If you are affected by a life-limiting illness, are a carer or are living with a loss or bereavement, we are here to support you.

Our Introduction to Mindfulness course, led by Ron Sharpe, is aimed at developing an understanding of how bringing mindfulness to aspects of our daily activities can transform our experience of life. We learn meditation techniques and skills which allow us, with practice, to find new ways of relating to our experience, our thoughts and feelings. Instead of becoming overwhelmed by problems, or afraid to face them we learn to see things from a different perspective and this can bring significant benefits to our life.

The benefits of mindfulness

This skill of developing moment to moment awareness brings benefits to both our physical and mental wellbeing. Mindfulness training has been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety, help better cope with physical and emotional pain, increase cognitive ability, help with memory and improve relationships.

How it works

We can easily be triggered to react to stressful situations in well-worn habitual ways, often our reactions are not helpful in the long run and can lead to further stress.

Through mindfulness practice we will develop greater awareness of thoughts, feelings, and associated bodily-sensations that are normally out of the ordinary field of perception. These can trigger these stressful patterns of thinking and reaction. We learn the skill of not reacting as we usually would and in doing so we break the cycle of triggered reactions.

What you will learn

On the course you will learn a range of formal and informal mindfulness practices which include some meditations, some gentle yoga movement practices and some cognitive exercises. This helps bring greater awareness, concentration and choice to our experience. Being part of a supported learning group is also an important aspect of learning mindfulness.

Together we will be working to change the patterns of mind that have been around for a long time and have become well-worn habits. We will only make progress with this if we put in the time and effort to learn these skills and to practice them on a daily basis. This relies on your willingness to practice regularly at home between class sessions.

The course is held on Tuesday evenings at the Coates Centre, Oakhaven Hospice on the following dates, from 7pm to 9.30pm:

Week 1 Tuesday 17 February
Week 2 Tuesday 24 February
Week 3 Tuesday 3 March
Week 4 Tuesday 10 March

Book your space now!

Book your space today by using the form below: