Mindfulness Training For Coaches

In this session we look at becoming more present. Concerns about the future, regrets about the past, comparing oneself with others and constantly thinking about how things could be better are examples of typical thoughts.

Concerns about the future, regrets about the past, comparing oneself with others and constantly thinking about how things could be better are examples of typical thoughts.

This constant thinking not only distracts our thoughts and attention from the here and now; but when thoughts are negative, they can also cause problems such as anxiety or stress.

In this session we look at how thoughts can have a major impact on our actions and behaviour, both consciously and unconsciously. Thought a very powerful tool to create plans, set goals and move forward, but they can be difficult to turn off. (e.g. can’t sleep.) Thoughts can disconnect us from the present moment. Especially when we are judging the experience. Thoughts can be problematic, especially when we believe them to be true. Example having limiting beliefs.

This section introduces us to the body scan meditation and some things to bare in mind as you do the practice.

In this session we do a body scan. The body scan teaches us to recognise and experience physical sensations. The body scan is a method to learn how to draw attention to a specific point. In the body scan, the point of attention is one part of the body.

An overview of the following weeks practices and things to become aware of.

This video is an introduction to automatic behaviour and what is covered during this section. Understanding how automatic behaviour can have both positive and negative consequences.

In this session we do a body scan. The body scan teaches us to recognise and experience physical sensations. The body scan is a method to learn how to draw attention to a specific point. In the body scan, the point of attention is one part of the body.

Automatic behaviour involves behaviour that is guided outside conscious awareness. It is like being on automatic pilot. When we are not consciously aware of our own behaviour. Although it may be hard to imagine, some researchers believe that 90% of our behaviour is carried out automatically. A clear example of automatic behaviour is driving a car. If you are an experienced driver, you probably will not be consciously aware of the process of changing gears, the movement of your feet pushing the pedals and the way you hold the steering wheel.

In this session, we see that we often get caught up in a cycle of thoughts and emotions. When we pay attention to the thoughts and feelings that are present in the current moment, we can create room for awareness. The awareness then provides the possibility to observe the cycle between thoughts and emotions. This in turn can help us to respond appropriately to situations.

This section introduces us to the Eating with awareness meditation and some things to bare in mind as you do the practice.

The purpose is to move from automatic pilot and become more aware of how we do what we do. It shows we often rush through experiences, example eating. This exercise will teach us how to be more present in the moment and appreciate what we are experiencing at that time. This is an easy exercise to do with several opportunities a day.

An overview of the following weeks practices and things to become aware of.

In this video we do an overview and look at what we are going to cover during this section about judgments.

This section introduces us to the Seated awareness meditation and some things to bare in mind as you do the practice.

Practising the seated awareness meditation gives us the opportunity to notice when we drift away from the awareness of present moment. Allows us to gently bring our attention back to our focus of attention and reconnecting with a moment by moment awareness.

In this video, we see that judging is something that we constantly do and is largely automatic. Within a fraction of a second, we can form an opinion about someone we meet for the first time. We very quickly rate an evening as successful or label a feeling as pleasant/ unpleasant. There are many things we judge about, such as other people, ourselves, situations, the weather, etc. The main characteristics of a judgment are described in this video.

By becoming more aware of your judgmental mind, you train the “observing self.” That way we learn to look at the content of our mind, as a kind of independent observer, without going along with it. You will gain more insight into the automatic patterns of your mind, such as judgments. You will also learn to be able to believe the judgment or not. You could say that you will have more control over the consequences of your thoughts.

This meditation helps to connect to self beyond the story line. There’s a difference between the story you tell yourself and the person observing the stories. Connecting to dynamic self beyond the fixed story. The self then goes way beyond the symbols/ things/ words.

An overview of the following weeks practices and things to become aware of.

Introduction to the concept of acceptance and the role it plays in our life.

Practising the seated awareness meditation gives us the opportunity to notice when we drift away from the awareness of present moment. Allows us to gently bring our attention back to our focus of attention and reconnecting with a moment by moment awareness.

Here we do an overview and look at what we are going to cover during this section.Many people deal with negative experiences with control based strategies. This aims to decrease the frequency and intensity of unwanted experiences. However the deliberate avoidance of internal states has been linked with a great diversity of negative outcomes.

An exercise in which we explore the difference between resistance and acceptance.

A metaphor to illustrate how we deal with unwanted feelings and situations.

Unpleasant experiences inevitably happen. They vary from relatively small events, such as forgetting an appointment, to more intense distress such as the death of a loved one. Oftentimes we try to forget these types of situations and the feelings that go along with them. Or we try to get over it as fast as we can. We often don’t really allow the unpleasant situation and associated feelings to be present. Generally having a hard time accepting them, which may result in a struggle or conflict.

In this video we discover how mindfulness helps us to focus attention on the current moment, for pleasant as well as unpleasant experiences. Mindfulness teaches us to accept that nothing is permanent, that all events, experiences and situations come and go.

This section introduces us to the 3 minute breathing space meditation and we discuss some things to bare in mind as you do the practice.

The “Three-minute Breathing Space” is a short exercise which can help us to become more aware of what we are feeling in the very moment. This easy A, B, C, exercise will help you to become more aware. You can do this any time during the day when you have a couple of minutes.

An overview of the following weeks practices and things to become aware of.

An introduction to goals and the role they play in our life. Becoming aware that they can be both beneficial and detrimental.

Practising the seated awareness meditation gives us the opportunity to notice when we drift away from the awareness of present moment. Allows us to gently bring our attention back to our focus of attention and reconnecting with a moment by moment awareness.

An overview of what we are going to cover during this section and the benefits of having goals.

While focusing on goals can be very effective, too much focus on goals can also paradoxically lead us to not achieving the goal. Another potential problem is if you are too focused on the goal, then we might not appreciate the present. Thus, lowering the quality of the present moment behaviour.

Mindfulness can help create more balance between goals and the way to the goal. It means we pay more attention in the present moment, enjoying the journey. Mindfulness does not mean you no longer set goals, or that you just live in the moment. It means that you set goals consciously.

The “Three-minute Breathing Space” is a short exercise which can help us to become more aware of what we are feeling in the very moment. This easy A, B, C, exercise will help you to become more aware. You can do this any time during the day when you have a couple of minutes.

An overview of the following weeks practices and things to become aware of.

An introduction to compassion and what we are going to cover during this section.

This section introduces us to the Loving kindness meditation and some things to bare in mind as you do the practice.

The loving-kindness mediation is a form of single-focus meditation. Just as the breath is used as a focal point in the seated mediation, the sentences in the loving-kindness meditation are the focus of our attention. The object of the loving-kindness meditation is less important than the attitude we are trying to cultivate through the exercise. By repeated practice, the intention to the loving and compassionate is increased. The brain is taught through repetition to experience that which is present in each moment.

The reactions we have towards ourselves are often merciless and punishing. Oftentimes a negative judgment about ourselves seems to be an automatic response when we fail, with forgiveness and gentleness seldom found.

Mindfulness involves a kind and self-compassionate stance toward the self. Many people suffer from a non-accepting of self and are self-critical. We all have that inner critic: the internal voice that we use to criticise our self with. In this session, we want to learn how to effectively cultivate a friendly and caring relationship with the self by increasing awareness of the inner critic and practising self-compassion through meditation and self-caring action.

Practising the seated awareness meditation gives us the opportunity to notice when we drift away from the awareness of present moment. Allows us to gently bring our attention back to our focus of attention and reconnecting with a moment by moment awareness.

An overview of the following weeks practices and things to become aware of.

Introduction to the ego and what we are going to cover during this section.

Practising the seated awareness meditation gives us the opportunity to notice when we drift away from the awareness of present moment. Allows us to gently bring our attention back to our focus of attention and reconnecting with a moment by moment awareness.

In this section we look at the ego as a story we tell ourselves about who we are. The things the ego identifies with not problematic in themselves. Believing a story in your head that says these things are who you are, that is problematic.

In this section we look at how the ego is formed and the role it plays in our life.

Through mindfulness we learn to understand that you are more than just your body, thoughts, possessions and emotions. You are not what you identify with. Through the practice of mindfulness, the observer in you gets stronger. This observer is not identified with experiences or concepts. But what does that mean?

This meditation helps to connect to self beyond the story line. There’s a difference between the story you tell yourself and the person observing the stories. Connecting to dynamic self beyond the fixed story. The self then goes way beyond the symbols/ things/ words.

An overview of the following weeks practices and things to become aware of.

Introduction to the final section of the training and covers how we can integrate mindfulness into our daily lives.

In this session we do a body scan. The body scan teaches us to recognise and experience physical sensations. The body scan is a method to learn how to draw attention to a specific point. In the body scan, the point of attention is one part of the body.

We know that listening is such an important aspect of coaching. We often think about the past or future when listening to other people. When we do that, we are not really listening at all. Instead of being in the moment and fully absorbing both the words and content from the client, other thoughts are going on. Thinking about what to say back or thinking about what we should have said. In this exercise, you are going to practice and experience what mindful listening means.

Unpacking the mindful listening exercise and understanding the impact it can have with the people we interact with.

In this section we will map the links between the themes we covered during this training and see how they form an inseparable connection in the concept of mindfulness.

Techniques, suggestions and exercises you can do to implement mindfulness into your daily life moving forward.

Thank you for taking this online mindfulness for coaches training.