Mindfulness – West Cork Mindfulness

Mindfulness tasters

Paola Vais — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:36:02 +0000

Starting next week Erin Kelly Ashworth and I are running a free 3 session Mindfulness taster, both in person and online.

These are experiential classes to introduce you to the basic practices of Mindfulness that form the foundations of the MBSR 8 week course, and are developed as an introduction to this more in depth course.

To reserve your place contact me on 0872453292 or e-mail pgvais@gmail.com

You can also book your place using the link on the main menu.

The in person session will take place at Bantry Holistic Centre

Wednesdays at 7:30pm
30th March, 6th April, 20th April

Online on Zoom
Thursdays at 7 pm
31st March, 7th April, 21st April.
Experiential class.
No previous experience needed

8 week MBSR course

Paola Vais — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 13:17:17 +0000

I’m delighted to be offering an in person MBSR course after such a long time!

The course will be held in Clonakilty, at O’Donovan’s Hotel, starting on the 15th of February, and will take place every Tuesday for 8 weeks, from 6.30 to 9 pm.

A full day workshop will take place on the week-end of the 26-27 March – day and venue to be confirmed

The course is offered on a cost sliding scale:

€ 360 supporter rate – if you chose this rate your generosity will enable someone to attend at a reduced rate

€ 330 – regular rate

€ 260 – concessionary

If finances are tight do not hesitate to contact me.

During this in person course you’ll be introduced to different forms of mindfulness practice and learn how to bring mindfulness in your daily life, to which end a commitment to a daily practice and exercises, for up to 45 minutes a day, is essential to experience the benefit of the program.

The course consists of :
pre-course phone or Zoom one to one meeting,

8 sessions of 2.5 hours each
The programme includes guided mindfulness meditation practices, gentle mindful movement, informal mindfulness practices, and home practices.

Course materials include the course handbook, a workbook and recorded guided practices

Some of the benefits that people experience after attending the course:
* increased ability to handle stressful situations
* more energy and enthusiasm
* greater capacity for relaxation
* improved self-confidence
* better sleep

Cost € 330

Please note that this is not a drop in course.

To book a place please e-mail me or come to the orientation session on the 8th of February

8th February : orientation evening

During this free event you will be introduced to the course , and experience a taster of mindfulness meditation with some guided practices. The orientation evening will offer the opportunity to ask questions and enroll in the upcoming course starting on the 15th February .

The 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at University of Massachusetts Medical School over 40 years ago. This program has been proven to benefit the overall well-being, creating a shift around how we experience stress and the ups and downs of everyday life.

You can book your place for the free orientation here

Moving into stillness: finding calm in time of change

Paola Vais — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:39:28 +0000

Introducing Mindfulness Through Movement. A 4 week course.

Life is a process of constant change and transition but perhaps never so much as during the past year and a half, when change, uncertainty and worry have come to dominate our lives.

Moving into a different environment, going from summer into autumn, from night to day, and now opening up from the restrictions of this long lock down – these transition times can be both exciting and unsettling. We feel an eagerness to move forward but also apprehension and tension that can easily take us out of balance.

Mindful Movement is a subtle but powerful method that helps to find a space where we can – in just a few moments – return to steadiness and ease.

This 4 session course will introduce you to the practice of mindfulness through gentle movements, guided meditation and breathwork.

Each class is 1 1/2 hour long and includes 20 minutes of movement as a basic practice of mindfulness. This is followed by a guided meditation practice, and an opportunity for open dialogue.

An Sanctoir, Ballydehob

4 weekly classes on Monday, starting 27th September to 18th October 2021

Time TBC

Cost € 60

Book now

Fill out my online form.

From Change & Uncertainty to Stillness

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:23:55 +0000

Introducing Mindfulness Through Movement. An online course.

Life is a process of constant change and transition but perhaps never so much as during the past year, when change, uncertainty and worry have come to dominate our lives.

Moving into a different environment, going from spring into summer, from night to day, and now slowly opening up from the restrictions of this long lock down – these transition times can be both exciting and unsettling. We feel an eagerness to move forward but also apprehension and tension that can easily take us out of balance.

Mindful Movement is a subtle but powerful method that helps to find a space where we can – in just a few moments – return to steadiness and ease.

This 4 session course will introduce you to the practice of mindfulness through gentle movements based on Qi Gong and breathwork.

Each class is 1 hour long and includes 20 minutes of movement as a basic practice of mindfulness. This is followed by breathing practice and an opportunity for open dialogue before ending with a grounding practice.

Online via Zoom- 4 sessions.

Starting Wed 5^th May and ending on the 26th May

Wednesdays from 8-9 pm

Book now

Fill out my online form.

New online retreat: Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Heart

Paola Vais — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 13:15:23 +0000

16 to 18 April 2021

An Online silent Meditation and Cooking retreat

Apart from teaching mindfulness, you may not know that I am a Ballymaloe trained chef, and I have been cooking for retreats for a number of years.

The idea of holding a meditation and cooking retreat came after many people kept asking for the recipes – and together with Marjó Oosterhoff of Passaddhi we have held them twice a year since 2016

Since we cannot yet meet in person, and after cancelling last year retreats, Marjó and I have decided to offer it online.

Marjó, will guide the silent meditation sessions, while I will take care of the cooking.

We’ll do this in a cook-along style, you will receive the ingredient list and recipes beforehand so that we can be preparing together a simple vegan meal, in a ”cook along” style. Of course you can decide to simply watch!

The cooking part

On Saturday and Sunday we will be preparing and cooking a simple vegan lunch consisting of a main course, a salad or two, and a dessert. Saturday supper will be a one pot dish.

Outlined here is the schedule of the retreat

Start Friday 16 April at 8 pm with introduction and sitting meditation.

Saturday morning and Sunday morning: sitting and cooking lunch.

Saturday afternoon sitting and cooking a simple supper

Saturday evening feedback and a short guided practice.

It’s also fine to do just the cooking sessions [although it would be good to start off together on Friday evening, and be together on Saturday evening], or doing only the meditation sessions.
Marjó and I offer this retreat on a donation basis. Bookings with Marjó, marjo.metta@gmail.com

Reconnecting! Saturday 18th July – a morning gathering

Paola Vais — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 14:48:26 +0000

Let’s meet up now that we finally can!

After all the hours spent apart it will feel good to come together in person to reconnect with each other and our practice.
We’ll gather on Saturday 18th of July, from 9.30 am to 1 pm, at An Sanctoir, Ballydehob.

An Sanctoir offers a large indoor space where physical distancing is easy , and a lot of the time will be spent outdoors.

There will be some guided practices and time to connect and share a cup of tea. *

Numbers are limited to make sure we can respect each other personal physical space.

And if the weather is good feel free to bring some lunch and we can have a picnic in the meadow after the session.

Open to all, offered on a donation base.

Meadow

Online courses

Paola Vais — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 13:32:21 +0000

There won’t be any in person new courses for a few weeks.
Together with a collective of mindfulness teachers will be offering some new free online spaces, for those of you that if you wish to reconnect with mindfulness practice, and one for those of you who would like to find how mindfulness can support you – especially at times like the one we’re living now we can find new ways to build a resilient community.
I will post more details in the next few days.
Be well, be safe.

Breathworks Mindfulness for stress and well-being

Paola Vais — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 12:03:37 +0000

The Breathworks mindfulness for Stress course starts in February.
Introductory session on Monday 3rd 6 to 7.30 PM , at Lisheen’s House, Bridge Street, Skibbereen
Unease and stress are part of life that we all experience, at different times and to different degrees. The Breathworks approach to mindfulness and compassion as a way to better cope with the hick ups that life throws at us has been beneficial to a large number of people.

New courses in 2020

Paola Vais — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:40:24 +0000

Some of the courses planned for 2020

Starting on the 21st of January is a 6 week introduction to Mindfulness for well-being at Clonakilty Community College. Enrolment on Tuesday 14th

The Breathworks Mindfulness for Health course will take place in Skibbereen – this course is specifically designed for people suffering from chronic pain or illness.

Mindfulness for Stress and Well-being, the second Breathworks signature course, will take place in Bantry Holistic Center, dates to be confirmed

All courses will take place only if the minimum number of 6 participants is reached.

Mindfulness for Health

Paola Vais — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 15:26:06 +0000

The next Breathworks Mindfulness for Health Course will take place in Skibbereen, starting at the end of January