Mindfulness practice can be a gradual process for those with busy lives, as it encourages us to pause and attentively observe the present moment with care and interest.

Contrary to the common assumption of mindfulness as a relaxation technique, it can also reveal feelings of distraction, tiredness, sadness, or irritability, which is perfectly normal. In fact, mindfulness teaches us to recognize these states and develop adaptive responses. However, with perseverance and support from the course teacher, and keeping in mind that mindfulness is not primarily a relaxation method but a practice that fosters awareness and self-management, participants can experience numerous benefits. Just like acquiring any new skill, experiencing the full benefits of mindfulness may take time.

Between the weekly meetings, you are asked to practice the skills daily, listening to guided meditations and engaging in short exercises to help improve stress response and integrate mindfulness techniques into your life. Life is busy for most of us, so you might find making time for home practice at times challenging. The invitation is to do your best with the home exercises; approaching the challenges you face with care and compassion - this is an important learning in itself. The more you practice, the more you access the benefits, but what you do is between you and you - you will not be checked on how much home practice you have done.

Mindfulness recognises that while stress is a natural response, long-term exposure without coping strategies can harm our health and relationships.

MBSR has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and enhance well-being, backed by compelling evidence from neuroscience studies. The MBSR course has shown to be beneficial for those dealing with various life challenges, including but not limited to stress, anxiety, chronic pain, depression, and sleep disturbances.

Even though every participant’s experience is unique, we hope you begin experiencing some of these benefits rather quickly:

• A feeling of having more time and space in your day.

• Appreciation for life's enjoyable aspects.

• Improved capacity to support yourself during challenging moments like distractions, stress, or anxiety.

• Respond to yourself, your thoughts and feelings with acceptance

• Improved clarity and compassion in your daily responses, aligning with your values.

• Recognise your stress triggers and how to step out of your habitual patterns when under stress

• Slow down the emotional reactivity

• Respond to others with calm and compassion and experiencing more meaningful relationships

• Improve self-knowledge and self-caring habits

• Create routines and integrate mindfulness into a part of your life beyond the course.

Your place on the course is confirmed once you have:

• paid the course deposit (£60)

• filled out a brief contact detail and personal history questionnaire.

The course tutor will confidentially handle your questionnaire and your answers allow us to ensure the course can benefit you.

Any topics or questions required can be discussed during your personal course orientation. The information you share also allows us to be aware of any issues we need to be sensitive to during the course to support you in the best possible way.

The course is payable via bank transfer or PayPal (including card payments).

You will receive instructions to pay a £60 deposit. After receiving your deposit, your place in the course is confirmed. The balance (£185) is due at the latest 21 days (3 weeks) before the course starts.

The £60 deposit is non-refundable. If South Coast Mindfulness has to cancel the course due to exceptional circumstances, we will refund all the fees you have paid in full, including the deposit.

If you have paid the full course fee 21 days before the course starts and then need to cancel: If you cancel your booking more than 21 days before the course start date, your course will be refunded minus the £60 deposit.

Unfortunately, to protect our small business from the effects of last-minute cancellations, cancellations within 21 days of the course start date are, unfortunately, non-refundable. Please get in touch with Elisa as soon as possible if you need to cancel.

• Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction course is a structured programme that builds skills gradually, week by week. You are eligible to join the course if you can commit to joining all 8 sessions and the day of meditation practice and make time for the daily home exercises between sessions. You also need to be over 18 years of age.

• To most people, joining an MBSR course is a positive, enriching, and sometimes even life-changing experience. However, in some circumstances, it may not be advisable to engage in MBSR training.

• The MBSR course has been scientifically shown to be an effective complement to a wide variety of medical and psychological conditions, including psychotherapy. If you are momentarily engaging in any such treatment, please share this in the questionnaire so that we can ensure you will have time and energy to engage in the training.

• The MBSR course is not a treatment for specific physical or psychological conditions. If you are experiencing severe problems on these areas (e.g. severe depression, suicidal thoughts, recent trauma) please do not sign up for the course at this point as these will make engaging in mindfulness difficult and can add to distress.

• The course is not suitable for participants who are currently experiencing a significant life event (e.g., loss, separation, bereavement). It may also not be ideal if you have high levels of stress, causing exceptional distress. Please get in touch with Elisa to discuss this whenever you are unsure.