An Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation 4-Week Course — Cairns

Australia’s #1 in-person mindfulness and meditation course.

Reduce anxiety, worry and stress. Improve sleep. Increase self-acceptance.

Only $125 for an in-person 4-week Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation course in Cairns. Designed for absolute beginners. Course includes four classes with an experienced mindfulness trainer, a 4-week subscription to the full version of the CALM app, downloadable guided mindfulness meditations and a 45-page guidebook.

“I am so glad I did the course and would recommend it to everyone.” — Rosie Smith

What is Mindfulness and what is Meditation?

Mindfulness is a simple and practical way to learn to observe our thoughts, rather than be trapped by them and worrying about the past or the future.

Meditation is sitting formally, focusing on our breath or body sensations.  As we do this we experience greater ease and freedom. In all Mindfulness Works courses we sit in chairs.

“Mindfulness helps you to keep your thoughts in the present moment. As you practice, you tend to get better at calming the mind and keeping things in perspective.” — Dr Grant Blashki GP and Beyond Blue’s (beyondblue.org.au) lead Clinical Advisor

The Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation

✅ Reduced stress, anxiety and worry

With practice and over time, mindfulness meditation can reduce the amount of stress and anxiety we experience.

✅ Better sleep

Experience better sleep with mindfulness meditation. The more relaxed we become, the easier it is to sleep.

✅ Greater self-acceptance and self-love

Mindfulness helps us realise we are perfectly OK just as we are, right here and right now.

✅ Healthier relationships through reduced reactivity

Rather than getting lost in a ‘fight or flight’ response when we feel annoyed, angry or threatened in our relationships, we have the tools to respond, rather than react.

✅ Greater feelings of joy and freedom

Mindfulness and meditation allows us to  experience natural feelings of joy, calm and freedom.

✅ Increased self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Develop the wisdom and emotional intelligence to navigate life’s challenges in an easier, simpler and more rewarding way.

“I feel calmer. I am able to use techniques when my triggers go off. Using the meditation at night has allowed me to get a better night’s sleep.” — Sue Mathew

“Since doing this course, I have been sleeping much better, I feel much more in control of my emotions, I have enjoyed ‘noticing’ my own state, but also it has transferred to everything around. This means I am re-enjoying many things that I had been taking for granted.” — Sandy Good

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“Using mindfulness to help me better manage unrelenting anxiety, obsessive worrying & sadness. I have found that using the apps is helpful when having a stressful day, & I intend to keep practicing daily. Thank you.” — Cecily Wilson

“I am so glad I did the course and would recommend it to everyone.” — Rosie Smith

“Thank goodness I came across Mindfulness Works. I have learnt so much in a year and am the happiest, authentic and content I have ever been. Learning acceptance without judgement as been an eye opener for me. I’m continuing my journey of self compassion and feel excited and hopeful for my future, but am grateful of the now and who I am today…” — Rebecca Young

FREE 4-week subscription to CALM included.

Every participant on the Mindfulness Works Introduction to Mindfulness 4-Week Course receives a free 4-week gift subscription to the award-winning Calm mindfulness and meditation app (premium version). This app was the Apple app of the year for 2017.

Meditate
Learn the life-changing skill of meditation.

Sleep
Get more restful sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.

Masterclass
Audio programs taught by world-renowned mindfulness experts.

No Religion. No funny positions. No dogma. This course is practical and non-religious.

This particular course emphasises your own natural wisdom, your own innate OKness, right here and now. The instructions and guidance will be explicitly inviting you to embrace your whole human experience as it happens, moment by moment with a radical acceptance.

Course Outline

Week 1: What is Mindfulness?

• What mindfulness is
• The benefits of mindfulness and meditation
• How to get the most from the course
• Guided body scan mindfulness meditation
• Questions and answers / discussion.

Week 2: Working with the Mind

• Why thinking can be problematical
• Practical ways to work with difficult thoughts
• Self-judgement and how to intervene
• Guided mindfulness meditation – counting the breath
• Questions and answers / discussion.

Week 3: Working with Emotions

• What are emotions?
• Learning to feel emotions
• The RAIN method
• Non-judgement and acceptance
• Guided mindfulness meditation on feelings
• Questions and answers / discussion.

Week 4: Radical Acceptance

• What it means to be present
• How wanting causes stress
• Developing wisdom and insight
• Authentic self-compassion
• Open awareness guided mindfulness meditation
• Questions and answers / discussion
• Next steps.

“Am so glad I did the course and would recommend it to everyone. ” — Rosie Smith

“Huge reduction in anxiety, calmness of mind and body and empowerment over my symptoms.” — Jo Kirwan

“I feel calmer. I am able to use techniques when my triggers go off. Using the meditation at night has allowed me to get a better nights sleep” — Sue Mathew

“Using mindfulness to help me better manage unrelenting anxiety, obsessive worrying & sadness. I have found that using the apps is helpful when having a stressful day, & I intend to keep practicing daily. Thank you.” — Cecily Wilson

“The course was very relaxed and friendly, and full of useful practical advice that recognised the limits to time that everyone faces. Also I liked the mix of people attending, with a range of different reasons for being there.” — Rosie Cree

“Since doing this course, I have been sleeping much better, I feel much more in control of my emotions, I have enjoyed ‘noticing’ my own state, but also it has transferred to everything around. This means I am re-enjoying many things that I had been taking for granted.” — Sandy Good

“The course guidebook was a useful guide and very informative. I also enjoyed the formal practice and the way different strategies were explained.” — Linda Daniell

LEARN FROM THE BEST

Your mindfulness and meditation teacher,
Lara Baker

Lara is dedicated to practising mindfulness as a way of keeping herself healthy and remaining balanced as a busy mother and running a company. She has used mindfulness as a solid coping mechanism when life has been challenging.

Lara has had 14 years’ experience working in the community sector with young people and the homeless. She has an intense sense of social justice and believes everyone needs to have access to professional development and stress reduction techniques to work at their optimal and achieve a healthy life. Lara also offers equine assisted learning (working with horses through mindfulness) to a wide variety of audiences.

Lara’s tertiary background is psychology/community work; she has a Diploma of Youth Work and is also a certified trainer and assessor. Lara has worked under government and non-government organisations in various positions from volunteering, working in drop-in centres, residential services, as a school counsellor/education and working directly with people with drug and alcohol issues to managing an organisation she founded.

She has had 10 years’ training experience along with designing and running workshops for many different audiences.

Feedback from participants indicates Lara’s facilitation ability creates a warm, interactive environment for participants to learn and be heard whilst maintaining an important level of professionalism.

Lara’s company is Community Training and comes from a strength-based approach right through all levels of an organisation from direct client contact to team dynamics to administration and allows organisations to perform at an optimal level.

Mindfulness Works is one of the largest mindfulness training organisations in Australasia. Over 25,000 people have attended the Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation 4-week course throughout Australia and New Zealand

Mindfulness Works is committed to:

• Providing accessible and affordable mindfulness courses
• Offering a diverse range of experienced and skilled mindfulness trainers
• Providing courses in a practical format with exceptional supporting resources
• Improving the mental health of all of us and fostering self-love in all
• Supporting our facilitators with options for further professional development

Refund and Transfer Policy

• Full refunds are available up to one week before a course starts.
• Free transfers to other courses are available up to one week before a course starts.
• Once a course has started, full refunds are only available if you attend every class of the course and feel you have not got value. In this case you are entitled to and will be given a full refund.
• Refunds are not given if you do not attend every class of the course and if you simply ‘do not like’ the course or decide ‘it is not for you’.
• For more details about our refund and transfer policy, please read our FAQ.

How long is each weekly class and what happens?

Each class is one hour long. There will be a guided meditation for a period. This will include meditation instruction. After the meditation and instruction, there will be a talk or discussion. This includes a question and answer time.

Who is it suitable for?

This course is suitable for any of the following:

• 18-year-olds and over
• Beginners
• People who have never meditated or practised mindfulness before
• People who have just started meditating or practising mindfulness.