About Breathworks Mindfulness Teacher Training If you have any questions about our teacher training that aren't answered on this page (or if you simply want to speak to a real person!) please feel free to call us on (+44) 0161 834 1110. Our lines are open 10-5 (UK time), Monday to Friday.You can also sign up to a 1-hour Breathworks Teacher Training Programme Introductory Webinar to find out about the programme and get the opportunity to ask any questions. Who is Breathworks Teacher Training for? The Breathworks approach is a wholehearted, simple, and versatile approach which will allow you to effectively teach mindfulness and compassion to all kinds of people in many different contexts. Aspiring Teachers Learn the essential skills of a fantastic mindfulness teacher, with an experiential - rather than academic - approach, and confidently share life-changing practices with others. Mindfulness Practitioners Learning to teach mindfulness and compassion is the best way to master them and make them your own. For most of our waking lives, the only mindfulness teacher we have is ourselves! Teachers and Professionals Get accredited in a highly effective and compassion-conscious system of mindfulness practice. The Breathworks approach has been subjected to numerous scientific studies and has been proven to be a highly effective method for managing mental health, as well as pain and chronic health conditions. About Breathworks Teacher Training The Breathworks Teacher training programme is a highly effective pathway to become accredited as a mindfulness and meditation teacher, gain the skills to lead meditations, meditation interviews, and teach mindfulness and compassion to groups and individuals. Our teacher training is widely regarded as one of the most thorough and in-depth available. You will become accredited in Breathworks' simple, effective, and highly adaptable approach to teaching mindfulness and compassion. You will also be accredited to teach Breathworks’ two signature courses: Mindfulness for Health, for chronic pain and long-term health conditions, and Mindfulness for Stress, for stress, anxiety, and mental unrest. Our approach was developed to be effective enough to work for chronic pain and long-term health conditions, and it is extremely versatile. See Dates and Apply Now Contents The Breathworks ApproachTeacher Training Programme OverviewApply Now!Breathworks Training Programme Introductory Webinar The Breathworks Approach Breathworks courses teach a highly adaptable system of understanding, teaching, and practising mindfulness and meditation. It includes: The importance of body-based practices, including the body scan and mindful movement How mindfulness and compassion practices can be profoundly life-changing and transformative for those suffering from chronic pain and health conditions Learning to switch from ‘doing mode’ into ‘being mode’ - learning the difference between thinking about experience and being directly aware of it Understanding the key difference between Primary Suffering (e.g. a pain in your leg) and Secondary Suffering (e.g. worrying about what the pain could be, whether it will get worse, etc. etc.) The essential role of compassion and kindness - towards others and towards yourself How to incorporate mindfulness into daily life “The Breathworks approach to Mindfulness-Based Pain Management (MBPM) is the most comprehensive, in-depth, scientifically up-to-date and user friendly approach to learning the how of living with chronic pain or illness and reclaiming one’s life that I know of… I admire Vidyamala tremendously.” - Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder of MBSR, Professor Emeritus of the University of Massachusetts Medical School We have a handy acronym to summarise the Breathworks approach: Be AWARE: Be: Being Aware — of body, emotions, and thoughts as foundation A: Acceptance — turning towards the difficult W: Wonder — seeking out the pleasant A: Arising & Passing — living with flow, with a broader sense of perspective R: Relating — building a sense of connection with others E: Engaging with life — and living with choice Breathworks has an emphasis on compassion, gratitude, and kindness, alongside mindfulness, which doesn’t tend to be found in other training programmes, such as MBSR and MBCT. Our emphasis on the body as a vehicle for mindfulness practice means that we also include mindful movement practices as an important component of our courses and training. Breathworks has its roots in mindfulness for pain and health conditions - and we believe that kindness and body-based practices are powerful tools for transforming suffering. Get a taste of the Breathworks Approach in this short video: See Dates and Apply Now Teacher Training Programme Overview This is an overview of the programme. You can download and find everything else you need to know in the Guide to The Breathworks Teacher Training Programme. The training consists of five stages: Click to expand: 1. PREREQUISITES We have three prerequisites: 1. At least a year of mindfulness and meditation practice by the time you begin your Introductory Training event2. You must have completed a Breathworks course within the two years prior to your first training event (to find out more about which courses qualify, download our detailed Guide to The Breathworks Teacher Training Programme.)3. If you haven’t completed a meditation retreat, you can still begin the training, but before you get your accreditation as a meditation teacher, you will need to have completed a meditation retreat (5 days suggested length). This doesn’t necessarily need to be with Breathworks. 2. INTRODUCTORY TEACHER TRAINING Online Orientation Workshop To prepare for your Introductory Teacher Training Event, you will join an Online Orientation Workshop - a group video call with a Breathworks trainer to give you a welcome to Breathworks, an overview of the training process, and an exploration of how to work with your personal mentor through your training. Preparation for Introductory Teacher Training Event Before your training you will also have some preparatory reading to complete and videos to watch, as well as meditation diaries to complete for several weeks to review with your personal mentor. (Due to the time these diaries take to complete, we recommend that you book your Introductory event at least two months in advance). Find out more about what preparation is required in the Guide to The Breathworks Teacher Training Programme. Introductory Teacher Training Event There are three different formats that you can choose from to complete your introductory training: a 6-day residential course, which takes place at a retreat centre or similar location (on hold at the moment) two non-residential modules of 3-days each, held at one of our centres in Manchester or London A purely online format The training itself will consist of extensive practice in: Teaching mindfulness Guiding meditations Conducting effective meditation enquiry Leading mindful movement sessions As well as: A complete introduction to key Breathworks and MBPM (Mindfulness-Based Pain Management) concepts and the principles behind the courses An overview of the structure & content of Breathworks courses: Mindfulness for Health and Mindfulness for Stress Experiential workshops from our Breathworks Trainers in effective teaching methods Understanding the practice and benefits of mindful movement Furthering your understanding of mindfulness and compassion, and their applications for human suffering Deepening your personal mindfulness and meditation practice Learning to effectively communicate your understanding and experience to others in your teaching The introductory training follows a programme that we’ve refined over many years to support rapid learning, but also to be spacious and nurturing of your personal mindfulness practice. 3. DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS The development of skills stage consists of two sections, which can be completed after Introductory Training, any time before your practice course in the 5th and final stage of training. Mindful Movement workshop This mindful movement workshop is available as either a two-day in-person workshop or an online workshop running over three weeks. During this workshop you will focus on teaching and practising the mindful movements included in Breathworks courses. These mindful movements were developed to be easily accessible for everyone and are not about flexibility, strength, or exercise. They were adapted from movements from yoga and qigong, and they are a powerful tool for grounding ourselves, developing mindfulness in movement, and learning to get in touch with the profound wisdom of our bodies. Supporting a Course This is an immensely valuable opportunity to deepen your confidence and experience by supporting a Breathworks course. You could support a course being taught at one of our centres in Manchester or London, one of our group online courses, or one offered by a local Breathworks teacher. It will give you the opportunity to observe an experienced Breathworks teacher teaching the course, as well as to get familiar with the many practicalities of organising and running a course. 4. ADVANCED TEACHER TRAINING There is some preparatory reading and meditation diaries to complete before you attend your Advanced Training. Find out more about these in the Guide to the Breathworks Teacher Training Programme. You can complete your Advanced Training as a 6-day residential course at a retreat centre somewhere in the UK (this format is currently on hold), in two 3-day non-residential modules in Manchester or London, or online. Your Advanced Training event will take place in small groups with a Breathworks trainer, covering key concepts and practices in more depth, and practising the skills of a mindfulness teacher. Trainees will further their understanding of mindfulness and compassion and their applications to human suffering, deepen their personal practice, and communicate their understanding and experience effectively to others. You will work with the Breathworks Teaching Competencies as a guide to developing your good practice as a mindfulness teacher. 5. APPLICATION OF SKILLS Upon completion of Advanced Teacher Training, students will run a Practice Course in order to apply the skills they've learned during their training. You can do this by running a practice course independently, or co-leading one with another trainee or accredited Breathworks teacher. You will be supported in teaching by an experienced Breathworks supervisor. You’ll write a weekly reflective journal, feedback to your supervisor on your experiences, challenges and successes in teaching your course, and receive support and advice. WHAT NOW? Apply Now! If you meet the prerequisites above, we warmly invite you to submit your teacher training application today. Teacher Training Programme Information Webinar Or, if you would like to find out more and have the opportunity to ask some questions, you can sign up free to our Teacher Training Programme Information Webinar: