Zen Meditation and Mindfulness for Wellbeing - 5 weeks course
Learn how to create a daily pause to calm your mind, ground your body, and and meet life’s demands with more ease, clarity and presence.
Date and time
Location
Darley Abbey Village Hall
Abbey Yard Darley Abbey DE22 1DS United KingdomAgenda
Week 1 - Introduction
Week 2 - Letting go of Stress
Week 3 - Overcoming Physical Pain
Week 4 - Ease Emotional pain, Anxiety and Depression
Week 5 - Taking care of yourself and way forward
Good to know
Highlights
- 28 days, 2 hours
- In person
Refund Policy
About this event
About the course
"Just as physical exercise is good in a general way for the body, so zazen (sitting meditation) is undoubtedly beneficial to physical and mental health."— Zen Master Hakuun Yasutani
In today’s fast-paced world, we often juggle endless demands while navigating personal challenges. The result? Overwhelm, exhaustion, and a decline in our health and wellbeing.
This course offers a chance to step back, slow down, and reconnect—with yourself, your body, and your breath.
What the Course Provides
🌿 An opportunity to pause: No demands, no distractions. Time just for you to get quiet, breathe, release, and restore.
📖 New knowledge: Explore the science behind how our body and mind respond to stress, pain, and emotions.
🧰 A self-care toolkit: Learn what mindfulness truly is and how to cultivate it to nurture awareness, empathy, and compassion.
🪷 Foundations for a daily practice: Experience Zen meditation (zazen and do-zen) and discover how it supports long-term wellbeing.
These thousand-year-old practices are now supported by over 40 years of modern scientific research, showing benefits such as:
Reduced stress and burnout
Relief from anxiety and depression
Better sleep and sharper focus
Improved memory and concentration
Enhanced emotional regulation
Stronger immune system and lower blood pressure
Improved management of chronic pain
What to Expect
Each session combines learning and practice. Over the weeks, we will:
Explore key principles from human physiology and neuroscience.
Practise seated (zazen) and moving (do-zen) meditation.
Experiment with postures and modalities so you can find what suits you best.
Alternate between stillness and gentle movement.
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring layers, as body temperature can drop during relaxation. Herbal tea will be provided as we begin each session.
🧘♀️ All equipment (zabuton, zafu, yoga mats, blankets) will be supplied, though you’re welcome to bring your own favourites.
🎥 All sessions will be recorded for catch-up. To get the most from the course, we recommend attending live where possible.
🌱 To sustain the benefits, you’ll be encouraged to practise 30 minutes a day (just 2% of your day). No miracles promised—simply the reassurance that consistent practice yields lasting results.
Who It’s For
This course is open to anyone curious about cultivating more vitality, inner balance, and emotional resilience.
No previous experience or physical ability is required—practices can be adapted to your needs. This is Bompu Zen (everyday Zen): a secular, health-focused approach with no particular spiritual orientation.
We aim to create a safe, confidential, and inclusive space where everyone is free to simply be. Sharing is optional; compassion, respect, and non-judgement are at the heart of our group.
What’s Included
Small group (max 8 participants)
Herbal tea on arrival
Use of all equipment
Complimentary meditation diary
5 × 2-hour sessions
3 guided meditation audio recordings for home practice
Access to recordings if you miss a session
Ongoing teacher support throughout the course
Additional Info
Before the course begins, you’ll receive a link to a short pre-course questionnaire. Completing this will give you a personal reference point to reflect on your progress at the end.
If you don’t receive it, please get in touch and it will be sent directly to your email.
✨ A gift that keeps on giving—Zen meditation offers simple practices that, with consistency, can transform your daily life
About the teacher
Stef is an IMTA-accredited Zen meditation and mindfulness teacher, part of the Zenways teaching community and a student of Zen Master Daizan Skinner.
Mindfulness in all its forms—meditation, movement, and everyday awareness—has been central to her own wellbeing journey over the years.
A former corporate executive, and a longstanding practitioner of Qi Gong and Yoga, Stef is a passionate advocate for holistic wellbeing. Today she helps others—in and outside the workplace—find their own Zen through calmer minds, grounded bodies, and happier, fuller lives. She brings the wisdom of two decades of personal and professional experience, including overcoming her own challenges, to inspire living more slowly, authentically, and sustainably amidst the pressures of modern life.
Passionate about nature and the outdoors, Stef is also a keen (if now less bouncy) equestrian. She lives in Derbyshire with her two children, their cat, and two hens. When not teaching or connecting with others, you’ll likely find her with a book in hand, walking the Derbyshire countryside, or travelling—whether for training, retreats, or exploring the world with her children. True to her Italian roots, she also loves preparing slow, wholesome food for family and friends as a way of sharing love and connection.
📧 Connect: Stef@hasu-innatewellbeing.com
Frequently asked questions
No, this is a 5 weeks course. It runs every week for 5 weeks, during school terms. Every week we will build on our practise as well as exploring different topics so it is recommended that you are able to commit to the duration of the course in order to benefit the most
No, the course is designed to be accessible to anyone, whichever the level of your practise if any at all. When we embrace something with a beginner’s mind we always find new things to learn
Nothing other than an open mind, a drink of water and comfortable clothes in layers to ensure you can relax at your optimal body temperature. If you have anything you already use like your own yoga mat or meditation cushion you are welcome to bring it along otherwise everything will be provided
Yes, there is parking at the facility at the venue. Please park considerately to the other businesses
You will get the most benefit from attending the course in full. However unplanned things happens from time to time. If you cannot make a class a recording will be made available to you so you can catch up at home and keep up the practice ahead of the following week.
If a class has to be cancelled due to illness or unforeseen circumstances you will either receive the recording for that week or if convenient to the group we may extend the duration of the course to cover the missed class in person
Mindfulness and meditation are ancient practices rooted in many different spiritual traditions, however Zen has a long tradition of what is called Bompu Zen, or secular Zen, whose practices are solely aimed at improving overall health and wellbeing. In short, no this is not a religious practice
All meditations can be practised standing, sitting on the floor in several ways or on a chair and even walking. The only thing that is important is an aligned spine and that you feel relaxed, yet alert
Amongst many: stress reduction, better sleep, pain management, emotional regulation and resilience, improved mood, improved memory and cognitive functions, less mental chatter and rumination, lower blood pressure and stronger immune system, and generally a more fulfilling life experience
This course is an investment on you and it is designed to enable you to build both knowledge and a practice that can powerfully influence your own wellbeing for the rest of your life. However, please do not let finance get in your way and get in touch to discuss options.
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