Be Calm, Be Happy: 6-Week Mindfulness Course (Online)

Be Calm Be Happy Course Description:

This 6-week group mindfulness course is designed to help you develop and deepen your own practice of mindfulness, following the teachings of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, to generate happiness and well-being and relieve the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Each group session will be interactive and engaging, using a mixture of guided meditations, group discussions, and practical exercises, including opportunities to practise new skills in a group setting. Between the six sessions, you will be encouraged to use mindfulness practices to bring more peace and joy into your daily life.

"This has been a life-changing experience."

"What I have gained from the course has given me real optimism for a calmer and happier future."

Course Experience:

Be Calm, Be Happy is run by Plum Village UK, a charity created to share the mindfulness teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh (often referred to as ‘the Father of Western Mindfulness’, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr. and author of numerous best-selling books). Our Course Leaders are experienced practitioners trained to empower you with mindfulness skills for life, which can support personal and community well-being.

Mindfulness is a way of experiencing life with increased calm and happiness. It is rooted in Buddhist meditation, with effects verified by neuroscience, and as such is open to non-Buddhists and Buddhists alike - everyone is welcome.

The Be Calm, Be Happy course is facilitated over 6 consecutive 2-hour sessions. This is a live, interactive course, not recorded sessions to download.

Course content:

In the six sessions of the course, we explore the following themes:

Week 1 - Stopping and calming

• the benefits of mindfulness.

We will learn about

• the importance of being present in the moment
• how this can help to reduce stress and anxiety
• simple breathing techniques to focus our attention and calm our minds

Week 2 - Turning to the positive

• the mind’s negativity bias and how to shift our focus from negative thoughts and emotions to positive ones
• gratitude journaling
• appreciation of the conditions of happiness already available to us

Week 3 - Loving communication

• how to communicate mindfully
• deep listening and loving speech
• how to build better relationships with others

Week 4 - Nourishing happiness

• how to nourish happiness through mindful eating and other sensory inputs
• bringing mindfulness to sensory experiences, such as listening to music or spending time in nature
• seeing the effects of what we eat or consume

Week 5 - Interdependence and community

• exploring the interconnectedness of all things
• how to cultivate a sense of compassion for all beings
• the concept of interdependence (‘interbeing’) and how it can be practised in daily life

Week 6 - Guidelines for a happier life

• ethical trainings towards happiness
• the ethical guidelines that underpin mindfulness practice in Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings
• how to live these principles in everyday life.

Course methodology:

Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to develop and deepen your own practice of mindfulness, both in the group setting and at home, by learning how to integrate mindfulness into your daily life and consider what will support your ongoing practice.

You will have the opportunity to connect with others who are also interested in mindfulness and well-being. You will have access to resources and support to help you on your journey, including how to find supportive groups and communities (we use the term sanghas).

You will be encouraged to cultivate a greater awareness of the present moment, learning how to observe thoughts and emotions without judgement, and practise being fully present in daily life. You will learn how to cultivate a sense of inner peace and live in harmony with the world around you.

You will be encouraged and supported to set realistic personal goals and develop a daily practice. By the end of the course, you will have a deeper understanding of mindfulness, self-compassion, and interdependence. You will have developed practical skills to manage stress and improve relationships and will have a strong foundation for ongoing personal growth and development. You will be well prepared to participate in sangha activities, as well as further courses, sessions and retreats offered by Plum Village UK.

Commitment:

For this course to be most effective, we recommend that you commit to attending all six sessions and be aware that creating a stable and strong practice of mindfulness is a habit that needs regular, ideally daily, practice. If you know ahead of time that you cannot make a session, then please discuss with your Course Facilitator to understand the content of the missed session. Please note, you will be using a computer/laptop, iPad, phone or device with internet access, and will need a functioning camera and mic.

Feedback from previous participants

"The supportiveness of the whole group was lovely, and I was surprised to be able to feel that with an online course. I came away from each session feeling calm and happy."

"Thank you so much for assisting me to further my journey in such a lovely, peaceful way"

"I've experienced a very real shift in my ability to be present and enjoy simple things"

“I feel more in control of how I approach my life situations, especially the challenges of caring for others and feeling alone”

Schedule

The Be Calm, Be Happy course is facilitated over 6 consecutive sessions on weekdays, evenings, and weekends. Once you book your place on a course you will be able to attend with the same group at the same time each week.

This is a live, interactive course, not recorded sessions to download.

Each session lasts 2 hours.

Course Dates

W e are running numerous 6-week courses during the next quarter. This is a UK-based event. (If you are joining us from outside the UK, you may wish to use a timezone converter.)

Please choose the course dates that are most suitable for you:

Mondays, 6 - 8 pm, 26th February - 8th April, with Tran Vinh Tan

Tuesdays, 6 - 8 pm, 19th of March - 30th of April, with Ian Sneath

Tuesdays, 6.30 - 8.30 pm, 16th of April - 28th of May, with Lauri Bower and Mark Bogues

Monday afternoons, 29th April - 3rd June, with Clare Carlile and Letizia Nodari

Tuesdays at midday, 12 noon, 14th May - 18th June, with Ian Sneath

Thursdays, 6.30 - 8.30pm, 23rd May - 27th June, with Mark Bogues

Ticket Pricing

In offering a range of ticket prices we aim to make the course available to as many people as possible.

These options will be available once you choose a start date by navigating to 'Select a Date' and then, clicking on ‘Tickets’.

Frequently Asked Questions...

What if I miss a class?

It is ideal if you can make all the classes as this way you will gain a sound foundation in mindfulness practice. If you have to miss a class and know ahead of time, do let your course leader know.

What further information will I receive?

You will receive "Joining Information" in a confirmation email once you have purchased your ticket. This will confirm the information on the class timings, and how to access the online course. You will receive a further email directly from the Course Facilitator in the week before the course starts, inviting you to a short pre-course zoom call.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you cancel your booking at least 7 days before the start of the course we will refund your full course fee minus a £15 administration fee.

If you cancel your booking less than 7 days before the start of the course we will issue a 50% refund of the course fee.

Once the course has started no refunds will be issued.

If you have any questions please contact us via bcbh@plumvillage.uk

What is your transfer policy?

You can transfer to different course dates, please give us at least 7 days' notice before the course starts.

After the course starts, we do not offer transfers onto other dates.

Learn more about Plum Village UK

For more courses like this please follow this link https://plumvillage.uk/learn-mindfulness/

We recommend that everyone signing up for this course becomes a member of the Community of Interbeing (see our website at Join Us ).