Welcome to Mindful Academy International. We are a professional school offering mindfulness teacher training, and as an Accredited Provider of Training Excellence© with the globally recognized Professional Development Consortium and CPD Standards Office, our courses offer you gold standard in-person and live online interactive mindfulness courses to individuals and companies. In fact, we offer the only CPD accreditation with a unique in-person and online CPD recognition!
The school was founded in 2010 by CEO and TEDx speaker Kathy Ward a senior International MBSR, MBCT, and MBA Trainer, Supervisor, and teacher. Kathy also develops and delivers corporate mindfulness training programs, gives keynote talks on mindfulness and workplace safety. She is also currently involved in a consultancy project developing a mindfulness and emotional intelligence in the workplace research programme for the World Health Organization WHO and UN Agencies.
As you explore the website, we hope that you find the information and links that you need, if not please contact us by email at [email protected] or call us in the UK on (+44) 1225 294483.
Download the full Prospectus HERE Our externally accredited Level 1 Mindfulness teacher training courses focus primarily on the teaching process and curriculum of the group based 8-week Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction MBSR Course, developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre and also by the Centre for Mindfulness Practice and Research CMRP Bangor University where CEO and Senior International Trainer Kathy Ward trained in MBSR, MBCT and Mindfulness Supervision.
We explore the latest information on trauma-sensitive mindfulness and the Mindful Academy International core practices, session plans, and resources that have been rigorously updated by Kathy to reflect a trauma-sensitive and 'do no harm' vision of teaching mindfulness.
The course is also invaluable for those who wish to integrate mindfulness into their profession or go on to teach mindfulness in a different form including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy MBCT, Mindfulness-Based Mental Agility MBMA or other Mindfulness-Based approaches.
Dates:
Other dates to be added soon!
"Having already studied with Kathy Ward, I knew how incredibly organized she is and was confident that this would be a very thorough and valuable course. The online course is as thorough as her in-person teachings and the delivery and organization of the course along with the well-planned Zoom space are all incredibly wonderful. Thanks again for being my guide through Level 1 Mindfulness MBSR and MBA Course"
Louise Konrath from the USA, Level 1 online course July 2020.
The externally accredited Mindfulness MBSR and MBA Teacher Training Level 2 course build on the foundation of the Level 1 course. It is designed to support and deepen both personal and professional understanding of the skills in teaching mindfulness and integrating mindfulness-based approaches in professional practice.
It is open to those who have taken the Level 1 course with Mindful Academy International, and those who have taken a Level 1 with other equivalent training organizations. Please contact us to check the equivalency.
Dates:
The Level 2 online Teacher Training course was an unforgettable experience with intensive practice and diving into the very deep spectrum of teaching intentions and creative ways of implementation of the curriculum. Lots of fun, connection, and interaction, with a real embodiment of experiential learning and co-journey. For teaching experience, I think the online Teacher Training has as many benefits as weaknesses compared to the in-person group, and at the end of the day, we will teach at the end of a busy working day or online as well, not in a retreat center or hotel garden!
Kathy is a teacher who not just show what she knows, but eager to share her wisdom and knowledge with everyone who is open to it. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet her and learn from her.
Dr. Kornelia Nyitray from Hungary. May Level 2 online graduate.
You can graduate as a Mindful Academy International Qualified Mindfulness MBSR & MBA Teacher on successful completion of the Level 1 and Level 2 courses plus a total of 8 hours of supervision whilst teaching your first 2 x 8-week MBSR courses and the submission of reflective journaling. This 8-week course supervision and submission of reflective journaling can either be between the Level 1 and Level 2 courses or afterward depending on your development. You would also need to have attended at least one 5-7 day teacher-led mindfulness-based silent retreat with us or another approved mindfulness-based silent retreat provider.
Supervision is a vital part of the teacher training pathway so that we can support your development as a teacher in real life teaching contexts, it also meets the recommendations of the Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers.
The supervision hours also count as Continued Professional Development CPD and along with your Mindful Academy International certificate, formal CPDSO Standards certificates are issued and accepted in a multitude of countries and across all professional sectors.
After teaching 3 x 8-week MBSR courses, you can also continue your teacher training pathway with Mindful Academy International to graduate as a 'Certified Mindfulness MBSR & MBA Teacher' by taking a 3rd supervision based course.
This supervision course includes the submission and review of video recordings of your teaching the whole 8-week course, supervision, and reflective journaling. You will also need to have attended a second teacher lead mindfulness-based silent retreat either with us or another retreat provider.
This qualification gives you a certificate of competency in teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches MBA and as well as the Mindful Academy International certificate, formal CPD Standards certificates are issued and accepted in a multitude of countries and across all professional sectors. Please check with your local licensing board to determine if the accreditation meets their requirements.
An estimated 90% of the world's population will be exposed to a traumatic event over the course of their lives (Frans, Rimmo, Aberg & Fredrikson, 2005) and up to 20% of us will develop post-traumatic stress. Mindfulness is not for everyone, and there are guidelines that we need to follow to minimize risks when teaching the general public.
However, the latest research and figures show that anywhere mindfulness is being practiced, someone in the room is likely to be struggling with trauma. To address this, here at Mindful Academy International, Kathy Ward has updated and revised all core practices, session plans and resources so you can learn how to teach the general public in a trauma-sensitive way. This meets with our vision of 'do no harm' when teaching mindfulness, allowing us to minimize the potential dangers. Read more
CEO and Senior International Trainer, Teacher and Supervisor Kathy Ward is the lead Trainer on every course in Altea Spain, Ireland, Hungary, and the USA. The other members of the team are all professional Mindfulness Teacher Trainers who have trained with us, CMRP Bangor University in the UK or UMASS Centre for Mindfulness in the USA.
Each team member exceed the requirements of the Good Practice Guidelines for Trainers of Mindfulness-based Teachers published by the UK Network of Mindfulness-based Teacher Trainers
The team is also dedicated to sharing mindfulness with different cultures and teaching contexts around the world.
Our courses on the Mediterranean coast in Spain are held in the small family run 4-star Hotel Tossal d' Altea a 300-year-old olive mill and farm (shown in the photo) at the edge of the 16th century picturesque old town of Altea. The name Altea derives from the Moors who conquered the region and named it Althaya, meaning health to all. For more photos of Altea click here
With many low-cost operators flying into Alicante International airport and with direct transport links to Altea with Benniconnect, getting here could not be easier.
Following the success of the Level 1 course at the Villa Malom in Dömös, Hungary this May, we are running a Level 2 Mindfulness MBSR & MBI Teacher Training course from the 16th - 24th May 2020 at the same venue. Dömös is one of the most picturesque and appreciated hiking areas of the Danube Bend. The guesthouse is in the forest at the bank of the Malom stream right along the hiking trail that leads to the ravine called Rám-szakadék. For pictures please visit www.domosvendeghaz.hu
We also run occasional courses at the Cabragh Lodge in Coolaney, North West Ireland. The venue is a stunning purpose-built center in the Ox Mountains run by Mindful Academy graduate and Teaching Staff member Fiona McMahon. Visit www.cabraghlodge.ie
"This time I opted to have a single room in the hotel where the training was..a good move as it meant I had a little refuge from the intensity of the course and all the amazing exchanges/group work - a quiet space close to hand where I could take care of myself, rest and study when needed during the day." Julia.