Mindfulness in the Workplace & Community
"People, people, people, are just people, people, people",
Brene Brown
We definitely create workplace personas and terms like "human resources" lose sight of one very important fact - we're all people! A collection of emotions, thoughts and experiences all wrapped up in a body. When we obsess about productivity we only see what a person can do for the organisation. This is natural, after all, isn't this why we employ people? However, when it's our only agenda, it shows and even those expensive team building days begin to look a little contrived. Seeing who people are, rather than what they can do for us, is the simplest way to break down barriers and improve engagement.
Mindfulness begins with tuning in to our inner world because when we understand the complexity of our own experiences, we begin to appreciate what it is to be human and all of the challenges that it entails. Once we truly value people as human beings we naturally treat them with respect and trust. It is this approach that builds powerful and authentic connections. It's the true pathway to psychological safety within the workplace and when people feel safe and appreciated they want to turn up as the best version of themselves.
Our people centered courses are delivered in many formats. They include group courses or online access to stress management tools that individuals can access when they need to. The use cases below illustrate how we have worked with corporate organisations and communities.
Lunch & Learn
Sky wanted a lunch and learn to tie in with mental health awareness week. Adopting their theme of nature, we created a 45 minute session which combined a presentation on using nature to manage stress. This was followed up with a guided practice demonstrating techniques to build focus and calm the nervous system.
8 Week Morning Motivation
The Welsh Parliament were curious about the impact of an 8 week course but were interested in something specific that could be delivered at the start of the day. We created a 30 minute weekly program covering the power of mindfulness for building emotional resilience. The sessions were tailored specifically for the team and incorporated short presentations with guided practices covering a different theme every week.
The Hybrid
Having worked with The Very Group as a consultant there were many opportunities to bring mindfulness into their busy schedules. Initially, the group embraced weekly drop in sessions expanding this to "Team Time" during lockdowns. This provided people with an opportunity to connect over Teams outside of the normal meeting format. Back on site in 2023, we provided the Very Group with a lunch and learn. The session was targeted at International Women's Day and around 15 women turned up to the gym to learn about the science of kindness and self care. They were guided through a practice and left with the tools to understand how to bring emotional balance to their days.
Bespoke Afternoon or Team Days
Every organisation has their own approach to supporting people at work. The NHS were keen to give doctors more exposure to the powers of mindfulness within the context of stress management and pain management. This course was delivered over two afternoons. The first session was delivered as a presentation with supported practices and ended with a Q & A. This informed the follow up session which was tailored to focus on specific areas of interest.
Organisations who are considering the impact of mindfulness within their workplace get better insight from attending a leadership or team away day. Getting off site and into a different environment, naturally changes our mindset. These experiential days in relaxed settings provide a true sense of what mindfulness can offer. Some companies use them as a wellness experience to celebrate success or boost team morale during challenging projects.
Working with Communities
We're so passionate about mindfulness that we're innovative around how we can bring it into challenging situations. When lockdown hit in 2020, many people in the self employed sector, found themselves struggling for work. Monday Mindfulness was an initiative that brought recruiters and candidates together on a weekly call. Following an introduction to a mindfulness theme and a guided practice, the attendees stayed on line to build connections.
In 2021, the 9 week Mindful Living course was provided free at source over zoom, for the Wirral Wellbeing community. Not just an opportunity for therapists to enhance their holistic portfolio, it also built connections across this valuable Wirral community.
In 2022, the same opportunity was provided to support a newly founded women's wellbeing group at Aintree Community Centre, Liverpool. A face to face group of 18 women learnt how to incorporate the skills within daily life. Not only did this bring a general sense of improved wellbeing, the women also received certification from the British Mindfulness Association.
Sharing the benefits of mindfulness with the community is a great passion at Just Breathe so it was an honour to be invited onto Wirral Wave as a Wellbeing Radio Host in 2022. The show ran for two years, combining uplifting music with knowledge and guided practices, really taking mindfulness out into the community.
One of the areas we are most keen to address is the general stress epidemic and all of the associated illnesses. This is why in 2023 we launched our research program where two people per month can participate in the Mind21 program with weekly support. This is offered free of charge for applicants who are happy to complete a questionnaire and track their progress. This program continued through 2024 and 2025.
