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LEARN MINDFULNESS

Join a small group for an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, the gold standard in Mindfulness training and the most-researched Mindfulness programme available.

UPCOMING MBSR COURSES, LIVE VIA ZOOM:


7 August: Mondays (7 pm - 9:30 pm UK) 
8 October: Sundays (10 am- 12:30 pm UK)

YOUR FREE MBSR INFO PACK

A handy PDF with more information about the course

No email required!

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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is scientifically underpinned and can help you cope better with stress and anxiety, and develop practical self-care tools to help you flourish.

MBSR was developed by Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 1970s at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre. It is an 8-week, evidence-based programme that uses a combination of mindfulness meditation, mindful stretching and interactive group exercises to help participants explore habitual patterns of thinking, behaviour and more.

MBSR has proven to be so successful, it is used in hospitals around the world and is also taught in non-clinical settings, including workplaces, schools and many other contexts.

This is an 8-week live online programme with me via ZOOM. Classes are held weekly and last approx. 2 hours and 15 minutes. Class size is between 10 and 15 participants to ensure a comfortable and enriching learning journey for all.

You will experience a variety of formal and informal mindfulness meditation practices, group dialogue and gentle teachings around the physiology of stress, how to self-regulate your mood, responding instead of reacting in challenging situations, being more compassionate to yourself, and more.

The MBSR course I will be teaching carefully follows the official MBSR curriculum (Centre for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School) and MBSR training documents by the Centre for Mindfulness Research & Practice, Bangor University.
 
Please message me to apply

Once you have applied: An Orientation Questionnaire and Consent Form will be sent separately to you. I will review these and arrange a brief course suitability interview with you via telephone or ZOOM. This is standard practice for safeguarding reasons. (Sometimes, the time is not right to embark on a Mindfulness course, so it is ethical best practice for teachers to explore suitability with course candidates.)
 
Thank you, and hopefully see you soon!
Christoph

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MINDFULNESS FAQ'S

Please note: These are brief answers to complex concepts! There is an abundance of research information available. Please just ask me for additional resources if you are interested in learning more.

• What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is like a diamond with many facets. And trying to define it is like defining art or love… You will hear many different opinions and, in fact, part of the beauty of the Mindfulness journey is the invitation to become clearer about what Mindfulness means to you.
Generally speaking, Mindfulness is a trainable skill. That skill is attention. Therefore, Mindfulness is a form of attention training. But there’s something specific that makes Mindfulness practice so special: The element of being non-judgemental as we pay attention. Mindfulness is non-judgemental present moment awareness. We can learn to focus our attention on something without colouring what we observe with our many beliefs, opinions, preferences, etc. We learn to be with something just as it is – without needing it to be different. We learn to pay what is often referred to as kindly attention. We cultivate an attitude of non-judgement and look at things as if we were in the observer seat. When we do this, we can step out of issues and step back for a while -even if only for one moment- and create a gentle breathing space between ourselves and our thoughts. We learn to relate to issues rather than from them. This practice can allow us to respond to whatever occurs instead of reacting to it.
Mindfulness helps us to wake up from the automatic pilot mode of mind. On automatic pilot, we are more likely to feel triggered. Events around us, and our own thoughts, feelings and sensations (of which we may be only dimly aware) can trigger old habits of feeling, thinking and behaviour that are often unhelpful. This can often lead to worsening mood, or to physical and emotional symptoms of stress.
The aim of Mindfulness is to increase our awareness so that we can learn to live more fully, responding to situations with choice rather than reacting automatically. We do this by learning to pay attention to all our experiences, including our bodily sensations, thoughts, moods and emotions, and to the small changes within them.

• Is Mindfulness a religious practice?

Although it is generally considered that Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhism (which is a philosophy and science of mind rather than a religion), Mindfulness can be experienced and practiced entirely secularly. The MBSR course has no intention to purposefully promote any religion and all sessions and practices are secular.

• How to practice Mindfulness? And is it the same as meditation?

During the MBSR programme, you will learn about formal and informal Mindfulness practice. Formal practice consists of exercises including sitting meditation, body scans, breath awareness, and mindful movement. Informal practices invite us to bring mindful awareness to daily activities such as doing the dishes, taking a shower, mindful listening to a friend, and so on. All great opportunities to practice paying non-judgemental attention. It is more challenging than it may seem! We soon realise how distracted we are during those everyday activities…
To build the Mindfulness “muscle,” it is important to train it. To use an analogy, if Mindfulness is your fitness level, you’d go to the meditation gym to boost that fitness level. However, Mindfulness is but one form of meditation. During the MBSR course, you have ample opportunity to experience both formal and informal Mindfulness practice.

• How does it work?

Psychologically, practicing Mindfulness (intentionally paying kindly attention) allows for a shift in perspective to occur. A meta-cognitive awareness called reperceiving or decentering. Reperceiving can help change our relationship to our experience (including thoughts, feelings and emotions). It becomes easier to disidentify from our mind’s content, observe the inner commentary and recognise the impermanence of our predicament. This is not passive resignation but a very alive, active process that facilitates a healthy sense of control and befriending ourselves.
Neurologically, Mindfulness practice can positively affect the brain and other parts of our nervous system. With Mindfulness practice we develop our capacity to integrate different parts of the brain so they can work more harmoniously together, leading to better perspective-taking, less emotional reactivity and more self-regulation.

• What are the benefits?

Although Mindfulness is not a panacea and mustn’t be presented as one, there are many well-documented benefits that thousands of people around the world report as a result of practicing Mindfulness. Countless scientific studies back up these results and can easily be accessed online for further information. In England, the National Health Service offers Mindfulness training as a treatment to help prevent depressive relapse.
Cultivating a daily Mindfulness practice can: Increase self-awareness and self-regulation, reduce stress, bolster the immune system, improve empathy, memory, perspective-taking, attention, patience, reduce anxiety and more. Overall, practicing Mindfulness can lead to suffering less, greater wellbeing and flourishing in life.

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ABOUT MBSR

“Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an effective, scientifically researched method for reducing physical and psychological suffering while building resilience, balance, and peace of mind.”

– Mindfulness Center at Brown University


MBSR was developed by Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn in the 1970’s at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre. It is an 8-week, evidence-based programme that uses a combination of mindfulness meditation, mindful stretching, yoga and interactive group exercises to help participants explore habitual patterns of thinking, behaviour and more.


MBSR is a secular and intensive Mindfulness training course to assist people with stress, anxiety, depression and pain. To help enable that, the following seven foundational attitudes of Mindfulness according to Kabat-Zinn are explored during the course: Acceptance, non-judging, non-striving, beginners mind, letting go, patience and trust.


The programme is taught by specially trained teachers. It does not intend to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition, but rather to help participants change the way they relate to their circumstances through the powerful practice of non-judgemental mindful awareness. This approach can help people live more effectively with their problems. MBSR has proven to be so successful, it is used in hospitals around the world and is also taught in non-clinical settings, including workplaces, schools and many other contexts.

ABOUT MBSR CLASSES

This is an 8-week programme. Following an orientation session (approx. 1 hour), classes are held weekly and last approx. 2:15 hours. Daily homework mindfulness practice (min 6 days per week) is about 30 – 45 mins and an essential part of the course.

 

There is an "All-Day Retreat" between Week 6 and Week 7. More info on the All-Day event will be provided separately during the course.

 

MBSR class size is between 10 and 15 participants to ensure a comfortable and enriching learning experience for all.

 

The MBSR course Christoph teaches carefully follows the official MBSR curriculum (Centre for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School) and MBSR training documents by the Centre for Mindfulness Research & Practice, Bangor University.

A 120-page "Course Companion" workbook will be provided.

Upon completion of the 8-week course and All-Day, participants receive a Certificate of Completion. 

PARTICIPANTS SAY

"As a second-time student of Christoph Spiessens’ MBSR course, I can not say enough about this course or about this teacher. My life is currently in great transition and this course has been both extremely meaningful and vital in my journey forward. Christoph is truly a natural teacher, weaving knowledge, compassion, clarity and insight throughout his teaching. His ability to facilitate learning through gentle guidance and not “leading”, makes his sessions very unique and special experiences. In every class I’ve attended with Christoph, I’ve experienced a safe and supportive space where growth is a natural and organic outcome. His abilities as a teacher and guide are especially synchronistic with the curriculum of the MBSR course, from which we cultivate such valuable learning for navigating day to day life. I highly recommend the MBSR course for anyone interested in experiencing more presence, awareness and clarity in their life, and I recommend Christoph Spiessens for anyone looking for a life-changing and extraordinary teacher of Mindfulness."
Cat Cantor

"This is an absolutely wonderful course. Challenging, eye-opening and transformative. I’m learning so much from it."

P. Sutherland

"If you are unsure, just do it anyway, this may just be the thing you have been searching for."

October 2022 participant

"Life changing. Definitely worth investing the time in and I have recommended it to others."

October 2022 participant

"I really enjoyed attending the online course facilitated by Christoph, it really helped me stay on track establishing a mindfulness practice. Christoph helped us to explore what we experienced during practice which was a huge learning curve and one that you can’t get from books or apps."

October 2022 participant

"MBSR reminds me to make time for me and ground myself, prioritise my well-being."

October 2022 participant

"Christoph's facilitation of this 8-week MBSR course was excellent. He is very knowledgeable about mindfulness and a skilful teacher with a friendly and approachable personality. He was always well organised and prepared for our weekly online sessions with good quality course material sent to us in good time before we met. Christoph is emphatic and compassionate, someone who is very easy to connect with. He is an active listener and holds space for everyone on the course to contribute or to catch up with any activity. I was very touched by his inclusivity and sensitivity; the way he supported every individual was really wonderful. I feel very fortunate to be able to join him and my fellow students on this recent course."

January 2023 participant

"This 8-week MBSR course was great. It came at the right time for me and it was perfect that I could do it from my home; going out of my comfort zone in my most comfortable place. Christoph was a great facilitator of my learning on this 8-week journey; always kind, thoughtful and in the background allowing 'mindfulness' to be our teacher. The course materials are great, interestingly the small group made the experience more personal and sharing reflection and experience consolidated my learning. There are great resources to develop my practice after the 8 weeks. I've been practicing mindfulness for a while, everytime I take another step to deepen it, I 'see' its effects. I'd recommend this for beginners and those who regularly practice."

January 2023 participant

MBSR PROGRAMME

Session 1 – Introducing Mindfulness. Theme: There is more right with you than wrong with you.
Session 2 – Perception. Theme: Perception and creative responding.
Session 3 – Mindfulness of the Breath & the Body in Movement. Theme: The pleasure and power of being present.
Session 4 – Learning About our Patterns of Reactivity to Stress. Theme: The shadow of stress.
Session 5 – Coping with Stress: Using Mindfulness to Respond Instead of React. Theme: Finding the space for making choices.
Session 6 – Stressful Communications and Interpersonal Mindfulness. Theme: Working with difficult situations.
All-Day Session. Theme: “Dive in!”
Session 7 – Life-Style Choices – How Can I Best Take Care of Myself? Theme: Cultivating kindness towards self and others.
Session 8 – Keeping Your Mindfulness Alive! Theme: The 8th week is the rest of your life.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Registration for MBSR courses is open year-round. For more information and to register, please email Connect@ChristophSpiessens.com or use the Contact Form or

call +44 (0)7884 076 893.

UPCOMING MBSR COURSES VIA ZOOM:

7 August: Mondays (7 pm - 9:30 pm UK)

8 October: Sundays (10 am- 12:30 pm UK)

The fee for this course is £175 + VAT per person. Concessions are available, please inquire. This includes tuition, a 120-page "Course Companion" workbook and meditation recordings. 

Christoph will process your enquiry or application ASAP. An Orientation Questionnaire, Consent Form, and interview invite along with payment details will be sent separately to you.

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