Pre-Course Information for Introductory and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction 8 Week Courses
Introduction
Please read this pre-course information, I hope it will answer most of your queries but if you have any further questions do not hesitate to email me : or call me : 07778 036024.
Please note, to book a place on the 8 Week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, you need to have either attended one of my introductory sessions, or have some experience of mindfulness. This is to ensure the full 8 week course is right for you.
Course details-booking essential
Introductory Sessions – in these sessions you will be introduced to the main mindfulness practices taught on the 8 week course, to allow you to experience a taster of what’s to come. The last 30 minutes will be introducing the 8 week course and there will be time for questions about the course.
Abergavenny Community Centre
Date: December 14th 1-3pm.
Llanfoist Village Hall
Date: January 18th10am-12noon; March 8th and April 5th 7-9pm; July 12th and September 6th 10am-12noon.
Cost: £15
8 Week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course
Llanfoist Village Hall
Dates: January 25th, February 1st, 8th and 15th, March 1st, 8th and 29th and April 5th. 10am-12.15pm.
Full day practice: 4th March 10am-4pm.
Cost: £220, early bird rate £200 if booked before end December.
Evening course
Llanfoist Village Hall
Dates: April 26th, May 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th, June 7th, 14th and 21st. 6.45-9pm.
Full day practice: May 20th 10am-4pm.
Cost: £220, early bird rate £200 if booked before end March.
Autumn course starts September 20th.
Please note you need to attend each session, if you miss more than one session you will need to book on the next available course.
Your place is booked on receipt of payment. You can pay by: cheque and send to me Tina Abbott, Woodhay, Walterstone, Herefordshire, HR2 0DT; Cash dropped in for me; Or via BACs transfer; Bank: Santander, Sort code: 09-01-28, Account no: 04297586.
Individual sessions
I offer one to one sessions at my home in Walterstone, we can cover the basics of setting up a personal Mindfulness practice, or work on deepening an existing practice/talk through any challenges you are experiencing with your practice. Cost: £45 per hour session, £35 if you are a current 8 week course student.
Please may I ask you to arrive in plenty of time to start the group sessions at the advertised start time. We go straight into a Mindfulness practice so it is ideal if attendees are settled by the start time.
Who is the course for?
The course is for anyone who wishes to begin a routine home mindfulness practice. If you experience any of the following mindfulness may help: symptoms of stress; difficulty concentrating; poor memory; illness or chronic pain; lack of energy; depression or anxiety. Of course you do not have to be ill to benefit from mindfulness! Mindfulness can also improve general wellbeing.
Who is the course not suitable for?
If you experience any of the following we would need to have a conversation about whether now is the right time to be undertaking the course: addiction issues in the last 12 months; a severe current episode of depression or anxiety; recent bereavement or major life changing event; psychotic illness. Please do contact me regarding any of these issues and we can discuss whether the course is right for you.
Daily Home Practice
This will be a key component to the 8 week course, so I invite you to begin to think about when you might schedule your daily practice. By week 4 this will be 45 minutes to an hour a day and to fully benefit from the course you need to be able to commit to this practice. It can be done in two sittings, and preferably for 6 days a week. We will start with 15-20 minutes practice a day, and usually by the 4th week you will want to commit to doing a bit more – to take things deeper - and be ready to undertake 45 minutes’ practice! You will be fully supported to ease into the practice.
Equipment and dress code
You are invited to wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a layer or two extra in case you get cool during sitting practices.
You can sit on a chair to meditate or a yoga mat and a cushion. Some practices involve lying on the floor (if you are able) so a yoga mat or very thick blanket/couple of blankets would be ideal to bring along, as well as a cushion for your head, and a blanket to keep you warm. I recommend Blue Banyan suppliers, who also sell through amazon. Zafu cushions are the traditional cushions people sit on to meditate either on a yoga mat or a zabuton mat. However, no special equipment is necessary and you may like to try mine or others equipment before you buy- if that is the case just bring along a couple of blankets and cushions to the first session.
Learning environment
I aim to support a comfortable relaxed teaching environment. There will be lots of pairs work and group discussion and you can participate as much or little as you feel comfortable with.
I offer support between sessions, you are welcome to email me or ring me to discuss aspects of the course. I also offer one to one sessions at my home in Walterstone at a cost of £35 per hour for course participants.
Reading
If you would like to do some preparatory reading any of the books below are a good starting place:
Mindfulness in Eight Weeks, Michael Chaskalson
Full Catastrophe Living, Jon Kabut Zinn
Mindfulness for Depression, Mark Williams
Finding Peace in a Frantic World, Mark Williams
What happens after the course?
To support your ongoing practice I will be running a drop in session one evening a month starting in April. You will also be able to attend the regular full practice days, and individual sessions are always available to support your practice.