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 regular classes, workshops and courses all my yoga retreats explore mindfulness and meditation, too.
4 week meditation course – Live on Zoom, 4 x 60mins
Cultivating presence
Foundational principles of meditation
Wednesdays 8 – 29 September 2021
19:50 – 20:50 (UK time)
Meditation brings together mindful attention with a willingness to open up to our inner world, so that we can live our lives with more calm, clarity and care. We give ourselves time to explore what we actually feel, and inquire into the patterns that are present in our thinking, and the habits that express themselves in our interactions with others.
Over the course of 4 weeks, we will look at the foundational principles of meditation, different approaches and where they originate, why we should bother in the first place, and general myths and facts around meditation.
We’ll explore some of the central elements of meditation, such as:
- what meditation is and isn’t
- how we benefit from meditation in our modern lives
- typical obstacles to practice
- different approaches to meditation
including concentration, mindfulness and heart-based - different meditation techniques
- different postures and how to work with them
- reflection through self-inquiry and
deepening understanding through group discussion
There will be short talks and guided meditation to bring the theory to life on an experiential level, and some time to deepen our understanding through sharing and discussion in a small group.
You will receive recordings of short talks and guided meditations to download, and these can become a basis for your own continued home practice.
We will work in a small group of 6 – 12 people to create a safe and inclusive space to explore and practice.
Cost: £55
concessions available: please get in touch
4 week mindfulness course – in person, 4 x 90mins
Building resilience with mindfulness
yogahome, Stoke Newington
Thursdays 23 September – 14 October 2021
18:00 – 19:30
Life is often complex and demanding and resilience is an essential skill to manage stress, and feel resourced and stable, regardless of our circumstances.
Resilience is the capacity to cope well with life’s inevitable challenges, and develop strategies to be adaptive, manage stress and reactivity, create solutions when faced with difficulties, look after ourselves, and connect to others in a meaningful way.
Over the course of 4 sessions we will explore practical tools, tips and coping strategies to deepen self-awareness, promote self-kindness, connect to inner strength, and build the trust in our inner support system to enhance our wellbeing.
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
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 – 11 people to create a safe and inclusive space to explore and practice. You will receive recordings of talks and practices to download, and these can become a basis for your own continued home practice.
Cost: £80
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
Thursday 16 September 2021, 18:00 – 19:30
Teaching Weekends
25 and 26 September 2021
23 and 24 October 2021
27 and 28 November 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.
