Is Mindfulness Right for Me?

If you are currently experiencing severe depression, to the point where it impacts your ability to manage daily life, this may not be the best time for a mindfulness course. Our courses require participants to be relatively well, as they involve daily home practices and exercises that can be difficult if your mood, energy, or motivation is very low.

However, if you have a history of depression or are experiencing mild to moderate low mood, a mindfulness course may still be appropriate. We recommend discussing your situation with us before enrolling. 

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, it’s essential to give yourself time before beginning a mindfulness course. Grieving can bring intense emotions to the surface, and mindfulness practice may create space for those emotions to arise, potentially leading to feelings of overwhelm. It can also be harder to work with long-standing habits of mind when dealing with grief. If you’ve experienced a recent bereavement, please let us know on your application form, and we may follow up to discuss further.

Mindfulness courses can be challenging at times. Alongside weekly sessions and possibly a ‘Day of Practice’, the course involves daily mindfulness exercises, which can take up to an hour a day. If you are navigating major life events such as pregnancy, job loss, moving, or relationship breakdown, adding a mindfulness course could feel overwhelming. Please let us know about any significant life changes on your application form so we can help assess if this is the right time for you.

Meditation can lead to a relaxed state that may reduce stress over time, potentially impacting your blood glucose and insulin needs. If you’re insulin-dependent, please discuss the course with your doctor or healthcare professional to monitor any necessary adjustments to your insulin routine.

Mindfulness practice requires clear focus, both during the sessions and through home exercises. If you’re using alcohol or drugs regularly, it may be difficult to engage with the practices in a mindful state. If you’re unsure about your ability to participate fully without the influence of substances, the course may not be right for you at this time. There are mindfulness courses run by teachers with experiences of drugs and alcohol, which may be a better fit. 

Mindfulness courses are not appropriate if you’ve experienced a manic or hypomanic episode in the last six months, are currently self-harming, or experiencing suicidal thoughts. While mindfulness can be helpful in these situations, it requires delivery in a group led by a specialist trained to provide the necessary support. If you are feeling suicidal, we strongly recommend reaching out to a mental health professional for immediate help, as we cannot provide specific advice or support for individual mental health concerns.

Our mindfulness courses aim to help participants develop skills to manage life’s ups and downs, but they are not a form of therapy. If you are currently receiving psychological therapy or treatment, it’s important to discuss with your therapist or health care professional whether now is the right time to join a mindfulness course. We will also check in with you about this.

If you have any additional needs, such as psychological, emotional, or physical restrictions, please let us know on your application. We are happy to explore any support or adjustments we can make to ensure the course is accessible to you.

If you are currently taking medication for a mental health concern, we recommend that you do not change your routine or dosage except in close collaboration with your prescribing doctor.

Mindfulness can sometimes bring intense emotions to the surface. If you are currently navigating a major life event—such as a recent bereavement, a major relationship breakdown, or redundancy—this may not be the optimal time to begin intensive training.