Level 1 – Being Present
Tutor
Chloe Homewood & Sheila Croaken
Course Dates
Weekend 1: 5th – 6th September 2020
Weekend 2: 14th – 15th November 2020
Weekend 3: 16th – 17th January 2021
Weekend 4: 20 – 21st March 2021
Booking Information
To book the first weekend of this course please click the ‘Book Here’ button. You will be contacted after attending the first weekend to book the further three weekends which can be paid for in six monthly instalments of £75.00.
Note: You can pay for and attend weekend one before deciding whether to commit to attending the rest of the course.
Times
The course runs from 10am till 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Location
Kagyu Samye Dzong Glasgow, 7 Ashley Street, Glasgow, G3 6DR
Course Information
Start where you are
Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to our moment by moment experience in a way that is non-judgmental and kind.
We are initiated into this graduated process through the core practices of settling, grounding, resting and mindfulness support. We also practice body scan and walking meditation and simple practices for integrating mindfulness into daily life. We simultaneously work on developing kindness as a basis for self- compassion.
Noticing distraction
Having had the opportunity to practice settling, grounding, resting and support on a daily basis since Weekend One, we are now in a position to become more familiar with how the mind moves and the unique pathways of habit it follows.
We become increasingly familiar with the changing dynamic of mindfulness and distraction and begin to see how distraction reveals an inner world of habitual patterning that ensnares our energies.
We also begin to recognize attitudes of preference – like and dislike – and see how they narrow and contract our awareness, imprisoning us. In this context we are referring to our habitual reactions driven by conditioning, not informed choices based on intelligent discernment.
Self acceptance
Throughout our training, we are working in two areas – redirecting our attention to the present moment by using a mindfulness support, while at the same time learning to accept the diverse range of our inner experience.
Part of mindfulness practice is learning to work with strong emotions that arise and developing the capacity to ‘hold’ difficult experiences within body and mind. Identifying our reactive patterns of preference reveals how working on attitude is all important, and so, through training in acceptance, we learn to acknowledge and come to terms with difficult thoughts and emotions by paying them close attention with a kind and inclusive attitude.
This leads to a gradual dis-identification with the contents of our experience and shift in perspective in which we come to see that we are not our thoughts.
Undercurrent & Observer
During this module, we bring together all the themes from the previous three modules and help participants set up an ongoing mindfulness practice for going forward in their lives.
At this point, we explore the model of ‘undercurrent and observer’ as a way of mapping out the inner landscape of our mind and identifying where change can take place.
The ‘undercurrent’ refers to the continuous stream of thoughts, emotions, memories and images that stream through our mind moment by moment, whether we like it or not. The ‘observer’ refers to that part of our mind that sees the undercurrent and has the capacity to reflect on itself.
As our practice deepens, we learn to step out of the undercurrent and simply leave it alone. Instead, we focus on working with the attitudes of preference in our observer as this is where genuine change can take place.
“Mindfulness is life changing”
Participants will be taught progressive skills in Mindfulness through presentations, guided practice and smaller group sessions. A strong emphasis is placed on experiential learning, there are home assignments between weekends that include regular mindfulness practice, daily life exercises and journal writing.
Mindfulness is defined as knowing what is happening, while it is happening, without preference. In the beginning we notice how our attention is like a butterfly flitting from one thought to the next. So we start by slowing down and settling our mind through regulating our breathing and counting. We then introduce practices that ground us allowing our attention to drop out of our heads and into the sensory awareness of the body. We then learn to rest in the present moment getting used to disengaging from our habits of compulsive doing. And then, when we notice our attention drifting away into thinking, we learn to work with the mindfulness support of sound to bring our attention back to the present.
The course is themed over the four weekends:
- Settling the Mind
- Working with Distraction
- Self-Acceptance
- The Undercurrent and Observer
“I find it exciting and reassuring to learn that mindfulness can be applied to everyday life – even the most mundane of tasks and actions”
We are all very busy in our modern lives and some people are looking for ways in which to cope with their anxiety, stress and pain. Furthermore, we are looking for ways in which to enhance our wellbeing and cope better with life’s challenges. We show you that practicing mindfulness becomes a way of life and enhances our very being.
Recent scientific evidence states that meditation & compassion-based mindfulness practices change the brain in a positive way and help to:
Lower heart rate and blood pressure
Relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia
Increase ability to cope with difficult situations
You have probably heard the terms Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), or maybe Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) which are courses specifically developed by clinicians to help reduce stress, depression and anxiety. There are many mindfulness courses available for specific problems.
Whilst our own tutors and graduates from the MSc Studies in Mindfulness have found even more very positive indicators which support existing evidence, we believe that Mindfulness training is not a treatment for mental health or addiction. Mindfulness is, however, proven to be beneficial for mental health in the right circumstances. Mindfulness is, however, proven to be beneficial for mental health in the right circumstances and participants on our courses have reported:
Feeling less stressed
More resilient to life’s challenges
Feeling more relaxed
Increased self-awareness and confidence
Increased sense of wellbeing.
All the tutors were excellent, effective, warm, genuine. A pleasure to work with”
The Mindfulness Association has 10 years of experience of delivering courses in the UK and Europe.
All our tutors are very experienced and knowledgeable.
We have a membership providing our practitioners with ongoing support.
Our tutors and courses comply with the UK Network for Mindfulness-Based Teacher Training Organisations who oversee the quality of mindfulness-based training in the UK.
If you have recently received or are currently receiving treatment from a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or counsellor for an ongoing mental health problem, we strongly advise that you obtain advice from your mental health professional before proceeding further with mindfulness training at this time.
Also, if you have recently or are currently going through a traumatic life event such as a separation from a long-term partner, the death of a close family member or friend or redundancy this may not be the best time for you to start a mindfulness course.
What’s Next?
Compassion: This course provides a strong foundation for Level 2 – Responding with Compassion, where the training shifts to focus on compassion and kindness to self and others. This helps us to embody a safe container within ourselves for holding challenging emotions
Teacher Training: Following this course you may wish to begin training to teach the 8 week Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC). By doing so will enable you to bring the benefits of mindfulness to others.