Welcome to the Mindfulness Association

The Mindfulness Association is a welcoming and compassionate organisation that provides information and a wide range of training courses to support people in their practice of Mindfulness, Compassion, Insight, and Wisdom. They believe that Mindfulness is a way of life, not just a brief intervention for symptom relief. They also provide high level training to teach Mindfulness and Compassion, verified by BAMBA.

The Mindfulness Association’s approach to mindfulness significantly differs from many other offerings primarily through its “second generation mindfulness” philosophy and its unwavering emphasis on compassion.

Compassion is at the HEART of everything they do. Their unique courses are compassion-based and designed for life-long practice.

The Mindfulness Association offers “second-generation mindfulness” courses, which provide a more comprehensive and authentic approach to mindfulness. This approach is more firmly grounded in its traditional Buddhist roots and expands its applications beyond just stress reduction. Their Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) is an example of their second-generation mindfulness training.

They offer a wide range of courses for beginners, experienced practitioners, and those who wish to train to teach Mindfulness. This includes a 4-Level Mindfulness Pathway encompassing Mindfulness (Level 1), Compassion (Level 2), Insight (Level 3), and Wisdom (Level 4). They also offer MSc Studies in Mindfulness. Specific courses and retreats include:

• • Mindfulness for Life courses and retreats.
  • Mindful Qigong
  • Living Well to Die Well Mindfulness Course.
  • Online courses such as Mindfulness Meets Mystical Poetry, Managing Anxiety in Difficult Times, Managing Anger Five Week Course, and Seven Points of Mind Training.

Retreats like Mindfulness, Qigong & Yoga Retreat Weekend, Compassionate Imagery for Resilience, Naturally Being Retreat Weekend, Tonglen Weekend, Creating Healthy Boundaries for a Healthy Life, Mindfulness for Stress, Compassion in Action, and Mindfulness in Nature. Courses and retreats are offered both online and in person, with some in-person retreats held at Samye Ling and Holy Isle.

Yes, they offer a Teacher Training Package, including training for the Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) and the Compassion Based Living Course (CBLC). Their teacher training meets the requirements of the British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA) good practice guidelines, and the Mindfulness Association is a member of BAMBA.

Yes, they offer free daily mindfulness meditation practice sessions via Zoom at 10:30 am and 7 pm, Monday to Friday. They also provide a Free Online Introduction to Mindfulness, Introduction to Compassion Course, Introduction to Insight, free recorded meditations, and a free email course. It is important to note that these meditation sessions are not a treatment for mental health problems or addiction.

Rob Nairn is the founder of the Mindfulness Association. He developed the systematic and effective Mindfulness training upon which their courses are based. Choden, Heather, and Norton are also listed as Co-Founders and Directors.

You can support their work by making a donation to The Everyone Project. This project helps to make mindfulness training accessible to others; for example, £5 can cover one session of the Mindfulness Based Living Course for one person. The project has received funding from People’s Postcode Trust.

Reviews describe the Mindfulness Association as one of the best Mindfulness Organisations, noting their easy-to-access free resources, reasonably priced courses, and an inclusive non-judgmental atmosphere. Participants frequently mention the “wonderful community” and that the training is “second to none,” with authentic, kind, knowledgeable, and friendly teachers. Many report that the courses and practices have been “transformative,” “life-changing,” and have helped them change how they view the world and themselves.