Who is this mindfulness course for?
This mindfulness course will benefit anyone who wants to increase the awareness they already have. If you suffer from anxiety, stress, fatigue or you simply just want to be more tuned-in to everything going on around you, and all from the comfort and familiarity of your own home, then this course is for you!
What will I learn?
A wide range of mindfulness skills to ease and cope with most the difficulties you are facing in life.
The course requires you to have 2 slots per day where you can complete at least 10 minutes of mindful meditation over the 8 week programme.
As part of the programme, we offer our participants unlimited access to the mindfulness course platform for a full year after your course has ended so that you can avail of our resources anytime you like!
How do I access this online mindfulness course?
It’s simple! All you need is a device (laptop/computer/smartphone/tablet) that is connected to WIFI or the internet. If you have already registered you can log-in here
What is Mindfulness?
While there are many varying definitions of mindfulness, there are a few aspects that remain consistent;
- Focused attention
- Purposeful action
- Being grounded in current experience
We here at Inspired Living believe that anyone is capable of mindfulness.
How long has MBSR been taught and used by other patients?
Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Stress Reduction Program in 1979. Since its inception 35 years ago, more than 20,000 people have completed our eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) and learned how to use their innate resources and abilities to respond more effectively to stress, pain, and illness. The central focus of the Clinic is intensive training in mindfulness meditation and its integration into the challenges/adventures of everyday life.
Is Mindfulness good for my medical condition?
Yes! It has been scientifically proven that mindfulness can help those who suffer from a wide range of both mental and physical conditions. Below is just a sample of some work that supports the use of mindfulness to help people who are suffering from a condition.
Anxiety (Hoge, Bui, Marques, Metcalf, Morris, Robinaugh, et. al., 2013)
Asthma (Pbert, Madison, Druker, Olendzki, Magner, Reed, et. al., 2012)
Cancer (Carlson, Doll, Stephen, Faris, Tamagawa, Drysdale, & Speca, 2013)
Chronic Pain (Reiner, Tibi, & Lipsitz, 2013)
Diabetes (Hartmann, Kopf, Kircher, Faude-Lang, Djuric, Augstein, et. al., 2012)
Fibromyalgia (Schmidt, Grossman, Schwarzer, Jena, Naumann, & Walach, 2011)
Gastrointestinal Disorders (Zernicke, Campbell, Blustein, Fung, Johnson, Bacon, & Carlson, 2013)
Heart Disease (Sullivan, Wood, Terry, Brantley, Charles, McGee, Johnson, et. al., 2009)
HIV (Duncan, Moskowitz, Neilands, Dilworth, Hecht, & Johnson, 2012)
Hot Flashes (Carmody, Crawford, Salmoirago-Blotcher, Leung, Churchill, & Olendzki, 2011)
Hypertension (Hughes, Fresco, Myerscough, van Dulmen, Carlson, & Josephson, 2013)
Major Depression (Chiesa & Serretti, 2011)
Mood Disorders (Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010)
Sleep Disturbances (Andersen, Wurtzen, Steding-Jessen, Christensen, Andersen, Flyger, et. al., 2013)
Stress Disorders (Kearney, McDermott, Malte, Martinez, & Simpson, 2012)
Do I need a textbook for the Mindfulness course or a notebook to take notes?
No… We include a diary and a workbook with the course that you will be able to download and access at any time.
Do I have to engage in mindfulness practices to benefit from the program?
Yes! Being an experimental practice, it is hugely important to engage in the formal mindfulness practices (audio files)
We recommend to all of our participants that you take full advantage of the 8 week period to practice as much mindfulness as possible. The more practice you put in, the greater the result!
I cannot sit still for very long, can I still take an MBSR class?
Yes! The aim of Mindfulness is to bring attention to the moment you are in, whether that be sitting, lying down, standing or moving!
Are there any risks are involved with taking the Mindfulness course?
Our online Mindfulness course includes some light yoga which we would like to point out could be a possible physical risk. We encourage you to stay within your comfort zone so as to avoid straining anything!
There is also a possibility that some participants may experience a brief increase in depression or anxiety. This is because you are learning to “look at” rather than “look away from” aspects of your life that you might have been unwilling to explore before. The good news is that in most cases these feelings are considerably reduced towards the end of the course.
Will Mindfulness disrupt my ongoing psychotherapy?
No, we believe mindfulness is a perfect compliment to psychotherapy. We simply recommend that if you are currently in therapy that you speak with your therapist to let them know about your plan to undergo the 8 week mindfulness course.
Can Mindfulness help with anger and other strong emotions?
Yes, Mindfulness encourages you to acknowledge the impact strong emotions have on your life. Using mindful practices, you will learn that there are different reactions and responses to be used in various circumstances, you will begin to see that there are always options and that it is possible to revaluate the situation before you become overwhelmed.
What is the impact on mindfulness in my everyday actions?
Mindfulness is important because it can help you start to realise what is actually happening around you, things that you may take for granted will become clearer and give you a sense of meaning to each day.
Will mindfulness make me more passive?
An aim of mindfulness is to investigate who we are, self-regulation and how we respond to situations. This investigative process gives us the option to choose with clarity and intention how we would like to interact with the people we meet in our daily lives.
Is it possible to shut off thoughts or gain a blank mind through mindfulness meditation?
It may be, however it is not something we aim to achieve within this course. We believe that the whole concept of Mindfulness is to be present in the here and now. We would encourage our participants to not block but notice their thoughts, feelings and emotions. In doing this we believe the mind becomes more focused and therefore more calm and quiet.
Is mindfulness a Buddhist concept?
Buddhism has adopted mindfulness as a key concept and practice, however Mindfulness does not belong to any religion alone as it is a life concept and can be found in many shapes and forms in various cultures and religions.
Inspired Living is a secular company and our mindfulness course was developed in a way that is accessible to all people regardless of the religious traditions or beliefs.
How much mindfulness practice is required after the course?
That decision is left up to you! Having completed the 8 week programme, you will have a better idea of what mindfulness practises are and how often you wish to apply them to your life
Are there different guided meditations that I can use to support my mindfulness practice?
Absolutely! Our online course includes various different guided mindfulness meditation audio files and practices from;
- A lying down body scan
- A guided seating meditation
- Exploring different objects of attention
- Loving kindness meditations
- Mindful movement and walking meditations