Meditation is a great method of self-inquiry, because it is dedicated solely to watching the responses and habits of our minds. The more honestly we know ourselves, the more we are able to be in control of our moods and emotions. Then we can more fully engage with our life as it happens.
In additional to workshops and courses all my yoga retreats explore mindfulness and meditation, too.
The 3 characteristics of life
a 4 week meditation course, live on Zoom
Tuesdays 12 January – 2 February 2021
18:00 – 19:00
19:15 – 20:15
Things shift. How life develops is uncertain. This impermanent nature of life causes us at least some degree of stress or anguish. This isn’t anyone’s fault, and it’s not something we have to take so personally.
Over the course of 4 weeks, we explore these characteristics of life formulated by the Buddha, how they relate to our psychology as humans, and what they mean for our modern lives right now. There will be short talks, some breath work to settle the mind, guided meditations to bring the theory to live in our practice, followed by time to self-reflect to deepen our understanding, and the option to share in a small group.
You will receive recordings of talks and practices to download, and these can become a basis for your own continued home practice.
We will work in a small group of 6 – 10 people to create a safe and inclusive space to explore and practice.
Cost: £50
concessions available: please get in touch
Building resilience, managing stress
a 4 week mindfulness course, live on Zoom
Tuesdays 9 February – 2 March 2021
18:00 – 19:30
Particularly during the challenging circumstances we find ourselves in at the moment, building inner resilience is essential. It helps us to manage stress and reactivity, create solutions when faced with difficulties, look after ourselves, and take better care of our families, friends and the wider community.
Over the course of 4 sessions we will explore simple and effective tools and techniques to help us connect to our inner strength, and build the trust to enhance our wellbeing to live with more awareness and ease more often. The course will combine short lectures, guided meditation, self-inquiry and group sharing and discussion.
We will explore how we can
- Let things be – accept what’s here without rejection
- Let go of what is not helpful – the worrying, self-critical or judgemental mind
- Let in what is positive, uplifting and supportive
We will work in a small group of 6 – 12 people to create a safe and inclusive space to explore and practice.
Cost: £65
concessions available on a sliding scale: please get in touch
Mindfulness to manage stress
a 4 week course at yogahome, Stoke Newington
Fridays, 7 – 28 May 2021
18:30 – 20:00
In this course we will explore simple and effective tools and techniques to help us live our lives with more openness, kindness, resilience, and less reactivity, frustration, anger and stress. It combines experiential mindfulness practices and short lectures on the science and psychology behind it, with self-inquiry and group discussion.
You will leave with tools to:
- Lower stress and anxiety
- Increase resilience to deal with the unavoidable challenges of life
- Improve focus and concentration
- Integrate mindfulness into daily life
We will work in a small group of 6 – 11 people to create a safe and inclusive space to explore and practice. You will receive recordings of lectures and practices to download, and these can become a basis for your own continued home practice.
Meditation teacher training (100hrs) – co-taught with Graham Burns for Yogacampus
This course offers the chance to train specifically to teach meditation. Covering a range of meditation traditions and approaches, it gives you the tools to develop your own voice as a meditation teacher. The course is offered as a blended learning course, with live online sessions delivered via Zoom and supported by Yogacampus’ state of the art online learning system.
The course will cover
history and psychology of meditation in the yoga traditions and in Buddhism, and their expression in modern mindfulness
different styles and techniques: concentration, awareness, and heart based practices, and a variety of meditation postures
teaching skills including tools to structure a meditation session and course, use of language, self-care and boundaries
obstacles, emotional responses, contra-indications and trauma sensitive teaching – and much more…
Introductory evening session:
Sunday 17 Jan 2021, 15:00 – 17:30
Teaching Weekends:
23 and 24 January 2021
20 and 21 February 2021
27 and 28 March 2021
Mindfulness at work
Busy work lives often include a lot of challenges and pressure to perform and achieve. Mindfulness can help to reduce stress, anxiety and conflict, and supports better communication. It increase resilience and emotional intelligence. And mindfulness is the best way to not only enhance our well-being but also to improve our efficiency and productivity, supporting increased focus, memory and creativity.
I teach 6 – 8 week courses at your workplace which can be tailored to the needs of the group. I offer FREE taster sessions, so that teams can get an idea of what to expect.