Mindfulness Skills Programme
Who should attend?
Please note – this course is for members of staff only. Unfortunately, there are currently no places available for postgraduate students or undergraduate students.
What is mindfulness about?
One of the leading teachers of mindfulness, Dr Jon Kabat Zinn, has described it as:
'paying attention on purpose in the present moment, non-judgmentally'.
Mindfulness skills can help with making clearer decisions and responding to difficult situations. For more information on how mindfulness is learnt and its relevance to the work environment, see http://www.mindfulnet.org/page2.htm.
It is recommended that before signing up for the programme, you attend the Introduction to Mindfulness Based skills for Health and Well-being (this is a free half day workshop). If you have not attended the workshop but would like to confirm that mindfulness is relevant to you before booking a place on the programme, please watch: What is mindfulness? Jon Kabat-Zinn
Learning outcomes for the programme:
· Understand what the concept of mindfulness is in practice
· Identify how you might respond differently to complex situations
· Develop a mindfulness practice which suits your busy working life.
Process:
This is a NINE week programme of two hour sessions. Please see the dates below to confirm that you can attend all of them when choosing a programme.
The programme involves learning to practise mindfulness in a small, informal group, sharing our experience of this process, which is often fun! Audio tracks are then provided to help people continue to practice for around 30 minutes a day. We also learn more about the nature of our thoughts and feelings and how to respond to situations, reducing the impact of stress.
Programme structure:
(Initial session - How is mindfulness learnt? What are your motivations for learning mindfulness?)
Week 1 - Automatic pilot
Week 2 - Dealing with barriers
Week 3 - Mindfulness of the breath and body in movement
Week 4 - Staying present - responding vs. reacting
Week 5 - Allowing/letting things be
Week 6 - The difference between thoughts and facts
Week 7 - How can I best take care of myself?
Week 8 - Acceptance & change
The expectation of you is that you attend each of the sessions and do some regular mindfulness practice of approximately 30 minutes each day. Please note that by registering for this programme you are signing up for all the sessions and agreeing to try the mindfulness practices between sessions.
What do other people say about this programme?
“An invaluable course- the most worthwhile investment in my professional development & well being in my working life. This course has had an ongoing and profoundly positive influence on my work attitudes and ability to manage my time and ways of engaging with my work and with others. It goes beyond skills acquisition to actually impact my way of approaching work tasks at a fundamental level- effecting real lasting change."
“It has provided me with practical methods for managing with stress and difficult situations. It has also been an opportunity to engage with colleagues (other course participants) in a new way- with genuine peer learning and support. I cannot overstate the benefits of this course. It is a sound investment and will be repaid many times over thanks to the healthier and more productive workforce that results.”
Tutors:
This course is led by a mindfulness teacher trained and engaged in regular mindfulness supervision & CPD in accordance with the UK Network for Mindfulness-based Teacher Training Organisations https://www.ukmindfulnessnetwork.co.uk/.
The Mindfulness Programme is not suitable for everybody, for example, if you have suffered a recent bereavement or are currently suffering with depression, anxiety or serious illness. We request that you contact Jo Bramham, Professional Development Officer (email:johanna.bramham@nottingham.ac.uk) if you are unsure about the suitability of the course for you at this time.
What evidence is there about the benefits of mindfulness skills?
Sellman, E. (2017): Mindfulness & well-being in Higher Education, Conference for Mindfulness Research and Practice, Chester.
Porter, N., Bramham, J. & Thomas (2017): Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well-being, in Saavedra, J. et al Creative practices for health & social inclusion, University of Seville.
Bramham, J. & Neil, K. (2016): Making Mindfulness inclusive to all stakeholders in a university setting, in Margaret A. Chapman-Clarke Mindfulness in the Workplace: An Evidence-based Approach to Improving Wellbeing and Maximizing Performance, Kogan Page.
Porter, N., Bramham, J. & Thomas (2016): Mindfulness and design: creating spaces for well-being, Paper presented at the Fifth International Health Humanities Conference, Seville.
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