Taster Session | Introductory Workshop | Course | Nurturing Continued Practice

Please be aware that all our events have moved online during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Please see ‘Who is this workshop for?’ and ‘Practising Presence’ below before booking.

Managing Change and Uncertainty with Mindfulness Introductory Workshop

Covid-19 has brought with it an unprecedented amount of uncertainty and change. Change also plays an unavoidable role in our day to day personal and professional lives, but how change-wise are we as individuals? And how brain friendly are we when it comes to managing change?

This workshop is offered in recognition of the difficulties inherent in managing times of change and uncertainty. It is an opportunity to explore the topic of change and how we might begin to better resource both ourselves and those around us.

Through attending this workshop participants will gain an initial understanding of

• the nature of change and uncertainty in our personal and professional lives

• the neuroscience of change

• mindfulness as an inner resource to navigate uncertainty and change

• some of the common misconceptions about mindfulness

• next steps for those that would like to learn mindfulness.

Who is this workshop for?

This is an introductory workshop. All welcome! No previous experience required.

It is of particular relevance to those experiencing personal, professional or societal change who wish to better understand uncertainty and change, particularly those with responsibility for managing others through periods of change and uncertainty.

You may have had a go at meditation and found your mind too busy or that you fell asleep; you may have been recommended by someone else to try out mindfulness, or maybe you just know you need some space to manage changes in your life - whatever the reason, this is your opportunity to find out more!

Whilst guidance will be offered for those who would like to go on to learn mindfulness (see next steps below) there is no expectation to do so - curious/sceptics welcome.

Practising Presence

Mindfulness is the cultivation of present moment awareness. To cultivate increased awareness in this way we first need to develop a stability of attention.

So as to ensure the best learning environment for yourselves and others we ask that you

• treat this session as you would a face to face event, being there in person (recordings will not be made/offered) wherever possible with your camera function enabled.

• limit distractions as best you can, ensuring that

  • mobiles are both on airplane mode and out of sight

  • other applications are closed so that you will not be interrupted by emails etc.

  • colleagues and/or family are aware that you are in a live training session, maybe putting a note on the door to remind people if need be.

• make yourselves comfortable with a glass of water or cup of tea/coffee.

Format of the session

This session will be offered on zoom.

Upon booking you will be sent a link to access the session.

If required please use the link below to access a 1 minute guidance video ‘Join a Meeting’ on how to use zoom https://zoom.us/resources

We’ve been surprised by how easily both we and others have adapted to zoom over recent weeks, if you do experience any technical difficulties though, zoom also offer a troubleshooting page. https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/sections/200305593-Troubleshooting

We recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early so that we can try to resolve any technical issues prior to the start time.

Is it the right time for me to practice mindfulness?

It is not unusual for people to turn to mindfulness during periods of change and/or difficulty with many often finding mindfulness courses both more challenging and more rewarding than they expected.

There are however times when attending a group mindfulness course might not be beneficial. UMASS (the university from which Mindfulness-Based Interventions originate) list the following as areas requiring particular care 'addiction, early recovery, untreated psychosis, acute depression, suicidality, PTSD, social anxiety, recent loss'.

These circumstances or conditions do not necessarily rule out the possibility of attending a class as suitability is very much influenced by;

• Your current psychological health

• The extent to which you have previously explored areas of particular difficulty and

• The support networks that you have around you, such as friends, family and mental health professionals

We would ask that if any of these apply that they are clearly stated on your booking form alongside details of the points above. The booking form is also an opportunity to make us aware of any other additional needs you may have. If you are currently receiving treatment for an ongoing mental health problem we strongly advise that you discuss your course attendance with your mental health professional before booking.

For those attending courses we would also strongly recommend not making any changes to any medication during or immediately after a course - however well you may be feeling at that time. Instead giving yourself time to fully establish your mindfulness practice and any new routines associated with it before considering subsequent changes with a trained healthcare professional.

Please contact us to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding workshop and/or course suitability. We are happy to discuss your particular circumstances and how you may best be supported. If a course is not felt to be suitable at this time alternatives will be offered including, for example, suggesting healthcare professionals who integrate mindfulness into their work.

Next Steps/Wider Mindfulness and Compassion Programme

Mindfulness is a skill which takes both time and personal commitment to be learned. Whilst participants may well experience a change in ‘state’ as a result of an introductory session, the researched benefits of mindfulness come from the regular practice of mindfulness meditation and the possibility of changes in ‘trait’*.

Individuals interested in mindfulness are therefore encouraged to consider practising in a supported environment so as to be able to ask questions about their experiences as they arise.

This workshop/course forms part of our wider mindfulness programme including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness for Managing Change and Uncertainty, Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Care for those in caring roles and Mindfulness-Based Retirement Transition for those approaching retirement.

The traditional eight week mindfulness courses offer a well-established format for nurturing a meditation practice please see our website for more details.

We also offer regular development sessions for those who have completed 8 week mindfulness and compassion courses.

* From States to Traits: the Latest Science on What Meditation can and Can’t Do

The Facilitator

The facilitator for this workshop is Sally Roberts. A former sceptic it took chronic illness in 2008 before Sally would consider something as ‘alternative’ as mindfulness! Since training to teach mindfulness in 2012 Sally has had the privilege of sharing many journeys into mindfulness teaching both public and workplace courses and continues to be inspired by the transformational impact these can have at both a personal and professional level.

Frequently Asked Questions...

Is there disabled access to the venue?

n/a - Online

What further information will I receive?

On booking you will receive an automated email confirming your place and containing instructions on how to access the Online Training Room.

What is your cancellation policy?

If you decide to cancel your place, you will receive:

• A full refund (minus a £5 administration fee) provided we receive notice of your cancellation a least 14 days' before the workshop date
• A 50% refund if we receive 13 - 7 days' notice
• No refund if we receive less than 7 days' notice

In the case that the practice day is cancelled by The Northern Centre for Mindfulness and Compassion, all workshop fees will be refunded in full.

I am considering training to teach mindfulness, will this course enable me to do this?

For those looking to teach mindfulness we would recommend having a look at the UK Network for Mindfulness Based Teacher Training Organisations which gives guidance on good practice and teacher training organisations within the UK. An 8-week MBSR, MBCT or 10-week MBLC course is generally considered a good starting point (including attendance on a day retreat) and often a pre-requisite to attending teaching training. Given several of our courses are adaptations of the traditional 8 week format, if you are looking to follow a particular training route it is worth checking any stipulated pre-requisites with your training provider.

My organisation are interested in/supportive of mindfulness – do you offer in-house training?

Yes we offer a full range of in-house mindfulness training, including stress reduction, resilience, change management, compassionate care, creativity and leadership development. Introductory workshops are an important first step for those wishing to offer mindfulness training. Please see our workplace webpage or get in touch for further information. We have also agreed employee discounts with a number of local organisations. If you are unsure as to whether or not your organisation has this offer in place please check with your HR/Staff Benefits/Management team.

What is your privacy policy?

We recognize the importance of protecting your personal information and are committed to processing it responsibly and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Please click on the link below to see our Privacy Statement which describes what happens to any personal data that you give to us, or any that we may collect from or about you. It applies to all courses and services, and instances where we collect your personal data: https://yorkmbsr.co.uk/privacy-policy

If you have a question which has not been answered,

further FAQs are available on our website or you can contact us directly at relax@yorkmbsr.co.uk.