The Mindfulness Association’s

Mindfulness Based Living Course

The MBLC course enables participants to establish an effective and regular daily
mindfulness practice so as to help the mind to settle and stabilise. It is ideal for both beginners and for those who have previous experience of mindfulness and want to develop their practice. It provides an in-depth personal practice experience in a tutor led group environment. The course can be offered in person and online.

Why practise mindfulness? Practicing mindfulness results in an unfolding of our potential. This helps us to make choices about how we live in connection with ourselves and our world. Whatever it is that brings us to take our first steps on the journey of becoming more mindful, we recognise that present-moment compassionate living is the journey of a lifetime.

Who might want to attend? The below course dates are open to any interested individuals wishing to develop a mindful approach to life.

Organisations and employers may wish to commission the course for their service users or staff. Special sensitivity can be taken in cases of groups with particular needs. Please email info@stmts.co.uk to enquire.

It provides a good foundation for those who wish to go on to train to teach mindfulness.

The structure of the course:

There 8 sessions, led by tutor Lucy Trend. Each session is two hours long. There is an introductory class before the course begins for those who are curious but not sure whether to commit to the full training. Also there is a follow up class after the eight week course ends. A day of mindfulness practice can be included between sessions 6 and 7.

The weekly themes (sometimes run monthly):

Introductory Session – What is Mindfulness and Why Practice It?
Session 1 – Start Where We Are
Session 2 – The Body as a Place to Stay Present
Session 3 – Introducing Mindfulness Support
Session 4 – Working with Distraction
Session 5 – Exploring the Undercurrent
Session 6 – Attitude of the Observer
Day of Practice
Session 7 – Self-acceptance
Session 8 – A Mindfulness Based Life
Follow Up Session – The Rest of Your Life

Next dates available 2021:

Classes are Tuesdays 6.30-8.30 held online.

Free Introduction: Tuesday 2nd February 2021
Week 1-8: Tuesday 9th February – Tuesday 30th March
Free Follow Up Session: Tuesday 6th April (Optional)
21st March or 24th April 2021 – “Day of Mindfulness” (Optional)

8 sessions course cost: £175/£150 low income. To register please email info@stmts.co.uk. Introductory and follow up sessions are free. Day of Mindfulness – £75 open to all (you don’t have to be attending the MBLC course).

Teacher training pathway: Mindfulness Association provide a comprehensive teacher training pathway for those who have attended this course and wish to train to deliver the MBLC. The MBLC is recognised as an eight week course in the UK Good Practice Guidelines and those trained to teach it are eligible to join the UK Listing of Mindfulness Teachers. For full information see https://www.mindfulnessassociation.net/ma-courses/8-week-mblc/

Testamonials:

“Thank you so much for your guidance this week. I felt so settled and calm after the meditation you skillfully guided. It really was nourishing and exactly what I needed. I had a training assessment afterwards and I was able to stay settled and grounded and completed it with ease. Thank you for the sharing.” Sharon McCafferty, Family Support Worker

‘The harvest moon has come,
Booming softly through heaven, like a bassoon.
And the earth replies all night, like a deep drum…’
~ Ted Hughes, ‘Harvest Moon’

In the Chinese five element theory late summer is the season of Earth element, which represents ‘manifestation’. In the turning of the seasons plants grow from seed in winter, to sprout in spring, to flower in summer and finally in late summer growth comes to fruition and we have our harvest, both of crops and of fruits & nuts of the tress and hedgerow.

Likewise with our day to day lives, the completion of the process of creativity is the manifestation of the final product. And within ourselves; the mind, emotions and spirit exist because they are manifest in the living, physical body.

I teach my students how to touch without causing pain or flinching, by first exploring how to crawl softly on the floor, leaning bodyweight on the Earth, discovering how it is that gravity keeps us connected to the Earth. We transfer this understanding to our technique; leaning on our client, their body becomes our Earth, our support and we relax into this. This is the mechanism by which Shiatsu and Thai Massage allows both giver and receiver to feel more deeply in touch with the body and the Earth, to feel more grounded and supported, to feel more ourselves and how we are manifest.
by Lucy Trend. 10th September 2020.