Answers to the most commonly-asked queries
Do I have to have any previous mindfulness knowledge or training to attend the Level 1 Mindfulness training?
Not at all. The Level 1 mindfulness training is ideal for beginners, those who have previous experience of mindfulness and want to develop their practice and for those who wish to go on to train to teach mindfulness.
What is your cancellation policy?
For most of our courses, cancellations to bookings made at least one calendar month prior to the start date of the weekend will attract a full refund. Cancellations to bookings made less than one calendar month prior to the start date of the module will attract no refund but there will be the option to transfer to another module, within one year, for an administrative fee of £25.00. Therefore, bookings made less than one calendar month prior to the start date of the module will be non-refundable.
There is an exception for the MBLC , CBLC, MBLC-YA and Mindfulness for Life retreats. If you cancel any of these retreats less than eight weeks before the start date your retreat fee will not be refunded. However it may be possible to transfer to a subsequent retreat for an administrative fee of £100.00. Therefore, bookings made less than eight weeks prior to the start date of the retreat will be non-refundable.
All cancellations must be made via e-mail to info@mindfulnessassociation.net.
For more details, please see our terms and conditions.
What happens if I cannot make a weekend, can I transfer to the same course at a different location?
If you cannot attend one of the weekends of a training, it is possible to attend that weekend at a different time or location for an administration fee of £25 per weekend. Please contact info@mindfulnessassociation.net for more details and options.
For more details, please see our terms and conditions.
How does the Membership annual fee work?
Initially you sign up for the Introductory Membership offer of £10 for six months. Then at the end of the introductory six month period you will automatically be upgraded to full annual membership at a cost of £48 per year, which will be charged to the card you used to pay for your Introductory Membership. Thereafter, the annual subscription fee will be charged annually. You will be sent an invoice when you sign up to the introductory membership which will include the date the full annual membership payment will be taken.
Do the course/retreat costs include accommodation?
The prices for our courses and retreats do not include accommodation. Accommodation must be booked and paid for separately by course participants and we do not recommend accommodation. If you are attending a course at Samye Ling near Lockerbie you can book to stay there by contacting Samye Ling via their website. All our other course venues are non-residential.
I have some previous mindfulness experience; does this mean I still have to complete Level 1?
If you are a mindfulness practitioner and wish to develop your mindfulness practice with the Mindfulness Association then we recommend that you start with the Level 1 Mindfulness Training: Being Present. This will enable you to progress to Mindfulness Training Levels 2 to 4. Once you have completed the Level 1 training then you can access our teacher training pathway or our Mindfulness Level 2 – Responding with Compassion course.
If you have completed an eight week course in Mindfulness, such as MBSR or MBCT and would like to develop your Mindfulness practice further by joining our Mindfulness Level 2 – Responding with Compassion course you can gain access by firstly attending our five week Mindfulness Level 2 – Responding with Compassion, the latest access course can be found on Mindfulness Level 2 – Responding with Compassion Experienced mindfulness/Buddhist meditation practitioners and/or teachers of MBSR, MBCT or Breathworks 8 week courses who wish to enrol on our Mindfulness Level Three: Seeing Deeply course can firstly attend our Samye Ling Access to Insight Retreat.
I am already a mindfulness teacher, what pathway would you recommend?
If you are a mindfulness teacher, for example in MBSR, MBCT or Breathworks and are looking for opportunities for CPD then we recommend our Mindfulness Level 2 – Responding with Compassion. After this you can go on to do the Level 3 Mindfulness Training: Seeing Deeply and the Level 4 Mindfulness Training: Mindfulness for Life. All of these courses are designed to meet your annual continuing professional development (CPD) requirements according to the UK Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers.
I am already a mindfulness teacher; can I attend the MBLC retreat?
If you are a mindfulness teacher, for example in MBSR or MBCT and would like to train to teach our 8 week Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) you will need to complete an MBLC 8 week course or attend at least weekends 2 and 3 of the Level 1 Mindfulness Training: Being Present in order to familiarise yourself with aspects of the MBLC curriculum which are not present in MBSR or MBCT before completing the MBLC Retreat.