Question 1

What happens during sessions?

Accepted Answer

During each 90-min session we will explore a different theme, but they will all have a familiar pattern.   We begin with a guided meditation practice followed by reflections of experiences of the practice.  Following that, we will discuss experiences of the home practice but please do not feel any pressure to speak in any of the group discussions, that is entirely your choice.   We conclude the session with another meditation practice and explanation of the home practices for the following week.

Question 2

What does home practice involve?

Accepted Answer

Participants will be set different meditation practices to practice daily at home, which will take around 20-mins. Meditation need not become another ‘goal’ to strive towards to perfecting but perhaps a fun, playful, experimental activity to keep it light.  Trying to find 20-mins a day might prove challenging to find the time when you first begin but soon you may find that mindfulness practice helps you to reclaim time rather than depleting it.  You might like to think about how to approach finding this time before you begin the course, perhaps talking it through with family or friends about what is involved might be helpful and diarising the time to make it a priority.  As meditation teacher, Sharon Salzberg wisely says, “mindfulness isn’t difficult but remembering to do it is”.

Question 3

Who is the teacher?

Accepted Answer

Tricia Wilkie is trained to teach both Mindful-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and the Finding Peace in a Frantic World programme.  Tricia is listed on the British Association of Mindfulness Based Approaches (BAMBA) and meets UK Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness-Based Teachers; i.e., she is suitably trained, committed to continuous professional development, holds appropriate insurance, attends yearly mindfulness retreats and receives supervision for her teaching.

Question 4

Practicalities

Accepted Answer

​Finding Peace in a Frantic World Book.
Participants need to purchase the FPFW book prior to the first session.  The book is needed to support learning and for access to the accompanying guided mindfulness audios needed for home practice.  You can purchase your copy here
Choose your space. It is not always possible to find a super quiet space but try to identify a space in which to join the sessions where you will feel comfortable speaking in and also for your home practice where you are least likely to be disturbed.
Zoom.
You are invited to keep your camera on so we can cultivate a sense of connection as a group, but it is always your choice.  You might like to consider a headset or earphones to respect confidentiality in the group.If you miss a session, it may feel difficult to come back. Come anyway!
If you don’t do any home practice, it may feel difficult to come back. Come anyway!
Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers. 
Sessions may include sitting meditation, lying on the floor (if you choose), simple stretches, and gentle walking.
What to bring and what to sit/lie on?  
Special meditation cushions and stools are not required; however, you might like to explore those in your own time.  You may like to have a yoga mat or something comfy to lie down on for the lying down practice.  Don’t forget to have a drink/snack handy and for some sessions a pen and notepad might be needed.
Have fun!

Question 5

Why is the ‘present’ so important?

Accepted Answer

I get asked this question a lot!  Simply, the present moment is the only moment that truly exists and so it is the only moment we have any element of control over.  Our wild and precious lives are happening now, in this moment, it would be a shame to miss it, right? 
Even if this moment in time is not a pleasant one, being present to it gives us more control about how to relate to it in a more positive way, which will ultimately impact the next moments to come.  Of course, we need to look to the past or to the future to learn, reminisce, daydream or plan, for example, but we do that in a very conscious way.  
On autopilot we might find ourselves getting lost, dwelling, living in the past or catastrophising and worrying about the future, which can bring about or exacerbate feelings of low mood, stress and anxiety.  The aim of mindful awareness is not to force the mind to be 100% present in the day – that would be impossible, but simply to notice where the mind is heading and having the choice whether to go there or come back to a more helpful place by focussing on the now.

Question 6

Why is mindfulness helpful?

Accepted Answer

Our mode of autopilot is helpful so we do not have to repeatedly think in a conscious way about how to walk, drive our car or get dressed, for example. The trouble is we tend to experience most of our day in this mode, in an unconscious way, meaning we have a conceptual, indirect experience rather than truly living life and experiencing it in all its technicolour. 
Can you reflect on a time when you last ate your favourite meal; did you savour it and enjoy every mouthful or was it almost gone before you paid attention to it?  Can you think of a time when you were driving and had full intention to drive one way but found yourself going in the opposite direction or missing your turning because despite the fact your body was awake in the car, your mind was elsewhere?  Maybe you can relate to getting caught up in unhelpful thought cycles or listening to an inner critical voice? 
Being mindful rather than mindless helps us to have more awareness of our self and our surroundings to manage our thoughts and feelings in a more positive way; building and emotional resilience and the skills to get the most out of life.

The next

8-week course commences on

26th April 2022

BOOK NOW!

Finding Peace in a Frantic World

frantic or focussed?

course programme

required course materials