Mindful Practices for Health and Wellbeing
A new programme of mindfulness meditation between January and March 2021, led by qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teachers Jean-Paul and Sally Jeanrenaud and invited guests.
Can mindfulness help us reconnect to our deeper selves, to each other and to the wider world? Can it help us cope with the stress of the Covid pandemic? Human beings have always faced challenging times, individually and collectively, and the pandemic is no exception. In times of uncertainty, anxiety, fear, loneliness, exhaustion or loss, it is important to find ways of centring ourselves and taking care of each other.
Mindfulness practices can foster mental and physical wellbeing by helping us balance the energies of body, heart and mind. They can help us cultivate compassion for others as well as ourselves. The practices are known to have a number of health benefits including: reducing stress, strengthening immunity, and developing resilience and equanimity.
The Fintry Trust is offering a new programme of mindfulness meditation between January and March 2021, led by qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teachers Jean-Paul and Sally Jeanrenaud and invited guests.
Although MBSR originally has its roots in the world’s spiritual traditions, the programme itself is open to people of all faiths or none. Each session will include a short introduction to the week’s theme, several mindfulness practices, and opportunities for sharing experiences and insights. The sessions will draw on the latest neuroscience and evolving practices.
The 12-week programme will follow a curriculum of training in mindfulness. To derive the most benefit we would recommend following the whole series, but sessions can be booked individually.
Sessions will take place every Monday evening at 7pm UK time, and last about 90 minutes.
Practice Sessions Every Monday Evening at 7pm
11/01/21: 1. Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation
18/01/21: 2. Mindfulness of Body and Breath
25/01/21: 3. Mindfulness in Every Moment
01/02/21: 4. Mindfulness of Thoughts
08/02/21: 5. Mindfulness of Emotions
15/02/21: 6. Mindfulness of Our Experience
22/02/21: 7. Cultivating Compassion
01/03/21: 8. Self-Compassion
08/03/21: 9. Compassion for Others
15/03/21: 10. Compassion for the Wider World
22/03/21: 11. Equanimity
29/03/21: 12. A Mindful Life
Session 1: Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation
This session will introduce the idea of mindfulness meditation and include a Body-focused practice. Together we will explore the difference between being ‘mindful’ and being on ‘automatic pilot’; the three faculties of mindfulness and objects of attention; and the difference between ‘being’ and ‘doing’ modes of experience.
Session 2: Mindfulness of Body and Breath
This session will include a Mindfulness of Body and Breath meditation. Together we will explore helpful meditation postures; the essential ‘attitudes’ of mindfulness; and what mindfulness is not.
Session 3: Mindfulness in Every Moment
This session will include Standing and Mindful Movement practices. Together we will explore the power of being present in every moment; stress and its effects; and coping with stress and the difference between reacting and responding.
Session 4: Mindfulness of Thoughts
This session will include a Mindfulness of Thoughts meditation. Together we will explore how to look at our thoughts, rather than from our thoughts; how to observe thoughts as just events in the mind, and to realise that we are not our thoughts by becoming the ‘witness’, and developing a new relationship with thoughts.
Session 5: Mindfulness of Emotions
This session will include a Mindfulness of Emotions practice. Together we will explore becoming aware of specific emotions and the power of labeling them; the feedback loop between body, thoughts, and emotions; and the value of understanding difficult emotions and how to process them.
Session 6: Mindfulness of Our Experience
This session will include a Four Step Awareness meditation practice that helps integrate all aspects of our experience, pleasant, unpleasant and neutral. Together we will explore how to gain a fuller perspective on all our experiences; the two dimensions of suffering; and the effects of resisting, and accepting current realities.
Session 7: Cultivating Compassion
This session will include a Kindly Awareness meditation. Together we will explore the role of forgiveness; the benefits of compassion; the differences between sympathy, empathy, and the neuroscience of compassion.
Session 8: Self-Compassion
This session will include Self-Compassion meditation practices. Together we will explore how to identify limiting self-beliefs and learn to love ourselves through the RAIN of Self-Compassion (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture).
Session 9: Compassion for Others
This session will include Compassion for Others meditation practices. Together we will explore the role of establishing ‘healthy boundaries’ and maintaining a sense of ‘me’; the experience of extending compassion to others; and compassion as a multi-dimensional concept.
Session 10: Compassion for the Wider World
This session will include At One with the Earth meditations. Together we will explore the interconnectedness of all things from the perspective of the world’s wisdom traditions and modern sciences; the psychological, social and ecological impacts of living in a disconnected world; as well as stewardship of, and service in the world.
Session 11: Equanimity
This session will include a practice which combines Equanimity and Compassion. Together we will explore how to keep an open heart, big enough to hold the sorrows of the world, along with a mind wise enough to remain in peace; the importance of cultivating emotional balance and resilience; and how equanimity and compassion can help each other.
Session 12: A Mindful Life
This session will include a Body-focused meditation practice. Together we will plan new ways of living, with intention, attention, and mindful attitudes for ourselves, and the wider world; of strengthening our inner resources; and putting our values into action.
About the teachers
The programme is led by qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teachers Jean-Paul and Sally Jeanrenaud and invited guests. Jean-Paul and Sally are registered with Yoga Alliance UK, and follow the UK Good Practice Guidelines for teaching Mindfulness-based courses.
Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud
