Mindfulness at WorkWE TEACH MINDFULNESS FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK Book a Session Now "It has really helped me deal with work stress - I can't recommend the course enough." What We Do Our Programmes Overview & Bespoke Programmes Introductory Sessions Mindful & Compassionate Leadership Course Mindfulness Champions Training Sustainable Mindfulness Programmes for Healthcare Settings Why Breathworks? Who We've Helped Case Studies Who We've Worked With Resources Taste of Mindfulness Course Tips and Tools 3-Minute Meditations Business Case for Mindfulness in the Workplace Breathworks Home Working for a Mindful Organisation Lying down at the end of the lunch break to do a body scan with my colleagues. Starting the meeting with a breathing space and check-in. Just two of my experiences during my first team meeting at Breathworks. Following a twenty-year career in the Civil Service, I recently left to pursue a more fulfilling lifestyle. I now work part time, as a facilitator, a mindfulness teacher, and - very excitingly - Programme Coordinator for Breathworks. I did my Mindfulness Teacher Training with Breathworks and I have always been a huge fan of the organisation, their values, ethos and mission. When the opportunity came up to apply for a part time role there, I jumped at the chance and was lucky enough to get the job. As a former senior civil servant, I have both led and participated in many hundreds of team meetings. So I thought I knew about them when I travelled up to Manchester for my first Programme Team meeting in the Breathworks office. I had read the papers, I was excited to meet the rest of the team, and looking forward to getting started. Walking into the office, I was greeted with hugs from my new colleagues. That never happens in the Civil Service! It’s a small team and everyone is busy. Instead of an atmosphere of stress, busyness and competition, I felt an overwhelming sense of kindness. People were listening to, respecting and supporting each other. Coming from an organisation where bullying is tolerated (and I speak having been on the receiving end), and a few people are clearly more interested in their own status than in the work, this was a revelation. Of course, the vast majority of my former colleagues are kind, respectful, and want to make a difference, but it can be more difficult to act with integrity and kindness in a large and bureaucratic organisation. So back to Breathworks and the team meeting. We started with a breathing space, so we could all ‘arrive’. We broke for lunch, and before we went back to the meeting, we listened to a recording of a body scan. People lay down on the floor or on the sofa or found a comfortable sitting position to do the practice. Refreshed, we went back for the rest of what was a productive meeting. Taking time to recharge, practicing mindfulness together, listening to each other, practicing kindness and generosity. In my view, the more workplaces that had a culture of mindfulness, the happier people would be. There is a huge amount of research demonstrating that happier employees are more engaged, motivated, and productive. If you are interested in how Breathworks can help you become a mindful workplace, check out their Mindful Workplace Programme. Nicola Lowit Manage Cookie Preferences