On this course:
We will simplify the practice of mindfulness and compassion. If you have tried and failed in the past to practice mindfulness, don’t worry! We will demystify the practice and make it completely accessible for you.
We will make a distinction between formal practice and informal practice and we will prioritise both. You’ll be invited to practice consistently in a way that feels very manageable and sustainable. The aim is to begin building a habit that will last.
We will cultivate inner resources which can help us to navigate the inevitable challenges of life.
We will draw on insights from a number of Western psychological frameworks and also on aspects of Buddhist psychology. Think of these as helpful maps which can help us to live with more clarity, intention and ease.
Human connection is important
This course will be in-person with a small group. I am a fan of what is called “bottom-up learning”. When a group of people come together with a shared intention to learn and support each other, amazing things happen. I really trust this process and have witnessed it’s magic over the years. Together, we’ll create a space where it feels safe and easy for us to share our challenges and insights as we experiment with integrating mindfulness and compassion into our busy, stressful lives.