Wizards Mindfulness course with Michael Chaskalson
Becoming more aware of yourself, others and the world around you...
With 12 Wizards having completed the course in November 2007, we are delighted now to be able to offer opportunities for our clients and friends to experience this highly practical approach to managing yourself through the process of change.
The 8 week Mindfulness course is designed to help you become more aware, more empathetic, and better able to handle your usual reactions to difficulty.
Michael’s teaching is based on the Mindfulness–Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) course, developed by the clinical psychologists Zindel Segal, Mark Williams and John Teasdale and the Mindfulness–Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course developed by Dr. Jon Kabat–Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the USA.
The core skill that you will learn is ‘mindfulness’; a way of paying attention, on purpose and non–judgmentally, to what goes on in the present moment in your body, mind, and the world around you. Mindfulness enables you to see things differently, undoing mental and physical knots and tensions. It can increase your sense of personal confidence, of having more options and more strength to face the different challenges in your life.
Mindfulness trains the brain to lead.
Mindful leaders:
- are self–aware and demonstrate consistent behaviour. They ‘walk their talk’;
- gather information about other people, groups and cultures through conversations. They listen to the “music” behind the words – what is and is not said;
- notice subtle patterns in individual and group behaviours and organisational processes;
- are tuned into what is going on around them;
- seek the opinions and ideas of others, especially those different from theirs;
- follow trends and adapt themselves to changing situations;
- are open to constant learning;
- are able to relate to people because they tune in to the experiences of others without filtering them through their own;
- listen, observe and learn how to interpret others’ thoughts and perceptions, thus making informed and better decisions.
- The course will begin with a half day workshop, during which you will learn a number of key mindfulness practices and have the chance to discuss these and your experience of them in the group. During the workshop you select a ‘buddy’ with whom you partner over the 8 weeks.
- Over the 8 weeks, you will be speaking by phone with Michael on 4 occasions, each for an hour. This will be in a conference call format (Skype or other) with your buddy and one other pair. These sessions will be used to both review and learn new practices.
- The course will end with a full day Retreat which will include several hours of silent meditation and lunch.
- Home practice is an important part of the course, and each participant is required to undertake to do 20 to 30 minutes of this, six days per week, between each class.
- During the 8 weeks, Michael will be available by email and phone to support you on an individual basis should you have the need.
About Michael Chaskalson
A Buddhist practitioner for over thirty years, Michael’s experience of the world of business began in 1980 when he founded Windhorse Trading, a fair–trade company that today has a turnover in the region of £9 million and donates its profits to charity. He’s an honorary research fellow at the University of Wales Bangor where he teaches an MA module on Buddhist psychology. He has a Masters degree in mindfulness based clinical interventions.
The Format
Booking details
These courses are offered as either open or tailored programmes. Dates and venues will be arranged to fit the needs of each group.
The minimum group size is 12 people and the maximum is 20 people. The course costs £565 per person assuming 12 pax. Group discount applies if the full 20 places are filled, which would save £4,400 and/or reduce the per person cost to £345.
Costs quoted are exclusive of VAT and venue hire.
To book call Mark Lewis on + 44 (0) 1442 284600 or e–mail mark@thewizardsnetwork.com