An Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation 4-week Course — Te Atatu (C)

An Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation 4-week course. Each class is one hour, once per week. This course is practical, non-religious and designed for beginners. The course includes

• 4 classes with an experienced mindfulness trainer
• 4-week subscription to the full version of the CALM app
• Downloadable guided mindfulness meditations for you to keep
• A 45-page guidebook

“Using mindfulness to help me better manage unrelenting anxiety, obsessive worrying & sadness. I have found that using the apps is helpful when having a stressful day, & I intend to keep practicing daily. Thank you.” — Cecily Wilson

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

The benefits of regular mindfulness are…

✔ Reduced stress and anxiety

✔ Improved sleeping patterns

✔ Less self-judgement and more self-acceptance

✔ Greater feelings of joy and freedom

✔ Improved mental health

✔ Effective ways to work with difficult thoughts and emotions

“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

✔ Full length 4-week course so you can practise and report back.

✔ No risk money-back guarantee; if you attend all the classes and don’t feel you have received any benefit get your money back.

✔ Includes 4-week subscription to the premium version of the CALM mindfulness and meditation app.

✔ New Zealand’s number one mindfulness course.

✔ Exclusive 45-page guidebook including weekly assignments, indepth articles and a reading list.

✔ Over 15 guided downloadable guided meditations for you to keep.

✔ No religion. No dogma. No funny positions. Practical and non-religious course.

✔ Designed for absolute beginners

Week 1: What is Mindfulness?

• What mindfulness is
• The benefits of mindfulness and meditation
• Guided body scan mindfulness meditation.

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.

Week 3: Working with Emotions

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

Week 4: Radical Acceptance

• What it means to be present
• How "wanting things to be different" causes stress
• Developing wisdom and insight
• Authentic self-compassion
• Open awareness guided mindfulness meditation
• Next steps.

YOUR FACILITATOR IS WIMAL WICKRAMASURIYA

Wimal (Wim) Wickramasuriya was born into an Eastern Buddhist culture in Sri Lanka and moved to New Zealand as a teenager to begin a life of Western culture at Gisborne Boys High in the east coast of the North Island. The cultural difference has made the blend of East meeting the West a cognitive experience as he progressed through life within the engineering field, real estate selling and owning a business. So much was misunderstood and miscommunicated along the way. Difficult work life, family life & health issues prevailed. The innate being was constantly challenged. Teachers appeared, practice became ritual and Wimal was drawn into Mindfulness as a rich basis to live life fully and be more “in-tune” with himself and others. Attending to life with more self compassion and gentleness…. to develop a greater sense of awareness and manage stressful and anxious situations using mindfulness as a tool.

Mindfulness practice has transformed the way Wimal lives his life now knowing this is another journey beginning. He is excited to facilitate this enriching wisdom so others can cultivate their own experiences and see life through “new eyes” and have a better appreciation of life and living – a new life skill. Wimal has three daughters and two granddaughters.

Mindfulness Works is the largest mindfulness training organisation in New Zealand. Over 15,000 people have completed the Mindfulness Works Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation 4-week course

Mindfulness Works is committed to:

• Providing accessible and affordable mindfulness courses.
• Offering a diverse range of experienced and skilled mindfulness trainers.
• Providing courses in a practical format with exceptional supporting resources.
• Improving the mental health of all of us and fostering self-love in all.
• Supporting our facilitators with options for further professional development.