pre-course prep
Workplace Mindfulness Training (MT)
If you are coming along to do a WorkplaceMT course, then well done for signing up and I hope you have a great experience…
Doing a little (tiny) bit of advanced preparation will give you an even better experience. Below are two short videos by eminent researchers in the field of mindfulness. Watching these, will give you a good knowledge base to bring with you to your WorkplaceMT course.
There are also two short summaries of research papers which you may also find useful prep.
Resources you will require for the course are:
A copy of the book Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world. You can find the book for a reasonable cost here.
You will not need to bring note taking materials as the course is completely experiential. We are aiming to be in a different mindset than usual: present and accessing the body’s intelligence rather than our thinking, doing mind.
However, bringing along a few items for our own self care such as a shawl or fleecy blanket, drinking water and perhaps a block or book to rest your feet on while practicing is recommended.
Being kind to ourselves will be front and centre of this learning journey: an attitude we currently may find challenging to apply.
Watch this video by Shauni Shapiro as preparation for the Workplace MT course here
Watch this video by Sara Lazar as preparation for the WorkplaceMT course here
If you would prefer to use the Peace in a Frantic World soundfiles you can find these here
week 1 summary: focusing your attention
In Week 1 we discuss how we can learn mindfulness in a workplace or education environment but we must create an environment of safety, kindness & confidence. This is very much an experiential course, as well as bringing in theory & research evidence. We discuss what the benefits of mindfulness are and what this means for you at work and home.
We will also be learning about how the mind works & stress and resilience and what can go wrong when we try to ‘problem solve’ our emotions. Using games and exercises we expose our habitual thinking behaviour and you will learn how to focus your attention/mind on your ‘moment to moment experience’.
Find relevant videos for Week 1 here
Find relevant research studies for Week 1 here
week 2 summary: observing the mind body connection
In Week 2 we begin to explore not only the link between mind and body, but how the body produces thoughts, feelings and emotions. We understand the feedback loop system between mind/body and body/mind. Using our mindfulness practice can help us access a direct knowing of the body which we can use to regulate our mental/emotional responses.
Find relevant videos for Week 2 here
Find relevant research studies for Week 2 here
Week 3 summary: minding the gap...
In Week 3 we move towards bringing our mindful awareness into our day to day lives. We are becoming more conscious of how the world actually is, rather than how we would like it to be. So noticing the 'gap' between those two states of mind, noticing how often we worry and stress. This increases our openness to new ideas and our creativity.
Find relevant videos for Week 3 here
Find relevant research studies for Week 3 here
week 4 summary: relating differently to thoughts
In Week 4 we consider the idea that our thoughts are not facts, they are simply mental events. As we examine our interpretation of events, we realise that our thoughts can be habitual and not always helpful. Observing thoughts as things can be very liberating...
Find relevant videos for Week 4 here
Find relevant research studies for Week 4 here
week 5: turning towards the difficult
In Week 5 we apply all the mindfulness skills we have learned over the past four weeks. Directing, focusing & relaxing attention and cultivating self kindness, acceptance and openness. This week we learn a new way to deal with the difficult situations and uncomfortable emotions that arise in all of our lives.
Find relevant videos for Week 5 here
Find relevant research studies for Week 5 here
week 6: Moving to a mindful future
In our last week we develop a clear intention for taking our practice forward and creating a more resilient and compassionate future. We will finish, as we started with the attitude of being kind to ourselves being 'front and centre' while now also including being kind to others.
Find relevant videos for Week 6 here
Find relevant research studies for Week 6 here
