• Why should I meditate?

• How does the course work?

• What support will I get?

• Do I have to sit on the floor?

• How will it impact any existing health conditions?

• Is this based on any religion and will it conflict with my beliefs?

• Do I need any prior experience of meditation?

• How much time do I need to commit?

• I can’t silence my mind, will I be able to meditate?

• What happens if I fall asleep?

• Do I need to sit in complete stillness?

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Why should I meditate?

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Meditation has been shown to have benefits to health and wellbeing. It is a life skill which can be used to help cope with stress, sleep better, improve focus and generally feel happier. As time goes on the positive impact of meditation is becoming more widely recognised and doctors are starting to prescribe it to patients suffering with a huge range of mental and physical illnesses all over the world. Throughout the course you will learn in depth about the positive impact meditation has on your health and through regular practice you will be able to see the benefits show up in your everyday life.

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How does the course work?

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The course is recommended to be taken in 4 weeks with each week consisting of one lesson and 2 meditations and should take around one hour to complete per week. It is also recommended you practice one meditation per day for at least 15 minutes and keep a record of this. You will be provided with a meditation journal you can complete, or you are welcome to record it any way you wish. Your daily meditation can be one of the ones provided with the course, any guided meditation from YouTube/Spotify etc or you can practice in silence (although this is not recommended for beginners).

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The course is hosted on an online learning platform called Thinkific. Once you have paid you will have access to the course content for life (or as long as Mindful Nic is running) which includes on-demand access to 8 meditations each lasting at least 15 minutes.

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What support will I get?

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Join like-minded people and Mindful Nic in a private Facebook community where you are encouraged to discuss course content, anything you are enjoying and support each other through the journey. Nic will do her best to reply to all comments in the group within 24 hours and will offer up suggestions for anything you are struggling with. This is made to be a nurturing environment so the group will be moderated and anyone deemed to not be following the rules will be removed.

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Do I have to sit on the floor?

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You do not have to sit on the floor in the session. You can sit on a chair or if you do want to sit on the floor you can sit on a cushion or even lean against the wall. You are also welcome to lie down on the floor with a blanket and pillows.

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How will it impact any existing health conditions?

 

Upon registration there is a form for you to complete which highlights any existing medical

conditions. Some of these are contraindicated and I will need approval from your doctor that

they are happy for you to have the training before I can provide any sessions to you. If there is anything you are concerned about please get in contact and I will be happy to discuss with you. 

 

Is this based on any religion and will it conflict with my beliefs?

 

The classes I run are not based on any religion and we will cover a broad range of meditation types. I welcome people from all religions and walks of life. I would encourage you to practice without judgement and if any thoughts like this arise notice them.

 

Do I need any prior experience of meditation?

 

For the beginners course you do not need to have meditated before. I will be teaching you all that you need to be able to develop a home practice. 

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How much time do I need to commit?

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The course is recommended to be taken in 4 weeks with each week consisting of one lesson and 2 meditations and should take around one hour to complete per week. It is also recommended you practice one meditation per day for at least 15 minutes and keep a record of this. This is teaching you to develop a home practice so you can experience the benefits of meditation for yourself. Beyond the course it is advised to keep up your daily practice as much as possible.

 

I can’t silence my mind, will I be able to meditate?

 

Meditation is paying attention on purpose and the aim is not to have no thoughts so a silent mind. Thoughts are a very normal part of human existence, it is how we respond to them that matters. A thought is just a thought and does not require any action during your meditation session. Once you notice your thought bring your mind back to your meditation practice without any judgement - remember thoughts are normal. If you feel like you are having a lot of thoughts you can try saying to yourself “my mind is busy right now” and coming back to your practice as labeling the mind can help it to relax. You can also label any emotions that might arise during the practice if you want to.

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What happens if I fall asleep?

 

When you first start meditating it is normal for it to make you feel sleepy or for you to drift off. If you find this happening repeatedly try meditating in the morning or in a slightly less comfortable position. Falling asleep while meditating does fade as your ability to maintain your attention and focus improves.

 

Do I need to sit in complete stillness?

 

Just like feeling sleepy, feeling agitated or the need to move during meditation is normal. Moving your focus to the area of the body that feels agitated and observing it to see if the feeling passes or changes. If you still feel like you need to move that body part then do so with complete awareness.