Deeper Mindfulness

An 8-week mindfulness course to deepen awareness and explore how we respond to life

A Deeper Mindfulness course in Saltash, serving Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall, offers an opportunity to deepen your mindfulness practice. This eight-week mindfulness programme explores how thoughts, emotions and reactions develop moment by moment. Developed by Professor Mark Williams and colleagues, the course helps you recognise habitual patterns and develop greater awareness and choice in how you respond to life

Mindfulness begins with learning to pay attention to our present-moment experience with curiosity and kindness

As we develop our practice, we can begin to notice more subtle aspects of our experience. We may become aware of how thoughts arise, how emotions develop and how quickly we respond to what is happening around us

Deeper Mindfulness explores these processes in greater depth. It invites us to become more familiar with the patterns of the mind and discover new ways of relating to our experience

Exploring how we respond to experience

A key theme of the Deeper Mindfulness course is understanding what happens in the moments before we react

Every experience has a quality or feeling attached to it. It may feel pleasant, unpleasant or neutral

These responses happen very quickly and often outside our awareness

For example, we may naturally move towards experiences we enjoy, resist experiences we find difficult or overlook ordinary moments that pass unnoticed

By becoming more aware of these patterns, we can begin to create space between what happens and how we respond

What will you explore during the course?

During the eight-week Deeper Mindfulness course, you will explore how mindfulness can help you develop a clearer understanding of your experience

Topics include:

Awareness of thoughts, emotions and sensations

Learning to notice what is happening in the mind and body without immediately becoming caught up in it

Automatic patterns and reactions

Exploring the habits and patterns that influence how we think, feel and respond

Responding rather than reacting

Developing greater awareness of the choices available in how we meet everyday situations

Working with difficult experiences

Learning to approach challenging thoughts, emotions and sensations with greater openness and kindness

Appreciating positive experiences

Developing awareness of moments of enjoyment, connection and wellbeing

The course includes:

  • guided mindfulness meditation practices
  • teaching and exploration of mindfulness themes
  • reflective inquiry
  • group discussion
  • home mindfulness practice between sessions

The learning comes through direct experience. The practices are an opportunity to explore mindfulness rather than simply learn about it

Benefits of a Deeper Mindfulness course

A Deeper Mindfulness course can support you to develop:

  • greater awareness of your thoughts, emotions and reactions
  • a deeper understanding of habitual patterns
  • more choice in how you respond to challenges
  • a kinder relationship with yourself
  • greater presence in everyday life
  • a deeper understanding of mindfulness practice

The aim of mindfulness is not to remove difficult experiences or create a perfect state of calm. Instead, it is about developing a different relationship with whatever arises

Who is the Deeper Mindfulness course for?

Deeper Mindfulness was originally developed as a continuation course for people who have already completed an eight-week mindfulness programme such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

It may be suitable if you:

  • already have some experience of mindfulness meditation
  • would like to deepen your existing practice
  • are curious about how the mind responds moment by moment
  • want to explore mindfulness beyond the foundations
  • enjoy reflection and inquiry

If you are new to mindfulness but feel drawn to this course, please contact me to discuss whether it would be a suitable next step

What commitment is involved?

The Deeper Mindfulness course runs over eight weeks with a weekly group session

Participants are encouraged to practise mindfulness between sessions. This regular practice helps you explore the themes of the course through your own experience

You do not need to be an expert meditator. The course is about curiosity, exploration and developing awareness over time

A trauma-sensitive approach

My teaching approach is trauma-sensitive and recognises that everyone comes to mindfulness with their own experiences and needs

Mindfulness is offered as an invitation rather than something to achieve. You will be encouraged to explore practices with curiosity, kindness and respect for yourself

Is a Deeper Mindfulness course right for you?

If you have explored mindfulness and would like to continue developing your practice, a Deeper Mindfulness course may offer a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of yourself and your experience

The course is available in Saltash and welcomes participants from Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall

If you would like to find out more, please get in touch

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