Mindfulness – catherine-hawkins.co.uk

Live better, learn the skill of Mindfulness from an experienced creative.

I am teacher trained in the Breathworks approach and accredited, since June 2021 to lead two courses, Mindfulness for Health (MfH) and Mindfulness for Stress (MfS). I have also developed an adaptation of MfS especially for people living with Dementia. These courses are about learning Mindfulness skills which can alleviate, by giving us the resources to manage, the stress of everyday life, chronic pain and health conditions. Not just to survive, to be happy, resilient, and flourishing!

“I now find it much easier to control both my emotions and stress levels, when I’m dealing with the many stressful situations that I face daily. I have also developed strategies to deal with my chronic pain conditions. Now I have been safely able to reduce the large amount of prescription medications that I use for pain control down to half.”
Course Participant

Courses & Activities

I offer:

8-week Breathworks Courses

Shorter Introductions to Mindfulness & Tasters

Weekly Mindfulness Group

In groups & one-to-one

In person or on Zoom

See News for current courses and activities

Mindfulness can be taught in a variety of ways, including for MfH and MfS, in around two and a half hour sessions over eight weeks for groups or shorter one hour sessions for 1-2-1. These longer courses can begin your Mindfulness journey, providing support and time; to engage with the course resources including books, workbooks and guided meditations and to begin; pondering ideas that will change your perspective on life, a daily meditation practice and being more mindful in your every day life.

I have also lead Mindfulness tasters, introductions and designed staff training. Working in the arts I specialise in piloting new approaches in new settings including new groups of participants and am looking forward to applying Mindfulness in a variety of contexts including in nature. My work with Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre has begun this. I have completed Breathworks CPD in teaching one-to-one and a Masterclass in Mindfulness and Compassion for the Palliative Journey (October 2021).

Mindfulness for Health

“All the skills you need to manage a chronic health condition and regain a high quality of life”
Breathworks

These include the skill of meditation, how mindfulness can help you to manage and live well with pain and chronic health conditions, transformative body and breath awareness for relaxation, tranquillity and to let go of tension, pacing and learning how to break the ‘boom and bust’ cycle characteristic of living with chronic pain.

The course itself includes a balance of teaching, questions and discussion, guided meditation, teaching and practices to help participants develop mindfulness and self-compassion to relieve pain and anxiety, supportive mindful movement practice, a mindfulness teacher to answer questions and guide participants through difficulties every week and a supportive peer group with shared experience.

“Clinical trials have shown that mindfulness meditation can be as effective as prescription painkillers and can enhance the body’s natural healing systems. Mindfulness can also reduce the anxiety, depression, irritability, exhaustion, and insomnia that arises from chronic pain and illness.”
Breathworks

Mindfulness for Stress

Really make a difference in your life by learning; the skill of meditation, Mindfulness and self-compassion, greater concentration and focus, how breath and body awareness can transform stress, supportive mindful movement practices, the art of taking joy in simple pleasures, how to overcome your ‘negativity bias’ and the many health benefits of mindfulness.

The course itself includes a balance of teaching, questions and discussion, guided meditation, practices to help you develop mindfulness, calm, and resilience and a mindfulness teacher to answer your questions and address difficulties every week with personalised advice.

“I have been struggling with low mood, feeling anxious – this course has helped me to push away the bad feelings and to think about everything in a more relaxed and positive way. And to realise the only person that really creates the stress in my life is myself. Which has made me feel more in control, more relaxed and happier state of mind.”
MfS Course Participant

“Over the decades that Breathworks have run this course, they have helped thousands of people suffering from stress associated with work, family and relationships, loss, depression, chronic generalised anxiety, social anxiety, and those who simply want to boost their resilience, learn mindfulness and meditation, or find greater joy and well-being in their lives.”
Breathworks

Mindfulness Taster Session

What is Mindfulness?

An introduction to Mindfulness and the Breathworks approach by a qualified teacher including learning about how it offers a resource for health and wellbeing, especially the stress of everyday life and chronic health conditions. Breathworks teachers lead two eight- week courses Mindfulness for Stress and Mindfulness for Health which have transformed how thousands of people manage anxiety, fear, chronic pain and health conditions and become more resilient having greater joy and well-being in their lives.

During this session we will practice meditations and gentle movement, inclusive to all to experience how breath and body awareness can transform stress and discomfort. Meditations can be done in a posture comfortable for you, standing, sitting or lying on a mat.

“Happiness and calm are skills that can be learned, just like driving or dancing, and can stay with you for a lifetime.”
Breathworks

Groups & One-to-One

I have worked with large and small groups, in person and online. Breathworks courses usually include between eight and twelve participants. I have completed Breathworks CPD training for teaching one-to-one, which can take place online via Zoom.

“Catherine has a warm, calm manner and as a carer appears to have a good understanding of stress and shares her experience of the course. She presents it well, having a down to earth manner which ensures she engages very quickly and effectively with her students.”

“Catherine is lovely, very approachable, available and was always punctual. She was very patient with all of us, allowing people to speak and never cutting them short – everything was explained really well.”
MfS Course Participants