Self-Compassion & Mindfulness

Recent research demonstrates that self-compassion is strongly associated with:

• emotional wellbeing
• reduced anxiety, stress
• decreased depression
• maintenance of healthy life habits such as diet and exercise
• satisfying personal relationships.

Fortunately, self-compassion is a skill that can be learned! Over the 8 sessions, you will learn core principles and practices that enable you to respond to life’s difficult moments with kindness, understanding and greater centredness.

Benefits

Self-compassion practices teach us how to:

• handle difficult emotions with greater ease
• motivate ourselves with kindness rather than criticism
• increase our emotional strength & resilience
• admit our shortcomings & forgive ourselves when needed
• relate wholeheartedly to others & be more authentically ourselves

This 8 session program is based on the research of Kristin Neff and the clinical work of psychologists Christopher Germer and Tara Brach, as well as the wisdom teachings of Sharon Salzberg, Michele McDonald and others.

Each of the two-hour sessions involve instruction, discussion, periods of meditation and at times, gentle movement.

In class and at home practices include directing self-compassion toward difficult thoughts and emotions, and to the body itself.

Homework will be comprised of weekly readings and specific meditation practices. Course fees include seven evening classes, a daylong mini-retreat, weekly readings and two or more meditation MP3s.