Learn to care for ourselves using simple and effective tools that nurture wellbeing and healthy relationships
Care for ourselves, so we can care for others
Parenting is hard, we can feel that we are never good enough. Many parents are spread very thin - struggling with balancing family life, work, and relationships, with no time to just ‘be me’, no time to self-care.
Connect with a community of like-minded parents once a week for Mind With Heart’s experiential well-being sessions. Our 8 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 1/2 hour session we will practice mindfulness and emotional health exercises, share 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: £120/ £90 conc. per person for this 8 week course and optional half day retreat
Course Dates are Weds 10 - 11:30am on 9, 16, 23, 30 Sep, 7, 14, 21 Oct, 4 Nov
(note there is no class on on Oct 28th, as its Oct half term break)
Optional half day retreat Sat 10th October, 10am - 1pm.
So that money is not a barrier to you joining us, we are happy to offer a concession rate of £90, and a further reduced rate 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
Senior Trainer, Trustee
Mind With Heart
Fiona 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, theory & practice, research
Qualities of mind: Relaxation, Presence, Awareness, Kindness
Week 2: Connecting with my body
Connecting with the body: how can being present nourish me?
Running on autopilot, distraction and unhappiness
Mindful mandarin
Week 3: Noticing my reactions
Connecting with feelings and impulses: can I experience challenging feelings and not react habitually?
The brain: three brains in one and neuroplasticity
Mindfulness of Sound and Mindful listening
Week 4: Strengthening emotional health
Identifying thoughts: who is the boss? me or my thoughts?
Recognising emotions [in ourselves and others]; Paul Ekman’s work
Mindfulness of sounds and thoughts
Week 5: Being a friend to myself
Recognising the self-critic, and finding a more compassionate voice
Exploring nourishing and depleting activities
Gratitude practice, generating kind wishes for myself
Week 6: Connecting with my family
Emotionally intelligent communication, deep listening
Guiding a mindfulness exercise for children
Mindful movement
Week 7: Working with Challenges
Self-care, how to support myself when things fall apart, my on-the-spot practice
Looking after my family in tough times
Seeing others as Just Like Me
Week 8: Taking care of me and my family
My plan for continuing
Sharing well-being tools with children - fun ways to introduce mindfulness
Generating kind wishes for others
Plus … Half Day Retreat, Sat 10th October, 10am - 1pm
Deepening the practice and connection with each other