ScheduleMindfulness Meditation
WORKSHOPS
RETREATS
WORKSHOPS
About the workshops
An introduction to some basic principles of meditation. We will explore various ways to practice mindfulness, bringing a kind, curious attention to our experience, moment by moment. The workshop is suitable for complete beginners and those with some experience and will consist of instruction, short periods of meditation and discussion.
Our instructor Kay has practised and taught mindfulness meditation and related disciplines in the UK and New Zealand for over 20 years. She is also trained in Breathworks, running courses for those with pain and illness, entitled Mindfulness - Living well with Pain and Illness and trained in MBCT Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Coping with Depression.
The venue
We use different venues in London. They are all easy to get to by public transport and are chosen based on optimum comfortability standards. We always recommend early booking for workshops as these are small-group activities. You'll receive a complete info sheet when booking with all details, including travel information on how to get to the venue.
TO VIEW DETAILS ON PRICE AND PAYMENT OPTIONS CLICK here
NEXT LONDON WORKSHOP : SUNDAY 30TH MAY FROM 11:15 TO 16:45. TO BOOK CLICK HERE .
RETREATS
About the retreats
We are running retreats in:
Girona, North East Spain 20th-25th March 2010
- TO VIEW DETAILS ON PRICE AND PAYMENT OPTIONS CLICK here
Granada, Southern Spain 5th-10th September 2010
- TO VIEW DETAILS ON PRICE AND PAYMENT OPTIONS CLICK here
The retreat is an introduction to the foundations of Mindfulness Meditation. What often comes in the way of our dreams are deeply rooted habits of mind: negative automatic thoughts, negative emotions and subsequently unhelpful behaviours. Becoming aware of our thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations and behaviours moment to moment, offers us choices to respond rather than react to automatic patterns. It is like switching off the automatic pilot and taking charge of the planning, the driving, and the destination, awake and fully present and in charge of our lives.
During the Mindfulness retreat, you will learn how to pay attention to being present, aware and accepting of what is inside and around you. You will learn to develop a caring and compassionate understanding of yourself and others. You will learn to apply Mindfulness Meditation in your daily life. This in turn will make life more enjoyable, interesting, vivid and fulfilling.
Mindfulness is taught and learnt through personal experiences of a range of formal and informal meditation practice. The teaching is experiential and there are many ways of learning the principles of Mindfulness by adapting them to your interests.
On arrival, there will be an orientation meeting where we will introduce each other.
A typical day will be structured as follows:
(Before breakfast) Open Meditation session (1h00)
Breakfast
10.30 - 13.30 Mindfulness Session (3h00)
Lunch
Free time
17.30 - 19.30 Mindfulness Session (2h00)
Dinner
Outline of Mindfulness retreat:
Mindfulness of posture
Anchoring, or the felt sense of each present moment through body sensations.
Experiencing connections between body posture and mental and emotional experience.
Supporting the transition from 'doing' into 'being' mind.
Mindfulness of breathing
Breathing awareness
Anchoring in the present moment
Settling/Calming
Dealing skilfully with mind-wandering
Learning gentleness
Encouraging curiosity
Formal practice
Mindfulness of body sensations
Mindfulness of sensations (Pleasant/unpleasant/neutral)
Noticing aversion
Learning acceptance
Building a foundation for working with thoughts and feeling in these ways within the body.
Learning to consciously widen and narrow the focus of awareness
Connecting the mind with the body and increasing physical awareness.
Mindfulness of sounds
Mindfulness of the natural flux of experience
Cultivating being fully with experience AND having an observer stance simultaneously.
Learning to receive experience as it is, as distinct from mental labels, stores about it etc.
Mindfulness of thoughts and emotions
Learning to relate to thoughts/feelings rather than from them.
Learning to see recurring patterns in the mind and how they develop , play out etc.
Relating emotions and thoughts to physical sensations.
Mindfulness of the full range of experience (choiceless awareness)
Acceptance of what is.
Developing a spacious quality of mind, aware of all experience as they arise and pass away in consciousness.
Seeing more deeply into the nature of human experience and life.
Accommodation
GIRONA
We use different masias depending on the size of the group and availability - these are typical country houses full of character and offering all mod cons.
GRANADA
We will be staying in an Andalucian farm in the border of the Granada and Jaen provinces where we'll enjoy the use of authentic Cortijo (typical Andalucian farmhouse) cottages. Each Cortijo has a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom, fireplace, a minimum of five double-rooms , a large dining/sitting room and an outside barbecue. The views are truly inspiring, reaching as far as the eye can see into the Granada high planes via a undulating foreground of Mediterranean olive groves. Closer to the Cortijos there is a swimming-pool that can be enjoyed when the weather is hot. The immediate surrounding countryside is perfect for an easy walk or a picnic, centenary oaks provide shelter from the sun and typical Mediterranean plants and herbs abound.
We'll share the house with the other participants. Each participant will have the sole use of a double-bedroom unless otherwise requested.
Please, visit our Gallery to view the accommodation and surrounding area.
Airport Transfer
GIRONA
We are providing a transfer service from and to Girona airport. All accommodation options are within 40 minutes driving time from Girona airport. The service on the day of arrival is at 19:30. Please ensure that you book a flight that will land at Girona airport with plenty of spare time for you to collect your bagagge and make it on time to the transfer vehicle. The airport transfer service leaves the retreat on the last day at 10:00 a.m.
Upon confirmation of your booking we will send you a detailed schedule regarding transfer information, including details of your Women On Tour contact at the airport, so you can proceed to make your flight arrangements accordingly.
If you prefer to book a car and make your own transfer arrangements, please let us know and we will send you a detailed route map.
GRANADA
We are providing a transfer service from and to Malaga airport. The driving time is approximately 3 hours, depending on traffic. The service on the day of arrival is at 17:00. Please ensure that you book a flight that will land at Malaga airport with plenty of spare time for you to collect your bagagge and make it on time to the transfer vehicle. The airport transfer service leaves the retreat on the final day at 9:00 a.m.
Upon confirmation of your booking we will send you a detailed schedule regarding transfer information, including details of your Women On Tour contact at the airport, so you can proceed to make your flight arrangements accordingly.
If you prefer to book a car and make your own transfer arrangements, please let us know and we will send you a detailed route map.
Please note that Granada airport is closer (1,5 hours drive) but it is only serviced from the UK by one airline, therefore there's no choice on flying times or fares.
