Accredited & Highly Evaluated Course for Practicing & Facilitating Mindfulness
TWO DAY ONLINE CERTIFICATE
GET THE SKILLS & CONFIDENCE TO FACILITATE MINDFULNESS
Using Successful Methods
This course gives you the science, practices and tools to guide and help others and the inspiration & guidance to establish a regular practice for yourself.
LEARN HOW TO TEACH MINDFULNESS WITH AUTHENTICITY & INTEGRITY
MBSR Based Interactive Course Covering Polyvagal Theory, Activities & Practices – Get Accreditation & The Confidence To Help Others To Find Purpose, Calm & Joy
COURSE DURATION: 2 DAYS
ACCREDITED: Yes
CERTIFICATE: Yes
WHEN: 2-3, 12-13 December 2023 etc.
WHERE: Online Zoom & Face-to-Face Trainings
Register and find more dates here
DESCRIPTION: As the benefits of mindfulness practices are becoming more widely recognised, there is now a growing demand in organisations and work places for mindfulness training and trained mindfulness facilitators.
In this 2 day accredited certificate course you will not only be introduced to and learn the the powerful Mindfulness techniques that are helping individuals from all walks of life to have more balance and focus in their lives. You will also receive the tools and training to teach these techniques to anyone around you, including adults, students and children.
In our increasingly distracted and fragmented world we now have to ‘teach’ mindfulness to re-empower people with their own natural ability to restore the fragmented mind to a state of wholeness and presence.
Mindfulness is not new, it is thousands of years old and has been practiced in many eastern cultures as a way of maintaining mental balance against the inevitable distortions the mind generates. Mindfulness has made it to the west for a number of reasons; technology has developed and allowed researchers to study and understand the function of the brain more fully so that we now have an enormous amount of evidence-based research confirming the benefits of regular practice.
Mindfulness is not just some trend, but a proven method to help increase focus and awareness, make it possible to self-regulate and shift attention when caught up in negative thinking and worrying. Mindfulness exercises are designed to train our awareness and the ability to stay calm under stress and turbulence as well as having better sleep and increasing resilience.
Understanding how the brain works goes a long way to empowering people to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness ‘teaches’ us how thoughts and feelings affect our state of being and how we are able to train ourselves, intentionally, to observe the activity of the mind without becoming entrapped and start believing every thought the mind produces or be swept away by every emotion felt.
The ability to control attention is one of the key markers of a successful life. Regular mindfulness practices is a proven method to help increase focus and awareness, make it possible to self-regulate and shift attention when caught up in negative thinking and worrying. Mindfulness exercises are designed to train our awareness and the ability to stay calm under stress and turbulence as well as having better sleep and increasing resilience.
This course will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that underpins mindfulness widespread success and application as well as all the exercises that will help you establish your own regular practice and the additional training, tools and resources to successfully guide groups or one to one sessions.
Take out the guesswork
It could be a daunting task to implement a mindfulness plan if you didn’t know where to start…
With this training and the resources that comes with it, there is no need to “reinvent the wheel” as we will be looking into how to design a program for each participant’s specific purposes and learn from each others experience.
This course gives you the background, science, practices and techniques to teach/guide others and to establish a regular practice yourself.
Mindfulness trains us to recognise we have a choice of where to put our attention and to recognise when we are becoming trapped in unhelpful thinking.
The course is based on the successful program Mindfulness in Australia has been running the past seven years as well as latest research and techniques on teaching mindfulness designed by the original MBSR members
who trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn.
The Key Points of Successful Facilitation
Mindfulness can’t be learnt by just talking or reading about it. Mindfulness is experiential. To be able to teach mindfulness you need to understand how it works from the inside out. Teaching mindfulness is about guiding people to their own mindfulness practice. It’s about co-creating an environment where mindfulness can ‘happen’. In this ‘safe space’ everyone has the ability to come into a deeper contact with who they really are by continually being offered the possibility of surrendering to the present moment, exactly as it is, without an agenda or expected outcome.
During the two days we will be looking carefully at the basic neuroscience; how purposefully connecting with the body’s self-calming para-sympathetic nervous system leads to- lower stress and anxiety, increased attention and mental clarity, improved social and emotional intelligence and a host of other life-enhancing benefits.
In this course you will learn, as the teacher/guide, how to use language, your voice, authority and authenticity to create an environment, where a deep trust between participants naturally arises as well as a sense of freedom and safety.
To guide mindfulness is like nothing else, it is not teaching in a traditional sense, it is not therapy. It is more like ‘decluttering’ the over-filled, busy mind.
By establishing your own Mindfulness practice and the fundamental understanding of how mindfulness works from a more scientific point of view, you will build the foundation needed to effectively guide others on to their own mindfulness journey.
This is an interactive course covering theory, activities and practices. You will have opportunity to deepen your own Mindfulness practice and be empowered by the discovery that you can self-manage your thoughts and emotions. Participants also get the chance to guide classes for first-hand experience.
IN SHORT-What will you learn?
In our fast-paced world, where the increasing demands of living puts enormous stress on all people, children, teenagers and adults, the purposeful, daily cultivation of minimising stress, self-regulation, connection to self, others and the world around us has been proven to assist mental, emotional and physical balance.This training will give you a resource to improve everyone’s, including adults, students and children’s ability to deal with stress and anxiety as well as improve attention and focus and cultivate kindness and empathy.
Benefits such as:
- Decreased stress and anxiety
- Better sleep
- Better self-management
- Less reactivity
- Improved mental resilience
- Increased self-awareness
- Better memory
- Increased attention and focus
- Better conflict resolution skills
are common and expectable result from regular Mindfulness practice.
It doesn’t matter if you never meditated or done one Mindfulness exercise in your life, this course is for anyone who are moved to establish their own Mindfulness practice and get the tools and resources to help others to improve focus, mental resilience and impulse control.
Tools & Resources
Over these 2 days we will cover so much ground and learn so many things that it would be almost impossible to remember it all afterwards but the best thing is that you don’t need to. You will get printed and digital documentation on all aspects of what we learnt in the course.
WHAT DO YOU GET FROM THIS COURSE?
REGISTER HERE
“This Course Exceeded My Expectations”.Angela B, psychologist, Auckland
“The 8 week course has allowed me to re connect with the person I used to be and ignite my passion to forge forward, to help others find their passion, peace, connection and love within themselves. So they too, can help others to find their way in life. Thank you for this experience and training”
Sia, Sydney, AUS
“I’ve really loved this course – both the online component and the two day course, I’m so grateful I’ve learnt these empowering new tools. THANK YOU :-)”
Natalie E. Auckland, NZ
“This has been a wonderful course and I look forward to sharing what I have learned with others!”
Nancy C.. Auckland, NZ
“I have really enjoyed this course and now practise mindfulness during my day. I have found that it has made me ‘see’ things in a different way and that I am more focussed on the world around me.”.
Michelle S.
“Thank you Rita for providing such a thorough course in Mindfulness. This has come at exactly the right time for me as I look towards a less cluttered lifestyle, on the physical plane as well as the emotional and spiritual. Thank you once again,
Anne C.
START PRACTISING MINDFULNESS TODAY!
GET THE FREE EBOOK
DOWNLOAD THE EBOOKASK A QUESTION ABOUT THIS COURSE
Be Open, Curious and Kind to Yourself
Mindfulness isn’t about not thinking, it’s about observing our thoughts and feelings and over time, becoming more aware of underlying patterns that are often fixed and robotic.
Polyvagal Theory
In this course you will learn, as the teacher/guide, how to use language, your voice, authority and authenticity to create an environment, where a deep trust between participants naturally arises as well as a sense of freedom and safety.
To guide mindfulness is like nothing else, it is not teaching in a traditional sense, it is not therapy. It is more like ‘decluttering’ the over-filled, busy mind.
By establishing your own Mindfulness practice and the fundamental understanding of how mindfulness works from a more scientific point of view, you will build the foundation needed to effectively guide others on to their own mindfulness journey.
A Path to Healing
However you can’t just ‘add water’ and suddenly you are mindful. Recognising that the only way we get skilled at anything is to do it again and again – That is why this course comes with an 8 week online component where you slowly, day by day, establish a personal mindfulness practice. You learn all the classic formal practices within a context where they make sense and you get to incorporate mindfulness to your daily life at your own pace using guided audios. This self-paced online component goes even beyond the formal and introduces a path to forgiveness and acceptance that can heal frayed relationships and come to terms with ‘unfortunate’ life events.
WHAT YOU GET
2 DAYS MINDFULNESS FACILITATION TRAINING
A two day immersion into Mindfulness guided by a an experienced mindfulness trainer and educator in a safe, relaxed environment with like-minded people.
We will learn practices to relax the body, eliminate stress, calm the mind and experience the mindful state.
We start out by cover the background, basic neuroscience, physiology of breathing and how mindfulness works from a more scientific point of view.
Over these two days You will be empowered by the discovery that you can self-manage your thoughts and emotions and deepen the contact with your natural intelligence and intuition. There will also be opportunities to guide sessions for first-hand experience for those who want.
You will learn practices to eliminate stress and experience the mindful state.
A Mindfulness Facilitator Manual on how to use language, your own authenticity and natural authority, to create a space where Mindfulness can ‘happen’.
A MINDFULNESS FACILITATOR’S PACK
When you register you also get access to a complete self-paced online course to establish your own mindfulness practice.
8 Week Online Course
Part of the training is a 8 week online course that you can do in your own time. This component is part of the accreditation and will help you to establish (or deepen) your personal practice by weekly engaging lessons and keeping a daily journal.INCLUDING:
- A 60 page Mindfulness Training Manual covering eight week lessons in downloadable PDF format
- Guided Mindfulness audios for each weeks exercises that you can listen to on any device.
- Videos Recommended videos and talks to watch as a complement to the course
“Many thanks for your wonderful online course, which was very thought provoking”Patricia C., Ireland
Online Zoom Training
The online version of this course is held using the Zoom online meeting platform that we have found being both intuitive and to offer a fluent meeting experience. It is used by millions of people worldwide and if you have not used it before it is very easy to install and use. You get an email with instructions in good time before the training.
Who is the course for?
About the Trainer
Rita Riccola
“Rita is a fabulous facilitator – she made us feel extremely comfortable, was open minded and encouraged us all to share from our diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. I came away with many very practical, easy to use exercises that I have since been using with with my classes of various ages. Thank you Rita for gifting me such a wonderful and enjoyable afternoon of learning”.
-Louise Dore, Auckland
Rita Riccola
Rita Riccola is one of New Zealand’s leading mindfulness trainers. Hundreds of individuals including school teachers, life coaches, psychologists and counsellors in both New Zealand and Australia has taken her 2 day mindfulness facilitation course to date. She have provided staff training for numerous schools across New Zealand to help integrating mindfulness practice to the curriculum. She is a former teacher and a trained mindfulness teacher with 28 yrs experience who has completed courses with Mindful Schools USA and attended many Mindfulness retreats. These courses are designed to meet the growing need in all sectors to offer Mindfulness training.
Course Content – Day 1 & 2
- What is Mindfulness?
- How does it work?
Evidence-based research results
and the neuroscience. - Why Teach Mindfulness to Students and Children.
- Breathing Exercise 1 and 2
- Guided Body Scan
- The STOP Method
- How to build a MIndfulness Lesson
- Tools & Resources
- How to identifying patterns of thinking and reacting that keep us trapped.
- Practical ways to work with Difficult Thoughts and Emotions.
- Turning boredom and restlessness into curiosity
- Mindful Listening-expanded awareness.
- The ‘Mountain meditation’
- Training Session – Teaching Mindfulness
- Questions and Answers, feedback/personal Enquiry into your own experience
Why Choose This Course?
Internationally Recognised Accreditation
Our courses are accredited with IMMA (International Mindfulness & Meditation Alliance). After completion you will be eligible to apply for IMMA membership.
These courses are designed to meet the growing need in all sectors (education, medicine, psychology, social work, physiotherapy, business etc) for evidence-based strategies that lead to self-regulation, emotional awareness and lowered stress and anxiety.
Leading Trainer
Learn Mindfulness from a professional educator with more than 30 years experience of mindfulness and meditation.
Highly evaluated courses
Hundreds of professionals and individuals have taken the 2 day Mindfulness Facilitation Course. The trainings receive consistently high evaluation and reviews.
See testimonials here
All Age Groups
The program is designed and has been successfully implemented for all age groups from 4 year old pre-schoolers to 80 year old seniors.
Life-Time Access
When you register for an online course or a face-to-face training you receive lifelong access to the course material and all the resources provided. Ongoing support is available.
Be part of a Community
Connect with like-minded people that support each other.
WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY
“I just wanted to take the time to express how much I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 day course…I have conducted other mindfulness training but really feel your offering is unparalleled”.Sarah A.
“I am extremely grateful for your teachings…you are truly inspirational”.Wendy R.
“Thank you, this wonderful experience, which is now forever a regular practice in my life”.Susan H.
“I just wanted to take the time to express how much I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 day course…I have attended other mindfulness training but really feel your offering is unparalleled.”.Sarah A.
Make A Booking
Choose dates for Zoom trainings:
(CLICK TO EXPAND)
COURSES IN 2023
DECEMBER
Weekend Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 2-3 December 2023
Saturday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Sunday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $395
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
2 day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 12-13 December 2023
Tuesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $395
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
COURSES IN 2024
January
Weekend Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 13-14 January 2024
Saturday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Sunday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $395
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 24-25 January 2024
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $395
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
February
2 day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 14-15 February 2024
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $395
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
4 Week Option- Virtual Interactive Zoom Course 17 February – 9 March 2024
This option covers the same material as the 2 day training but is divided into 4 weekly 2 hour sessions for people who can’t take the time off for the 2 days intensive or prefer shorter sessions with time in between to digest and practice.
Saturdays: 11.30am-01.30pm
2 hour zoom sessions on 17, 24 February, 2, 9 March
Cost: $445
Including: 8 week online course, Teaching Manual, lesson plans and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
March
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 6-7 March 2024
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $445
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 26-27 March 2024
Tuesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $445
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
April
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 29-30 April 2024
Monday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Tuesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $445
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
May
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 29-30 May 2024
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $445
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
June
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 29-30 May 2024
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $445
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
June
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 12-13 June 2024
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $445
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
2 Day Virtual Interactive Zoom Training 26-27 June 2024
Wednesday: 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday: 11.30am-4.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $445
Including: Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
Choose dates for face-to-face trainings:
(CLICK TO EXPAND)
COURSES IN 2024
FEBRUARY
2 day Mindfulness Facilitation Training In Auckland 20-21 February 2024
Tuesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
(There will be breaks for morning tea and lunch).
Cost: $495
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Eight Week Lesson Plans, 8 week online course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
Venue: Eden Garden in Epsom, Auckland
MAKE A BOOKINGMAY
2 day Mindfulness Facilitation Training In Auckland 8-9 May 2024
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-3.30pm
(There will be breaks for morning tea and lunch).
Cost: $495
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Eight Week Lesson Plans, 8 week online course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
Venue: Eden Garden in Epsom, Auckland
MAKE A BOOKINGCOURSES IN 2024
MARCH
2 day Mindfulness Facilitation Training In Wellington 20-21 March 2024
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-3.30pm
(There will be breaks for morning tea and lunch).
Cost: $495
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Eight Week Lesson Plans, 8 week online course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
Venue: Eden Garden in Epsom, Auckland
MAKE A BOOKINGCOURSES IN 2023
OCTOBER
2 day Face-to-Face Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Christchurch 17-18 October 2023
Tuesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $495
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
COURSES IN 2024
FEBRUARY
2 day Face-to-Face Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Christchurch 28-29 February 2024
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-3.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $550
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
MAY
2 day Face-to-Face Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Christchurch 15-16 May 2024
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-3.30pm
(There will be breaks for lunch and afternoon tea).
Cost: $550
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course, Tools & Resources and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
COURSES 2024
APRIL
2 Day Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Sydney 16-17 April 2024
Tuesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Cost: $495
Including: Morning Tea, 8 Week Online Course, Teaching Manual, Lesson Plans and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
COURSES 2024
APRIL
2 Day Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Melbourne 24-25 April 2024
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Cost: $550
Including: Morning tea, Teaching Manual, Eight Week Lesson Plans, Online Course and Ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
COURSES 2023
NOVEMBER
2 DAY Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Brisbane 1-2 November 2023
Wednesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Cost: $495
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Eight Week Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
COURSES 2024
APRIL
2 DAY Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Brisbane 8-9 April 2024
Monday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Tuesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Cost: $495
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Eight Week Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
COURSES 2024
APRIL
2 DAY Mindfulness Facilitation Course in Coolangatta 8-9 April 2024
Monday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Tuesday: 9.30am-3.30pm
Cost: $550
Including: Morning Tea, Teaching Manual, Eight Week Lesson Plans, 8 Week Online Course and ongoing support.
Payment plans available.
SOME OF THE ORGANISATIONS WHO HAVE HAD STAFF MEMBERS TAKING THIS COURSE
“Thank you Rita for providing such a thorough course in Mindfulness. This has come at exactly the right time for me as I look towards a less cluttered lifestyle, on the physical plane as well as the emotional and spiritual. Thank you once again”.
Anna C.
Why Learning Mindfulness is the Greates gift you can give yourself
Our thoughts are the root cause of suffering. They are the cause of worry and stress. The problem is that those, especially, self-critical thoughts of not being good enough etc. mostly goes on ‘under the radar’ where we don’t recognise them. They are like an invisible automatic response in our head that get triggered in different situations.
With mindfulness practice we can put the spotlight of awareness on our thoughts and patterns of behaviours and start recognising that we have a choice of where we put our attention and learn that we can shift attention when trapped in negative self-talk and unhelpful thinking patterns. That is the doorway to inner freedom.
Mindfulness can’t be learnt by just talking or reading about it. Mindfulness is experiential. It is by actually doing the practice you start experiencing the benefits.
During the day we will be looking carefully at the basic neuroscience; how purposefully connecting with the body’s self-calming para-sympathetic nervous system leads to lower stress and anxiety, increased attention and mental clarity.
Learning mindfulness is like nothing else, it is not “learning” in the traditional sense, it is not therapy either. It is more like ‘decluttering’ the over-filled, busy mind.
THE SCIENCE OF MINDFULNESS
Understanding how the brain works goes a long way to empowering people to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness ‘teaches’ us how thoughts and feelings affect our state of being and how we are able to train ourselves, intentionally, to observe the activity of the mind without becoming entrapped and start believing every thought the mind produces or be swept away by every emotion felt.
In recent years, scientist’s have revealed what mindfulness and meditation practitioners have known for centuries; bringing awareness to the mind and body (nervous system) and training our attention to ‘listen’ to what’s happening in the body and mind leads to calmness, presence and alert awareness.
This level of awareness anchors us in the body and we develop an increased level of alertness for shifts and changes and in particular notice when our thoughts and feelings are becoming troublesome.
THE LONG TERM DANGERS OF STRESS
Many people are unable to find a way to put the brakes on stress. Chronic low-level stress keeps the nervous system activated, constantly ‘on’ much like a motor that is idling too high for too long. After a while, this has an effect on the body that contributes to the health problems associated with chronic stress.
Persistent epinephrine surges can damage blood vessels and arteries, increasing blood pressure and raising risk of heart attacks or strokes. Elevated cortisol levels create physiological changes that help to replenish the body’s energy stores that are depleted during the stress response.
People prone to stress, anxiety and dysregulation can learn to self-regulate by regularly practicing these simple, highly effective strategies as well as adopt a daily breathing and relaxing practice to re-educate the vagus nerve away from anxiety and fear response back to safety.
Many people have lost the sense of purpose and meaning in their lives and live day to day on auto-pilot in a world of “doing” without being present in the moment, never taking time to stop for even as little as 5 minutes, to reflect and recharge.
Mindfulness reshapes our biology to a state of calmness, presence and awareness
Mindfulness is about bringing attention to the present moment awareness and being fully present as life unfolds; without having expectations or an agenda or trying to interfere to get a particular outcome you ‘want’.
Acceptance of what is, is a large part of living mindfully. Too often we want things a particular way, try to influence people and events because we think we know best or want a particular outcome rather than just letting life unfold in the moment.
It takes time to retrain the mind and body but with daily practices of as little as 15 minutes, research show us that in 63 days the brain will automatically default to protective patterns when the pressure is on. In other words, through regular mindfulness practice we can restore and activate emotional and mental resilience when challenges arrive.
Thanks to the work of Stephen Porges and Bessel Van de Kolk, it is now well known, through evidence-based research, that focused breathing exercises, putting the attention on the body’s sensations (breath, tightness, warmth, softness etc) and many others simple practices can intervene the escalation of stress and anxiety and de-regulates the traumatic nervous system response bringing the nervous system back to a sense of calm, safety and connection.
“With Mindfulness training you are not adding to your knowledge in the
traditional sense – you are in fact removing some of the mental clutter
that is holding you back from being naturally mindful and in a state of
equilibrium”.Rita Riccola
“With Mindfulness training you are not adding to your knowledge in the
traditional sense – you are in fact removing some of the mental clutter
that is holding you back from being naturally mindful and in a state of
equilibrium”.Rita Riccola
WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH THIS TRAINING?
Whether you just want to be more present in your own daily life and maybe share these techniques with the people closest to you, which is wonderful, or you are looking at starting a new career, both these options are possible with this training. There are innumerable applications of the material and knowledge you receive from this course, you will be able to create your own program to run, for example:
» One-to-one sessions to reduce stress and anxiety for your existing or new clients
» A wellness strategy in the workplace for both staff and management
» Daily short sessions to improve attention and focus in the classroom for students of all ages
» Group sessions to help improve wellbeing in nursing homes or mental health facilities
» Teenage groups for better self awareness and emotional regulation
» Public mindfulness classes for general relaxation and wellbeing
» Emotional intelligence programs for children at home or in preschool and much more.
What’s possible with regular mindfulness practice is living a life of purpose as well as experiencing life more vibrantly. With this training you are able to share this with others as well.
Mindfulness means “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.”Jon Kabat-Zinn. (Founder of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)
Why Mindfulness?
Research over the past few decades has found that Mindfulness training helps to;
Relieve Anxiety & Stress
In our fast paced lives, where we rush from one demand to another, there is very little time or space to stop and pause. Mindfulness offer the tools needed to connect with our inner intelligence, where we can access natural calmness beneath the busy minds.
Let go of Anger & Frustration
Coming in contact with your direct experience in the mindful state allows us to become familiar with the patterns that direct our lives; our thoughts, emotions and reactions.
OVERCOME NEGATIVE THINKING
Pain is an inevitable part of being human but suffering is optional. In mindfulness we learn how to manage our thoughts and emotions instead of letting emotions and thoughts manage us.
STOP INNER CHATTER
Aimless thinking and inner chatter is draining our energy and clouding over the present moment. One of the most common benefits from regular mindfulness training is greater mental clarity and a new sense of inner peace.
Have Better Sleep
To be able stop incessant thinking and worrying is one of the great benefits of Mindfulness and it makes it easier to go to sleep and have unbroken sleep throughout the night.
STOP LIVING IN THE PAST
Mindfulness practices increasingly bring you more into the present with the growing awareness that going over the past keeps you stuck in the past.
What Participants Say
“What I liked best about the 2 day training was the relaxed, knowledgeable approach to Mindfulness”.
-Laura, Melbourne
“I liked the pace, experiential learning and the facilitators sharing her experience”
Alison, Sydney
“This has been a wonderful course and I look forward to sharing what I have learned with others!”
Nancy C.. Auckland, NZ
“I’ve really loved this course – both the online component and the two day course, I’m so grateful I’ve learnt these empowering new tools. THANK YOU :-)”
Natalie E. Auckland, NZ
“Rita is a fabulous facilitator – she made us feel extremely comfortable, was open minded and encouraged us all to share from our diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. I came away with many very practical, easy to use exercises that I have since been using with with my classes of various ages. Thank you Rita for gifting me such a wonderful and enjoyable afternoon of learning”.
-Louise Dore, Auckland
“This Course Exceeded My Expectations”.
Angela B, psychologist, Auckland
“Thank you Rita for providing such a thorough course in Mindfulness.
Warm blessings”
Anne C., Auckland
“I’ve really loved this course – both the online component and the two day course, I’m so grateful I’ve learnt these empowering new tools. THANK YOU :-)”
Natalie E. Auckland, NZ
“The 8 week course has allowed me to re connect with the person I used to be and ignite my passion to forge forward, to help others find their passion, peace, connection and love within themselves”.
Sia K, Sydney, AUS
Frequently Asked Questions
Mindfulness is a way of noticing where your attention is in the present moment without judging it good or bad. It’s about not wandering off into an imagined future or going over the past but fully engaging right here right now.
Through guided, simple easy-to-do practisies you are training the mind to be more present in the moment. resulting in it to be less anxious, more alert and alive.
- Who over-thinks
- Thinks anxiously as a regular behavior.
- Stressed people
- People who engage in constant negative self-talk
- People who can’t sleep because of incessant inner chatter
- People who operate on ‘auto-pilot’ and are always ‘on’..
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THE SCIENCE OF CALMNESS
Why not make the inner world, where we spend most of our time, a still, silent and calm place to be?
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Self-Paced Online Course
Learn the effective mindfulness techniques that are helping individuals from all walks of life to have more balance and focus in their lives.
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“Many thanks for your wonderful course, which was very thought provoking” Patricia C. Ireland
Bring Mindfulness to the Classroom
ONLINE CERTIFICATE
A Complete Toolkit For Anyone Who Want to Run Mindfulness Sessions for groups or one to one using Proven & Successful Methods.
This online course gives you an extensive resource to lead mindfulness sessions for any age-group and target audience with integrity, confidence and authenticity.
Improve adults, students and children’s ability to deal with stress and anxiety with proven, ready-to-use mindfulness lesson plans.
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“Since this course I have been using these skills with my students and I want to thank you so much. Your course is amazingly comprehensive and has given me a full toolbox while also taking me on a personal journey”. Naomi M.