Our One-Year Programme is designed for adults who wish to make a significant commitment to deepening their mindfulness practice, in order to be able to facilitate mindfulness with others from a place of confidence, compassion and authenticity. Applications are welcome from beginners through to those with many years of experience.
The programme comprises four residential retreats each lasting four days. We start by exploring the many ways that mindfulness can be integrated into our daily life, deepening into the elements of embodiment, ease, joy, and taking care of feelings. Each retreat enables an exploration of the transformative potential of mindfulness.
In the last retreat, participants will learn to deliver our Mindfulness for Life 8-week course for adults and train in the skills of teaching mindfulness: embodiment, explanation, guidance, and enquiry. We will also focus on how to nourish and sustain our personal practice as well as how to build sustainable mindful communities.
We believe the practice of mindfulness can be deeply transformative for individuals, communities and society. We work in schools, colleges, prisons, and community settings, as well as public, private and third-sector organizations teaching mindfulness to people of all ages. We developed our one year programme to enable adults to deepen their mindfulness practice and empower them to share their practice with others.
As a personal commitment to your own mindfulness practice
To deepen your understandings of the foundations of mindfulness
To discover the art of resting
To benefit from becoming part of a supportive mindfulness group
To learn how to build your own practice group at work and home
To practice cultivating kindness, compassion, joy and wisdom
To learn to teach our Mindfulness for Life – 8 week course for adults
The focus of this retreat is deepening your personal mindfulness practice. The retreat will consist of a mix of lectures, group discussion and formal and informal practices. There will be periods of silence everyday as well as time for rest and personal journaling. We will explore how to cultivate key elements of mindfulness: embodiment, ease, joy and self-compassion.
In our second retreat, we’ll start by reviewing and reflecting upon the learning and experience of living mindfully since the first retreat. We’ll then explore the domain of feelings and emotions, how we can relate skillfully and with equanimity, how we can embrace difficult emotions with kindness and wisdom, and how we can nourish feelings of joy and happiness.
We will explore more deeply the territory of the mind – it’s habits and dynamics – as well as cultivating the minds of kindness and compassion. We will explore the ways in which we create suffering for ourselves and how we can live with greater freedom by cultivating insight. We will also focus on the key elements of mindfulness facilitation: namely embodiment, introducing practices, guidance, and enquiry.
You will learn how to teach our 8-week course Mindfulness for Life and receive all of the materials required to teach the course – including teaching manual and guided practices. Finally, we will explore how to sustain your personal mindfulness practice and look at ways of building mindful communities at home and at work.
Our programme in England will be held in the beautiful setting of Sharpham House and begins in January 2018
Retreat Dates (4 nights)
24th-28th January 2018
2nd-6th May 2018
12th-16th September 2018
5th-9th December 2018
Our programme in Scotland will be held at Lendrick Lodge in the heart of the Trossachs and begins in March 2018
Retreat Dates (4 nights)
21st-25th March 2018
4th-8th July 2018
10th-14th October 2018
30th January – 3rd February 2019
Click the schedule button below to see a typical day on retreat
Our team of teachers has over 75 years combined experience practicing and teaching mindfulness and includes, Michael Schwammberger – a former monk of 13 years under the guidance of Thich Nhat Hanh; Michael Bready – the author of the Youth Mindfulness Kids Programme and our mindfulness course for young offenders; Dr. Lyndsay Lunan – a lecturer at the city of Glasgow College and author of an HMIE awarded mindfulness curriculum for teens; and Will Stephens, former European Director of HeartMath and founder of mindful living centre Binley Farm.
Trainer, England Programme
Michael is an internationally sought after meditation teacher regularly running retreats in the UK, France and Spain. In 1995 he managed the Gaia House retreat centre and in 1997 became a monk and student of Thich Nhat Hanh. He traveled extensively with Thich Nhat Hanh and became abbot of Son Ha Temple in 2005. After 13 years leading the monastic life he disrobed in 2012 and now leads retreats internationally.
Trainer, Scotland Programme
Michael has taught over 50 mindfulness courses to children, teens and adults. In collaboration with the Scottish Government and University of Glasgow he led the development of a mindfulness course for young offenders and is the author of the Youth Mindfulness Kids Programme in which he has trained more than 120 teachers internationally.
Trainer, Scotland & England Programmes
Lyndsay went on her first retreat in 1998 and has been practising mindfulness ever since, drawing inspiration from various teachers and traditions. She is the author of an HMIE awarded mindfulness curriculum for teens and delivers mindfulness courses for both young adults in Further Education as well as offering CPD courses and workshops to staff.
Trainer, Scotland & England Programmes
Will spent three years training in Core Process Psychotherapy and has experience working in mental health services and in prisons. He served as European Director for HeartMath, a Californian organization that provides stress-management to individuals, schools, hospitals and companies. Will created and managed a UK mindfulness centre which hosted “mindful living” retreats.
Support, Scotland & England Programmes
Jasmine is trained to teach the Mindful Self-Compassion programme, taught by Self Compassion researcher Kirsten Neff. Inspired by the empowerment of choice that practicing mindfulness brings to individuals and communities, she currently runs a non-profit community organisation – Mindful Living Retreat. Jasmine aspires to bring the practice into the Care sector, knowing its transformative potential for positive social and cultural change.
Support, Scotland & England Programmes
Kareem has been highly engaged in mindfulness communities for young adults (“Wake Up”) where he enjoys volunteering by facilitating sessions, retreats and contributing to areas of outreach as well as community building and communications. He is currently delivering mindfulness programs in local institutions alongside organising and facilitating retreats.
Maintain a regular daily mindfulness practice.
Meet monthly either in person or virtually with a peer group selected from within the training group
Practice one ‘day of mindfulness’ per quarter either on your own or within a local group
Engage with course materials, recommended reading and online content provided
| Deposit Payment | 10 Monthly Payments | Tuition Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Tuition Cost | £795 | £105 | £1,845 |
| Early Bird Tuition Cost | £595 | £95 | £1,545 |
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Accommodation costs are £90 per night, full board and lodging. This includes all meals, refreshments and linen equating to £360 per four-day residential retreat. This amount is payable to Youth Mindfulness 6 weeks before the start of each retreat. All participants must stay at the chosen venues in order to maintain the collective practice of the group.
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| A further saving of £250 is available if you wish to pay the tuition and accommodation costs in full prior to the beginning of the course. | |||
Devon, UK, TQ9 7UT
Sitting on the banks of the River Dart and lying within its stunning and vast grounds Sharpham Trust is a Grade I listed, friendly and relaxing residence.
***Early bird discount available until 30th September 2017***
Stirlingshire, Scotland, FK17 8HR
Set in it’s beautiful natural surroundings of the Trossachs and Loch Lomond National Park, Lendrick Lodge offers a spacious, light and comfortable environment for our retreats.
***Early bird discount available until 31st October 2017***
Have you heard about our #conference yet? Learn about the transformative power of #mindfulness w/ young people http://youthmindfulness.co.uk/conference/
