'I enjoyed all of it. It was great. The poems were beautiful and I loved it when you were chatting and responding. I thought your examples and analogies were great when you were illustrating your points. I particularly liked the moving meditation as it felt easier. Loved the body scan!'
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Student feedback Oct 2020
'I enjoyed learning about mindfulness, the homework, and the opportunity to reflect with other members of the group. I thought you held the space really well. I also enjoyed listening to the other member's experiences. I also really appreciated the resources you shared.'
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Student feedback Oct 2020
'I loved the practical element of the course - it was good to get straight into mediation and then share our learnings and feelings. I really like how open everyone was to sharing how they were feeling and any challenges they faced.'
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Student feedback Oct 2020
4 Week Intro to Mindfulness
** I currently have no upcoming 4 week mindfulness courses planned but sign up to my mailing list at the bottom of the page to be the first to know when I offer one next **
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When: Thurs 6.30-8pm from 30th Sept-21st Oct 2021
Where: In-person at The Beehive at Newquay Orchard
Cost: Suggested donation £40-£50 (but whatever you can afford is truly appreciated.)
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Have you ever wondered what mindfulness meditation is all about and how it may benefit you? Or do you already meditate and want to practice with the support of a small group or delve deeper? This 4 week intro to mindfulness will be an exploration of 3 foundational mindfulness practices and how to weave mindful awareness into your everyday life.
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Over the last 30 years, the wide-ranging benefits of mindfulness meditation upon our mental and physical wellbeing have been documented through rigorous academic research in the fields of neuroscience, psychology and physical medicine. Regularly practicing mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce stress and to help navigate the ups and downs of life with greater compassion, ease and acceptance.
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Busting the myths
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1. You don't have to be able to clear your mind to practice mindfulness! Mindfulness is more about learning to observe the patterns of our mind with greater clarity and kindness so we can make wiser choices in life. Although a clearer mind can absolutely be a side effect of the practice.
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2. Mindfulness meditation is not religious, it is simply a form of mental training.
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3. You don't have to sit cross legged on a cushion to practice mindfulness. You can sit on a chair, lay down on the floor, stand or practice mindfulness through movement such as yoga or walking.
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'Katie was very warm and approachable. She offered to give her own time to speak to me about Meditation and my journey, when I was unable to attend a couple of classes. I felt I could be honest with her (you didn’t have to be a model student!) because she made not doing something or not feeling up to it or being distracted so normal! She is relatable rather than these wizard teachers whom you wonder whether where they get all their time from or whether they’re ever down or low!!'
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Student feedback Nov 2020
What will each session involve?
The course is taught predominantly through actually practicing mindfulness together, rather than the teacher talking at you classroom style.
During each session we will practice two meditations together. After each mediation there will be a chance to share how that practice was for you. Sharing your experiences and hearing the experiences of others is an incredibly valuable part of learning in the course. However, there is absolutely no pressure for everyone to share, listening is a valuable contribution too. There will also be a chance to discuss practice in smaller groups (great for those who feel nervous sharing into the larger group) and some fun group exercises.
Home Practice
An important part of these 4 weeks will be practicing meditation for 20 minutes a day for 6 days out of 7 at home using recordings you will be given to download. And also practicing bringing mindfulness to parts of your daily life like doing the dishes, going for a walk or brushing your teeth.
You are also encouraged to keep a journal or notes about how the practice is going throughout the course, as this can be a great way of helping learnings to sink in and help you to notice patterns emerging in the practice.
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It is essential that you feel you can commit to the home practice to take part in the course.
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How to book
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1. If you would like to book please send me a message at katieaustinyoga@gmail.com or ring/text me at 07930712425. I will have a one-to-one phone call with you before the course to check in that you are sure the course is right for you at this time and is a chance to ask questions.
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2. To make a donation towards the running costs of the course you can send money via Paypal to katieaustinyoga@gmail.com or via bank transfer to Miss Catherine Ellen Austin Account no: 29502822 Sort Code: 070246 Suggested donation is £40-£50. However, please know that whatever you can afford is truly appreciated.
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Can anyone join the course?
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There may be some instances where it might not be quite the right time for you to start practicing mindfulness, for example, if you are in the midst of a depressive episode or had a recent bereavement. In this case it may be wise to wait a little before taking part in a course. If you are all unsure whether the course is right for you please don't hesitate to get in touch. I also may be able to sign post you in a direction for alternative support.
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About me
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I have been practicing mindfulness meditation since 2014 when it helped me to navigate through a difficult period of low mood. I practice daily and go on meditation retreats as often as I can. She is currently studying a Masters Degree in Mindfulness with Bangor University's School of Psychology alongside training to teach mindfulness with Bangor University and The Mindfulness Network. This is the highest level of mindfulness teacher training available in the UK. Find out more about Katie here.
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Questions?
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If you have any questions please get in touch at katieaustinyoga@gmail.com or on 07930712425 or contact me here.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a way of being more fully present with ourselves and life, in an open-hearted, kind and accepting way. It is tricky to define what mindfulness is with words alone, as the best way to discover what mindfulness is, is to experience it through practice, as we will do over these 4 weeks. However, one of the best known definitions of mindfulness is that...
"Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from paying attention, on-purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally"
Quote from Jon Kabat-Zinn
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The 3 core practices we will explore during the 4 weeks are:
- The body scan
- Mindful movement (very gentle yoga stretches)
- Sitting meditation