The world is a stressful place and people are now increasingly recognising the importance of taking the time to meditate and de-stress. A lot of people however don’t really know where to start when it comes to dealing with stress which is where a reliable mindfulness teacher comes into the picture.
What is being mindful all about?
Before we dive into what a mindfulness teacher does, we should first talk about the concept of being mindful. There are a few different ideas about what it is exactly but basically, the main gist of it is that it involves being present in the moment without trying to pass judgement on your own thoughts and feelings. It’s all about taking in the world around you and just really ‘feeling’ it without passing it through the typical filters of trying to analyse it and make sense of it all.
The idea and the way that it is practiced is rooted in both Western and Eastern philosophy and medicine. It’s a concept that has been around for a long time and relates deeply to mediation which is used extensively in the practice to help people to develop skills and improve their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
What does a mindfulness teacher do?
A mindfulness teacher is often confused with spiritualists, ministers and gurus but that’s not what they are. They’re also not qualified to act as a psychiatrist or a life coast, instead they are taught how to facilitate sessions where you become present and connect with yourself. A mindfulness teacher is trained to help you increase your skills of being present and can help to provide you with the tools you need to feel present and happy. Their role is not to solve your problems or coach you. They are also not there to give you medical advice. They are a facilitator for personal reflection. A mindfulness teacher can help you to gain insight about yourself and build your character.
How do I find a mindfulness teacher?
Whilst their job may sound uncomplicated, it’s actually a very special skill which can take years of practice. Helping people to meditate and learn to understand the present moment requires a very insightful teaching style. Most of the people involved in this process will undergo training programs which can run anywhere from a few weeks to several months or even a year. Every instructor will have a different training background and as a result will have a slightly different teaching style. If you are planning to find one to work with then you should ask them about what certifications they have, what their experience and backgrounds are, how long they have been teaching for and what kind of students they usually work with. It’s a good idea to get a gauge of whether or not their teaching style is a good fit with your needs.
If you’re not sure if they’re the right mindfulness teacher for you then you should also think about asking them whether you can listen to some session recordings as this will let you know what to expect. You may also want to consider asking them if they run any training course of their own or if they have published any books or other materials as this will give you an idea of their teaching style, areas of interest and how they like to operate.
Working with someone could change your life for the better. Often learning the skills of being present in the moment can have serious benefits in almost every important area of your life and will improve your wellbeing.