The course provides an intensive time for learning the skills and techniques necessary to live mindfully. The course curriculum, home practice guidebook, group structure and teacher provide a strong support system for helping you to develop a foundation of home practice that sustain a  regular meditation practice. In this way you learn to stay in touch with yourself, and thereby are better able to respond, rather than react, to the joys and challenges of everyday life. Stress is reduced having a beneficial impact and on your physical, psychological and emotional well-being, and ultimately quality of life.

You will be sent a booking form, which asks for your contact details, a description of your mental and physical health, and your reasons for doing the course.

I will email you nearer the course start date to arrange a telephone pre-course orientation conversation. This usually takes 20-30 minutes and is an opportunity for you and I to get to know each other a little, for me to give you information about the course, for you to ask any questions you might have and for us to decide together whether it is a good time in your life to participate in the course.

Each session begins with a guided meditation followed by group conversation exploring peoples experiences of the meditation practice. There is always time set aside to explore home practice, learning, challenges, and any questions that may arise. The course is highly experiential and much of the learning is derived from people’s actual experiences rather than abstraction or theory. There is however no pressure on anyone to share in the group, this is voluntary. The primary emphasis of the course is on self-care and this includes within the sessions. There is usually some gentle movement to energise the body, particularly as the courses are in the evening, however this movement is manageable for any-body. I often read poems or stories to support the learning process.

It’s a good idea to bring a yoga mat for lying down in the body scan or engaging in the mindful movement practice. It is also a good idea to wear something that you can put on if cold, and take off if warm.

About 1 hour per day, a 45 minute guided meditation CD and some informal practices that can be done anytime, anywhere. Remember the home practice is the foundation of the course and your learning. You might see the group sessions as support for your home practice.

I run a monthly meditation group with the support of a colleague. I also run graduate programmes, to support a deepening of your learning. See the course page for further details.

The eight-week course I teach is a required foundation for any reputable teacher training course. I would however recommend that you establish your own practice for at least a year before beginning to consider teacher training.