“Neuroscientists have found that meditators shift their brain activity to different areas of the cortex…This mental shift decreases the negative effects of stress, mild depression and anxiety. …The researchers found that the meditators showed a pronounced shift in activity to the left frontal lobe. In other words, they were calmer and happier than before.” - Psychology Today

Benefits of mindfulness & meditation:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• More focus and energy
• Greater sense of ease and perspective
• Sleep better
• Relax more
• Greater self-awareness and wisdom
• Deeper levels of self-acceptance
• Richer and deeper experience of day-to-day life
• Studies and articles on the benefits of mindfulness meditation

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness means “paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.” – Jon Kabat Zinn (Professor of Medicine Emeritus Stress Reduction Clinic and the Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine).

Mindfulness and meditation are both gaining in popularity as more and more people discover how this simple skill can have a profoundly positive impact on your life. Organisations such as Google, Apple, Nike and Yahoo! now run mindfulness programmes and sessions for staff during work hours. Modern research about mindfulness and meditation shows measurable and significant benefits to people including less stress, less anxiety, greater focus, calm and happiness.

This particular course emphasises your own natural wisdom, your own innate OKness, right here and now. The instructions and guidance will be explicitly inviting you to embrace your whole human experience as it happens, moment by moment with a radical acceptance.  

"Mental Health Foundation mental health promoter Grant Rix says mindfulness has been shown to benefit our brains to such an extent that we can feel calmer, more aware, have an increased ability to focus and concentrate, remember things better and feel happier." - NZ Mental Health Foundation Press Release July 2012 

• Practical with no dogma or religion
• Bookings are essential. The last course was fully booked prior to starting
• Class numbers are restricted to approx 20 people
• Each class includes a instruction, a guided meditation and time for questions/reflections
• Meditation is in chairs 
• Four weekly 60-minute classes
• Receive an articles, weekly emails and two downloadable guided mindfulness meditations
• Safe and supportive environment
• Learn to meditate in a simple, clear, effective and practical way
• Develop your capacity of self-awareness, self-understanding, compassion and mindfulness
• Generate greater calm, insight and wisdom

Course Contents:

Week 1: What is Mindfulness? 

• What mindfulness is
• The benefits of mindfulness and meditation
• How to get the most from the course
• Guided body scan mindfulness meditation
• Question and answers / discussion

 Week 2: Working with the Mind

• Why thinking can be problematical
• Practical ways to work with difficult thoughts
• Self-judgement and how to intervene
• Guided mindfulness meditation – counting the breath
• Questions and answers / discussion 

Week 3: Working with Emotions and Feelings

• What are emotions?
• Learning to feel emotions
• The RAIN method
• Non-judgement and acceptance
• Guided mindfulness meditation on feelings
• Question and answers / discussion 

Week 4: Radical Acceptance

• What it means to be present
• How wanting causes stress
• Developing wisdom and insight
• Authentic self-compassion
• Open awareness guided mindfulness meditation
• Question and answers / discussion

All Introductory Courses Include:

• Guided mindfulness meditation audio files
• Handouts and articles for each class
• Weekly email instructions and articles

Refund policy and money back guarantee

Should you attend the entire course and not be satisfied you are entitled to a full 100% refund should you wish.

How long is each weekly class and what happens?

Each class is 60 minutes long. There will be a guided meditation for a period. This will include meditation instruction. After the meditation and instruction there will be a talk or discussion. This includes a question and answer time.

Who is it suitable for?

This course is suitable for you if you have never practised mindfulness or meditation or if you have attended introductory mindfulness and meditation courses and want to deepen your practice.

Your trainer is Rachel Tobin

Rachel Tobin has been practising meditation for over 25 years and is a qualified teacher in a varety of fields including the moving mindfulness practices of qi gong and feldenkrais.  She is the director of the art of mindfulness, working individually with adults and children, teaching mindfulness in organisations and to the general public, and regularly running one-day and residential mindfulness retreats. She is also a facilitator for the 8-week mindfulness programme, Pause Breathe Smile, which she teaches privately and in schools. 

Rachel lives in Paekakariki, on the lovely Kapiti Coast. She is also a poet.

Testimonials the Introductory Course:

“I had never done meditation before and already had preconceived notions of what it would be like such as “religious and a bit airy fairy”. Surprisingly this course was the opposite. I found Karl very relatable, when he talked about our thoughts. Like a lot of people, I tend to overthink everything from past events to future, or simply beating myself up. Karl helped me to take a step back and recognise I’m not my negative thoughts and they do not define me. I now feel a sense of peace. The mediation itself is relaxing and helps you de-stress from the day’s events. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to de-stress and gain inner peace.” - Summer

Questions or More Information:

If you have questions or require more information, please email karen@mindfulnessworks.co.nz or ring Karen on 027 664 9281.