MBSR Testimonials
Being with people on a common mission to validate self-care and attentiveness and compassion. I love your phrase “as best you can” as it recognises human habit and tendencies.
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Mindfulness has taught me new ways of coping with stress. I have practised at least 60% of the disciplines and found regular repetition has enhanced mental control.
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Life has a way of taking over everything one does. This course taught me to sit back now and again and think of life’s version of priorities.
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It changed the way i see life, work, my body and it gave me some space to breathe.
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The course has enabled me to take a step back, look at things from a different perspective, is calming and has definitely contributed to being more kind to myself.
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The course was so valuable, I feel that if I have mindfulness in my life I will be able to cope with what life throws at me.
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The course opens your mind to really challenge the way you think/perceive daily struggles – and if it even is a struggle in the first place.
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The course has been well structured so that I felt each week we made good progress but equally everything was covered throroughly. Everyone was given an opportunity to participate but there was no sense of obligation to.
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Came in with an open mind and got so much from this. Made me focus on me, gave me tools/ideas to try at home and on the move.
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I have recently been very ill and am now in recovery. This course has helped me be more at ease with what I have been through and what I continue to go through. It has helped me get a feeling of space wherever I am.
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Has changed how I deal with stress but more importantly how I live my life. I hope to continue my mindful journey and get better at being more mindful.
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It has been very important in teaching me a fresher way of viewing life, and an ability to think of things in a different way.
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I have gained in other ways than I had expected. An intensive, full course which has made me think and feel differently. Helena is an exceptionally good tutor, very warm and thorough. I would recommend this course to others.
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It has given me the tools to approach difficulties/stresses in daily life in a more positive meaningful way. To be more aware of how I respond to situations has been really helpful and developing different practices will be a fabulous tool for the future.
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I have really enjoyed the classes (and practice day) and found Helena;s teaching excellent. I’ve learned a lot about mindfulness and myself and more importantly have started to learn how I might be able to bring mindfulness into my day to day life.
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It has given me a feeling of empowerment that I have control over my approach to life.
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This course came to my notice at a very difficult time in my life last year. The anxiety and grief that followed left me feeling very unstable. This course has helped me find some comfort and peace which I hope will continue during another challenge facing me now.
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I needed the course to set me on a path of regular practice. I already knew but have had it re-affirmed that a regular mindfulness or meditation practice is the only way to enjoy the benefits it brings. The course has really incentivised me to continue with regular practice.
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Excellent course I wasn’t sure what to expect but it has enabled me to start experiencing a sense of calmness, time for myself and appreciating the here and now. I feel like a completely different person in certain aspects of my life.
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It has been truly enlightening with regards to why I respond as I do to difficult aspects of life – it’s given me the tools I didn’t have to appreciate life as it is and freed me from damaging thought processes I held, such as always looking for reasons, for ways to control situations and how I react to them.
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This course has been for me to nurture myself and deepen my own mindfulness practice. It has done more than expected and I am thrilled to have signed up. The group experience has been so valuable and I have learned so much about mindfulness.
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The course exceeded my expectations. Already I cannot imagine a day without meditation. Learning about mindfulness never felt like hard work. Experiencing the benefits of simply being is wonderful. I learnt so much and always felt safe in the group. It was wonderful to share experiences of the different practices.
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This exceeded my expectations. My family have noticed the difference in me and I do feel more calm generally. The practice day was magic for me.
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Course was really well taught and an enjoyable experience which has given me tools to manage stress and generally enjoy life more. I would recommend it to anyone.
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It has given me the ability to stay calm in situations which before would have spiralled out of control. It has shown me how important it is to care for my wellbeing in order to look after my family.
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I’ve found this course incredible having got so much more from it than anticipated. Outstanding tutor put a lot into it and supporting us individually also. I feel that it has changed my life forever, having finally come to a place of peace and acceptance.
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It came at just the right time when I was suffering with mental health issues. Helena has been a star and consistent in her instruction allowing me to relax into mindful meditation and helping make it a permanent feature to my day.
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Suffered from anxiety, depression and stress. Course has helped with this and I hope to continue with the practice. Mindfulness should be taught in schools.
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I know this will start a new chapter in my life going forward. it offers the beginning of developing ways to live a busy demanding life. I am motivated/inspired to learn more and grow mindfulness ways of being.
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Very enjoyable course filled with kindness and support. Learned through practice sessions to go with my feelings and not fight them. Found real respite from all the churning of thoughts through meditation and feel stronger to cope with daily life in a more mindful way.
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I have taken some really useful techniques away from the course which I have found easy to use day to day. I have struggled with some of the practices due to not devoting enough time. It however has made a huge difference to my understanding on mindfulness and I can honestly feel the benefits.
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It has shown me things about life and myself that I had not thought possible – the patience, the accepting, the way to take a break from modern life for example.
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I found myself in a period of my life where I felt extremely overwhelmed with no options. The Mindfulness course has given me a way of coping and a direction to go in where I can see myself gaining a bit more control and being able to deal with things more effectively.
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Was hoping it would help with my anxiety and it has definitely looked at the way I rush around all the time. Have learnt to slow down and do one thing at a time, and notice what I am doing.
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This course has helped me to re-assess how I am living my life. Helped me realise I was not investing enough time in myself and letting things like work control my life and how I feel on a daily basis.
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I was at a very low ebb and completely overwhelmed – this course has brought me peace to an extent, or at least a route to find peace. It has improved my self-respect, esteem and acceptance and made me make some changes to my approach to life, both big and small.
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It is vital to learn how to calm your mind and stop making up your own stories in your head. I never realised before how much I did this. Becoming more aware of this is the first step to breaking this habit and also to stop being so negative about my own thoughts/feelings.
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When I started the course I was very anxious and depressed. Now at the end, having learnt and practised mindfulness I feel much calmer and happier. A whole new me!
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This course has given me the structure and discipline I needed to reduce the noise and chaos which has followed me about in my mind. The variety of techniques shown to me and the poetry/passages. discussions. safe space and kind approach by the guide Helena has opened a world of new ways of living.
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It has really helped me find more peace in my life and ways to stay in the present moment. I now feel I have a “safety net”, which I sorely needed.
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It has changed my outlook on life and started me on a journey of discovery. It has been great to be with a group of people who had similar difficulties to me and hear how they came to meditation.
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For me it has been incredibly nourishing. It’s helped me stay with my feelings and emotions and not to ignore or run away from them. I intend to try really hard to continue with the practice knowing how important it is for me to find time to stop, relax and breathe. I’m realistic that this is not always easy and know that I have to be realistic in setting my goals. Thank you.
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It has opened my mind to meditation. Made me take control of my stress and considerably reduced my blood pressure.
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It has taught me how I react to some situations and the feelings this can resonate. It has really enabled me to acknowledge how I can move on to a better place by using the practice learnt on the course and I do use it most days when I need to. Very good course, extremely well facilitated by Helena.
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I’ve enjoyed the breathing practice with yoga before but not realised how important it is. I like the way you can do a little or a lot in the different types of meditation. I’m sure my anxiety levels have dropped. I now see this as being a way to manage the stress in my work and find some peace. Thank you.
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Really insightful, met my expectations every week. Made me think about “life” and the now differently and to make more of the moment. Engaging tutor – very knowledgeable and knew how to apply the knowledge of people’s situations – not just quote from a text book.
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It allowed me to make the transition between anxiety/depression and getting back to being myself. This was achieved using the tools provided by Mindfulness.
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The Mindfulness course has given me techniques to calm myself rather than over-react therefore life situations seem far less stressful which is something I frequently struggle with.
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I realise that I am less stressed than I had originally thought as other students have expressed their own experiences which are so much greater than mine. The course was a “choice” not an essentiality and I have learned useful tips on lessening stress.
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It has provided me with a very practical set of tools which complement much of what I have been reading about. I do now feel that I know how to meditate and that if I continue to practice I can reap the benefits.
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I started with resistance but gradually it became vital! Practice Day was amazing – I’ll definitely be back for more of these.
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This course has greatly increased my self-awareness and I feel there has been a real heartfelt shift in my understanding of the way I think and that I do not have to be governed by my thoughts. The course has given me breathing space and clarity.
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I attended the course to try to find ways to help me deal with my depression and the causes. Through MBSR I now have various tools and practices that I can use to help me.
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This eight week course has helped me focus and deepen my practice. it was delivered in a pleasing way from a tutor who was both knowledgeable and experienced. This led to me feeling supported through the entire course.
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Because I needed a bit of an “anchor” to steady myself in dealing with a few health issues, and a “tool” to use to help with these issues, and generally. I know from a few years ago when I started mindfulness on my own how beneficial the practice could be.
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I wanted to do something that might help deal with my anxiety. It is not something I would have considered before but I had read bits about mindfulness and thought it would be good to try. I have really enjoyed it – the course leader was great, as well as others on the course. It has helped with some aspects of my anxiety – but I have enjoyed it apart from that.
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I feel it has helped me through a very stressful time at work, giving me the tools to take care of my own mental health, empowering me to take breaks from frantic thinking, become aware of how stressed I was and helping me unwind. It has also helped me understand context around stressful communications and reactions to stress. I feel I have a choice to act differently now. It has also helped me appreciate all that is good and nourishing in my life.
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Interesting course led by a lovely tutor. I have learnt a lot, and it serves as a good introductory course. I think I need to do more work to get full understanding.
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I have gained so much from the course. I feel by taking the time for this practice, I have allowed happiness and calmness amongst other things back into my life. In turn I feel like I have a happier family life. It’s something I want my kids to learn. I know life can take turns and switch direction but I feel I can cope with it by what I have learned. Thank you.
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Just a wonderful, uplifting and nourishing experience with a terrific group of people and lead by a wonderful teacher!