Calm mind open heart mindfulness course
This eight-week mindfulness course is suitable for the general public and as CPD.
During these times of pronounced change and uncertainty, stability of mind and kindness of heart are perhaps even more important than ever. Many of my past participants have been in touch over the year just gone. They have expressed their gratitude for having completed this course because it is helping them meet this experience and life with more wisdom, compassion, joy and resilience.
Training in mindfulness, like anything, needs to be consistent to notice a shift and that's what a structured eight-week course, complete with group work and individual home practise is designed to do. It is perfect for those who are completely new and those looking to commit more to their current practice with the support of the course, the group and mindfulness teacher.
Benefits of mindfulness
- a deeper sense of connection with yourself
- more self-awareness
- better self-care
- improved way of relating to your thoughts, emotions, sensations and impulses
- improved self-confidence
- improved relationships
- increased sense of appreciation and gratitude for life
- reduced stress levels
- reduced anxiety
- reduction in depressive relapse
- builds resilience for demanding and stressful situations
- Increased feelings of well-being
- supports physical health
- supports chronic pain management
- improved ability to focus and concentrate
- increased creativity
- increased productivity
- better communication
- better decision-making abilities
The course
Training in mindfulness, like anything, needs to be consistent to bring results and that's what a structured eight-week course, complete with group work and individual home practise is designed to do.
The course will provide you with the opportunity to learn a combination of mindfulness-based stress reduction/cognitive therapy methods, through formal and informal practices that can be easily integrated into your daily life, including mindfulness of eating, breath, bodily sensations, sounds, thoughts, emotions, perceptions, movement, loving kindness and how to meet difficulty with kind awareness.
The course also includes a number of other exercises and thought experiments around negativity bias and gratitude that help support the process.
Suitable for those completely new to mindfulness practice and those with an established practice who want to benefit from the structure of the course, the support of a group and an instructor to help maintain and deepen their practice.
The course will be supported by:
- A weekly email and notes helping you explore and deepen your understanding of the themes covered in your weekly sessions. It will also include weekly Home Practice Guidance and Record Sheets to help you keep track of your progress.
- Online guided Audio Meditations to guide and support you in your home practice.
- Email support in between sessions with Cesare to discuss or elucidate any points emerging during your home practice.
- Certificate of completion (issued only if attendance is 75% or more).
Each of the eight sessions will follow one of eight mutually supportive themes, these eight themes are:
- Waking Up To Automatic Pilot
- Living in Our Heads
- Gathering the Scattered Mind
- Recognising the Mind's Habits
- Allowing and Letting Be
- Thoughts Are Not Facts
- Taking Care of Our Self
- Maintaining and Deepening Practice
Please note: This course includes a daily commitment of between 25 - 45 minutes of home practice in-between sessions, depending on the time you have and personal preference. The home practice elements are a core feature of these courses, enabling participants to become familiar with them and explore their cumulative benefits.
Prior to the start of the course, there will be a questionnaire, to assess prior experience and any physical and/or mental health needs to make sure it's a good fit for you at this time.
Past participant feedback:
"This course is brilliant!"
"I found the mindfulness course truly inspiring. Cesare delivered a fantastic training with an informative yet very personal and individual feel. It has changed the way I live my life. Every moment feels more sacred and my mind feels calmer."
"I loved the open group discussions and the rapport I had with the group as a whole."
"The mindfulness course has transformed many aspects of my mind and the way I react/over analyse situations. This has allowed me to create more nourishing relationships in my life."
"It has allowed me to work towards becoming and maintaining my best self."
"Learning to be more mindful has allowed me to become more grounded, I am now more aware of my thoughts and actions."
"I have understood the power of giving time and taking care of myself, and how this energy has an expansive effect on those around me."
"I have learned how to connect my mind with my body and this has helped me release tension in problem areas."
"The mindfulness course has given me a strength to be kind to myself - to allow myself some breathing space which has enabled me to be of benefit to others."
Your mindfulness instructor
Cesare completed his Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Teacher Training Retreat with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, University of Oxford and further Teacher Training with the Mindfulness In Schools Project as well as training in Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living with the Sussex Mindfulness Centre (NHS). He is a British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA) Registered Teacher and Mindfulness Supervisor and Mentor, currently teaching mindfulness in the public, private and third sectors and is co-founder of RUN:ZEN'S Mindfulness for Runners.
Since 2008, Cesare’s own meditation practice has been under the guidance of internationally acclaimed Buddhist teachers. He set up Bodhicharya Kent, a non-profit group which provides teachings and practice in meditation and Buddhism. He has been facilitating thriving weekly meditation classes for the Kent community in Rochester and beyond since 2013, under the guidance of his main teacher, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche.
Cesare is also a qualified Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor and a Registered Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapist (BACP) and runs a successful private practice.
Prior to this, Cesare was a secondary school teacher before going on to work in Education, Training and Employability Skills within UK Prisons and then in substance misuse rehabilitation.
Details
Venue: This course shall be delivered through Zoom. Please do get in touch to register and receive the joining instructions, thank you.
Times: Sessions will be between two to two and a half hours and the start time will be from 7:00pm.
Dates: Thursdays, March 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th and 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd April.
Retreat: There will be an additional half-day (approx three hours) or day retreat (approx six hours) option offered on a weekend towards the end of the course, to help those participants who would like to deepen into the practices we will have learnt together on the course, for an additional fee of £20 or £40 respectively (date tbc).
Personal investment: £200* (flexible payment plans available to suit your needs)
To book your place now, please follow the PayPal link or you can make a bank transfer (preferred). Please message for bank details, thank you.
If you have any questions at all regarding the course or payment, then please do get in touch.
Hoping to see you in March and accompany you on your mindfulness journey
All good wishes,
Cesare
M: 07766720702
E: info@cesaremindfultherapy.com
W: www.cesaremindfultherapy.com
*If paying via a payment plan, then your initial deposit will be non-refundable. If paying via payment plan or in full, then I can offer 100% refund of total payment (minus initial deposit for payment plans) made up to one month before the start of the course or 50% refund of total payment made up to two weeks before the start of the course.