Headrest

ABOUT

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an 8-week experiential educational course, which cultivates emotional, psychological and physical resilience and well being. It brings together meditative practices with current scientific understandings of the brain. It provides intensive and systematic training in formal and informal mindfulness practices. This includes learning how to cultivate an observant, accepting and compassionate stance towards your own thoughts, emotions, body sensations and impulses.

The program consists of eight 2.5 hour weekday classes and one daylong class on a Sunday. The emphasis is on experiential learning - practising becoming more mindful - rather than on learning theory. Each class contains guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practice, and some gentle mindful movement. Individually tailored feedback and a scientific rationale for the practice is provided by the facilitator. Key topics such as stress physiology, emotional regulation, cognitive behavioural strategies, interpersonal communication and implementing self-care are explored through group discussion and short exercises.

An integral part of the training is home practice. The home practice is made up of meditation and mindful movement exercises that are each about 30 minutes long. Audio recordings and a course book are provided to guide this. To get the most out of the course, you will need to be able to practise about 45 minutes per day, although not necessarily in a single block.

Extensive research has shown that most course participants report:
- an increased ability to relax,
- more energy and enthusiasm for life,
- improved self-esteem and self-confidence,
- improved concentration, memory and effective decision-making.

Participants have also reported a lasting decrease in:
- psychological symptoms such as stress, anxiety, depression and irritability,
- negative thinking patterns and physical symptoms of a range of a chronic health problems including pain, headaches and irritable bowel syndrome.

SERVICES

COMPASSION

Living Mindfully with Compassion
This 8-week course is a follow-on course from MBSR. It aims to deepen the benefits of a mindfulness practice by exploring practices that cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. Mindfulness is often defined as, ‘the awareness that arises when we focus our attention in the present moment in a kind and non-judgemental way’. As we become more mindful it can often become more evident that approaching ourselves and others in a kind way is not so easy. Luckily compassion can be developed through practice.

PARENTING

Mindful parenting
Mindful Parenting is a structured experiential 8-week course with a focus on cultivating resilience in day-to-day parenting and family activities. It is very different from many of the behavioural-based parenting courses with a focus on being a parent rather than learning skills to do it right.

Circle of Security parenting in your home
Circle of Security™ (COS) is an 8 week relationship based educational parenting program for parents & care-givers of children aged 0-5. It aims to cultivate secure attachment, a positive indicator for resilience and well being throughout life.

WORKPLACE

Resilient Individuals & Resonant Workplaces​
Corporate or Community Organisations
Stress, anxiety, depression and work-conflict cost Australian employers tens of billion dollars annually, through reduced work performance, sickness absence, staff turnover and workers compensation claims.Our in-house Sydney based, mindfulness programs aim to bring out the best in your employees, providing tools for greater resilience, happiness, concentration and health. Through supporting your staff we nurture your organisation.

TEACHERS

Mindful teachers, mindful schools.
HeadRest focus on the development of a personal mindfulness practice for educators to support implementing mindfulness programs for the whole school community. Programs for both adults and students can help develop attention as well as self-regulation. The ability to pay attention and regulate behaviour and emotion lay the groundwork for healthy learning environments. Mindfulness programs can help develope empathy, kindness, generosity and compassion - important qualities for both teaching and social and emotional learning.

For all enquiries contact us today!