Self-compassion involves acting in the same way towards yourself as you would to others when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself.
In this 5-week course, students will learn about the theory research underlying self-compassion and engage with a range of practices that will support enhancing their own capacity for self-compassion. Practices include formal meditations and informal practices that can be used throughout the day. Students are expected to engage with home practice to help assimilation of the practices.
As a result of participating in the course, students will have learned
- How to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than criticism
- How to handle difficult emotions with greater ease
- Mindfulness and self-compassion practices for everyday life
- The theory and research behind mindful self-compassion
- How to become your own best teacher
Week 1. Discovering Self-Compassion
Introduction to the course – how to approach mindful self-compassion + guiding principles
What is Self-compassion:
Soothing touch informal practice
Self-compassion break informal practice
Week 2. Practising Mindfulness
Affectionate Breathing meditation
Review of home practice
What is mindfulness?
How do we cause ourselves unnecessary suffering?
Backdraft – how and why unpleasant feelins can arise when we practice self-compassion
Meditation in daily life informal practice
Self-compassion in daily life informal practice
Mindfulness and Self-compassion
Week 3. Practising Loving Kindness
Affectionate breathing meditation
Review of home practice
Revisit Self-Compassion break practice
Loving Kindness and compassion
Loving Kindness for a loved one exercise
Finding Loving kindness phrases exercise
Week 4. Discovering Your Compassionate Voice
Loving Kindness for Ourselves meditation
Review of home practice
Awakening our hearts exercise
Self-criticism and safety discussion
Motivating ourselves with compassion exercise
Week 5. Living Deeply
Giving and Receiving Compassion Meditation
Review of home practice
Living deeply exposition
Finding your core values exercise
Review of the course – what would I like t oremember?
Tips for Maintaining Practice
Closing
optional PURCHASE: ‘the mindful-self-compassion workbook’ $25 (cash to tutor) meditation cushion/shawl if desired
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As a teenager Ann was fascinated to understand what makes people tick, particularly in the emotional realm. Ann studied psychology at university then worked with children and community groups, using drama as a tool for self-discovery. SHe taught for a time in the Drama Department at the University of Newcastle. In 1981, Ann was introduced to meditation. The experiences engendered in her a sense of wholeness in her being, and the philosophy underlying the practice also landed deeply for her. Since then, the study and practice of meditation have been pivotal for Ann’s life. After becoming a mother, Ann learned about homeopathy. It appealed to her because, in classical homeopathy, the emotional and mental state of the patient is often pivotal in making a prescription. Ann studied homeopathy and graduated with an Adv Dip Hom in 2002. Besides practising as a homeopath, Ann teaches an introductory ‘Homeopathy at Home’ and has lectured to degree students at Endeavour College of Natural Health. In 2018, Ann learned about the Mindful Self-Compassion course – it made her heart sing- Ann completed teacher training that year. SHe has adapted the 8-week, 3-hour course into two shorter, more accessible formats.
