2-DAY MINDFULNESS INQUIRY WORKSHOP
Led by Adrian Karunavira
The inquiry process is central to the teaching of MBSR and MBCT. There are no scripts. We're live in the room with the participant speaking about their live experience, which can be quite tender, can be quite revealing and challenging.
This two-day, experiential training will provide an opportunity to develop understanding, skill and confidence in the inquiry process.
BANGOR UNIVERSITY + MINDFULNESS NETWORK + MINDFUL HEALTH
RETREAT RATING
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This Inquiry Process module, will train your ability to speak or dialogue about the mindfulness practices you're teaching, to draw out themes and learning points in a way which is truly effective.
This training is taught in a retreat format, which means there is a great deal of mindfulness practice embedded in the training. The wonderful venue very much facilitates this format; we will will meet, eat and be housed in a relatively secluded area.
Key learning objectives:
The retreat is one of the requirements of Level One certification for those registered on the Teacher Trainer Pathway (MBCT or MBSR), through UNIV. CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO - MBPTI, CMRP BANGOR UNIV. and THE MINDFULNESS NETWORK
Inquiry is a very important aspect of the MBSR and MBCT eight-week course. Basically the whole eight-week course is
framed around experiential learning Much of the experience you're learning comes through doing the mindfulness practices together as a group or
individually, but equally important is the way that the teacher or the tutor dialogues with participants about the
practice and this is where much of the learning happens
and frankly this is one of the most tricky areas to navigate as a new teacher.
There are no rules. There are no scripts. We're live in the room with the participant speaking about
their live experience, which can be quite tender, can be quite revealing and challenging.
And the skill of the teacher to use this experience of practice in a
way that helps the participant learn for themselves to draw out their meaning and
learning from their own body and mind.
In some ways what we're doing with inquiry is we're creating the conditions for learning to
be effective and transferable to other areas of their
lives and this is not something that
can be rushed, but it is something we can train.
It's a skill, a skill of listening or seeing what's important and of really sensing how that learning
might best happen in each moment.
ABOUT THE VENUE
About 50 kms from Oporto airport Nestled in the beautiful North of Portugal, this center is the perfect site for retreats. It offers fresh air, mountain vistas, gorgeous wooded acreage, personalized service and the best facilities around. Located just 40 minutes from Oporto Airport, with great accesses, you will feel a million miles away from the city, but we're close enough for an easy getaway. The meditation gardens offers sanctuary to reflect and recharge in natural beauty with sounds of water all around.
Accomodations - Good bedrooms with its own newly remodeled private bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. Sheets, blankets, towels and soap are provided. Rooms have adjustable heaters and wireless internet. The food is great and ajustable to specific needs.
What time should I plan to arrive? When do we finish?
We will begin checking people into the retreat at 9am on the first day of the retreat. However, it may be possible for you to arrive before 1pm and have access to your room. We ask that you plan on arriving no later than 9.30am so that we can begin with the full group in attendance at 10am. We plan to end the retreat by 2:00 pm on the last day so please plan your travel accordingly, using the time guidelines above. Sometimes situations arise in which people have to leave the retreat earlier than noon on the last day but we strongly urge you to avoid this if at all possible.
Is there wireless service/cellular phone use?
Please do not expect to get consistent, reliable wireless internet service while at the retreat center. It is most advisable to leave your computer at home because of the retreat nature of the training, however we recognize that sometimes computer use is a necessity. Most cellular phones will work in this location. Again, however given the nature of the training there will be limited opportunities to use them, so informing those who may need to contact you of these limitations ahead of time will be helpful.
Is it possible to stay extra nights at the facility or arrive a day or two early?
The retreat center is often booked both right before and right after our training, so arriving early or staying an extra night or two after the retreat is over is not likely to be a possibility. You can of course arrange to stay at lodging near the retreat center if you would like to extend your stay. Contact us directly at email to make such arrangements.
What do I need to bring?
If it is at all possible, please bring a meditation cushion (zafu) and a yoga mat. We will have a few cushions but not enough to go around, so if you have one and can squeeze it into your luggage or bring it as a carry-on please consider doing so. It is always advisable to check the weather forecast prior to traveling, to help guide you in proper clothing choices.
The relatively remote location makes security a minor concern, but we do want people to know that with shared sleeping quarters and very limited availability of keys to lock rooms, we highly recommend leaving valuable items at home to reduce the possibility of anything being lost or stolen. Certainly some of us will have vehicles where such items can be secured if this is necessary.
What should I expect regarding the format of the training?
This training is taught in a retreat format, which means there is a great deal of mindfulness practice embedded in the training. The venue very much facilitates this format; we will will meet, eat and be housed in a relatively secluded area. There are no other large groups planned in the center that week so it should be relatively quiet and secluded. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but not by any means luxurious.
Karunavira is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable instructor that you can find internationally and exceptionally skilled at creating a safe learning environment, supportive and deeply engaging, allowing participants to seek, explore and inquire.
The program is challenging and life-affirming. In some ways what we're doing with inquiry is we're creating the conditions for learning to be effective and transferable to other areas of their lives and this is not something that can be rushed, but it is something we can train.