Caring for ourselves, so we can care for others
Parenting is hard, we can feel that we are never good enough. And right now, many parents are spread very thin - struggling with balancing work, home life, home-schooling, and self-care.
Connect with a community of like-minded parents once a week for Mind With Heart’s experiential well-being sessions. Our 6 week course explores how to
reduce stress, anxiety, reactivity and self-criticism
bring back joy - reconnect with our own good heart, and the heart of parenting
share fun tools for well-being with our children
During each 1-hour session we will practice mindfulness and emotional health exercises, share the scientific research on well-being, and explore ways to bring more joy, laughter and love into our lives.
Follow-up emails will help you stay connected during the week, with session summaries, guided audio exercises, short videos, and links to helpful resources.
Fees: £90 per person. Concession places available on request. Contact us to find out more.
Who is the course for?
This course is for parents and carers - all those who care for children. No previous experience of mindfulness is required. We will explain what mindfulness and compassion are and share the research, but primarily this is an experiential course designed to give you practical tools for personal flourishing. You will be invited to reflect on and share your experience, should you choose - these contributions enrich the course for everyone.
What topics will I cover?
Investigating stress, well-being and their causes
How to establish a regular Mindfulness practice, & an ‘on-the-spot’ practice
Finding calm amidst the chaos
Changing our relationship to challenging thoughts and emotions
Cultivating self-care and emotional health
Empathy, healthy relationships and communicating with emotional intelligence
Sharing well-being tools with children
Recent scientific research
What do other people say about this course?
“magical – heart and mind fully engaged, a valuable experience both personally and professionally”
“enriching, joyful and informative … absolutely recommend it”
“I was impressed by the lightness with which we confronted such deeply profound topics”
"It gave me a sense of openness, freshness and acceptance”
“a nourishing and stimulating experience”
“by training myself to be calm and thoughtful I can help others to be also”
“I can see how kindness and compassion improves our well-being”
“100% worth spending the time participating – it will benefit your health and relationships”
Who will my instructor be?
Fiona Clarke
Trustee, Senior Trainer
Mind With Heart
Fiona Clarke has been holding retreats, workshops and courses internationally for the past 15 years, sharing tools for well-being and connection with adults and children. Fiona supports school communities to flourish and thrive, using tools for emotional health such as mindfulness, empathy and compassion. She holds trainings with presence, humour, lightness, a sense of common humanity, and a deep empathic connection with others.
Week by week
Week 1: Taking Care of Myself
Exploring wellbeing: what are the causes of stress and wellbeing?
Introducing mindfulness
Qualities of mind: Relaxation, Presence, Awareness, Kindness
Week 2: Connecting with my body
Connecting with the body: deepening discovery of physical sensations
Mindful mandarin
Two types of happiness
Week 3: Noticing my reactions
Mindful speaking; mindful listening
Connecting with feelings and impulses
The brain: three brains in one and neuroplasticity
Week 4: Strengthening emotional health
Identifying thoughts
Changing our relationship to thoughts – thoughts are just thoughts
Recognising emotions [in ourselves and others]; Paul Ekman’s work
Week 5: Being a friend to myself
Exploring nourishing and depleting activities
Recognising the self-critic, and finding a more compassionate voice
Generating kind wishes for myself
Week 6: Connecting with my family
Emotionally intelligent communication
Fun ways to introduce mindfulness to children
Guiding a mindfulness exercise for children
How to continue …