Mindfulness is a well-researched, secular and effective means of alleviating stress, anxiety and depression, and promoting well-being and flourishing.  This practical course has been designed specifically with the needs of students in mind. Skills for supporting top performance and good mental health will be taught in eight weekly classes.

The programme is based on the best-selling book, “Mindfulness: a Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World”, by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. It is suitable for anyone who wants a structured, practical, and highly accessible introduction to mindfulness. It is appropriate for people new to mindfulness, anyone who has tried mindfulness apps or perhaps read a book and wants the structure of a course led by a certified teacher.

What will I learn?

You will learn to cultivate mindfulness on two levels: First and foremost are the core mindfulness meditation practices. You will be taught a series of simple daily meditations that can be done almost anywhere. Some are as short as 3 minutes, while others may take 15 minutes. Second, mindfulness encourages you to break some of the unconscious habits of thinking and behaving that stop you living your life to the full. Many judgmental and self-critical thoughts arise out of habitual ways of thinking and acting. By breaking with unhelpful daily routines you’ll progressively dissolve some of these negative thinking patterns and become more mindful and aware. Find out what to expect when attending a course via this link.

You can read more about how a provision of mindfulness training could be an effective component of a wider student mental health strategy in this recent research. 

Please note that we currently only offer student courses for the University of Oxford. If your establishment is interested in holding mindfulness courses in partnership with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, please get in touch here.

Testimonials

“The mindfulness course was really wonderful. It’s changed my attitude towards myself a lot and the regular practice has completely altered my relationship with my work. I feel a lot better about everything and a lot more able to manage things.”

“I have taken so much away from it both on a personal and professional level.”

“An exceptional programme!”

“This course had made such a difference for my (often very stressful) PhD life here at Oxford!”

“I learnt so much and have such a different perspective on my life and how I should live it now. I find joy in the little things and know I am prepared if things get tough.”

“It was inspirational. All I can say is thank you!”

“I was worried that the course would eat into the time for writing essays on that night of the week, but it let me focus on mindful choice about how to spend my time, which helped me write the essays!”

“This course is really useful for dealing with the cycle of stress and worries that students often experience.”

“Love it. It saved my sanity.”