Meditation Teacher Training Courses

[ChrisA]

Hi,

I am very keen to do a Meditation Teacher Training Course, and I'm wandering if anyone has any recommendations? I am prepared to travel abroad if need be, and would prefer to do a full-time study course so I can be qualified to teach more quickly.

Thanks,

Chris.

[Matthew]

Chris,

Welcome to the forums. How long have you been practicing meditation? And where is "abroad"?

Warm regards,

Matthew

[ChrisA]

Hi Matt, thanks for the welcome 

I have been practicing both breathing and 'inner body' meditation for around 3 years. Abroad is basically anywhere in the world 

[Matthew]

It really depends what you are looking to get out of it.

If you want to qualify as a mindfulness instructor of some sort, such that you have something to show and plan to start making a career, there are courses in the UK and elsewhere. If you want to become meditation teacher within a tradition of Buddhism then you'll need to give up everything and take to the monk's life.

[ChrisA]

Yes I'm looking to qualify as an instructor and build a career. I've found a course in the UK that looks good (Breathworks) but it's spread out over different weeks in the year. I was wandering if anyone knew any instructor courses similar to this but that you can do in one through full-time study?

[Matthew]

"The course is taking place December 27th-January 3rd 2010/11 at the Beacon Centre in Devon. All inclusive cost including full-board accomodation is £1590. There is an earlybird booking discount of £100 available for students who book their places before September 30th."

http://www.zenways.org/?page_id=411

Bangor University http://www.bangor.ac.uk/mindfulness/prodevelopment.php.en?catid=&subid=7512 (3-5 years depending on option)

Or if you already have a mindfulness practice and some context of working professionally they offer Continuing Professional Development Courses:

http://www.bangor.ac.uk/mindfulness/CPD.php.en?catid=&subid=8466

"Who is the programme for?

The programme is primarily offered to those who are at an early stage in developing the use of mindfulness-based approaches in their work context, but it is also appropriate for those who want support their ongoing development in this field, who have not participated in a Teacher Development Retreat before.

This is intended for participants who:

    *

      have a well established personal mindfulness meditation practice
    *

      have participated in an 8 week mindfulness based course and have read ‘Full Catastrophe Living’ by Jon Kabat-Zinn. ( ‘Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression’ by Segal, Williams and Teasdale is also useful background reading)
    *

      are professionally trained and work in a context in which they plan to or are teaching / integrating mindfulness-based approaches
    *

      wish to develop their understanding and skills in applying mindfulness based approaches"

Next courses:

    * Oblate Centre, Crewe, Jan 8 -15
    * St Columba's House, Woking, nr London, April 29 - May 6
    * Trigonos, N.Wales, July 23 - 30
    * Trigonos, N.Wales, Nov 12 - 19

[ChrisA]

Thanks for the info Matt.

I am considering the Zenways one, however I don't qualify for the teacher courses at Bangor as I just work in Admin 

[Matthew]

Chris,

You could easily rise to the level of qualifying for the Bangor courses. A diploma or certificate in counselling wouldn't take long. You would then get some experience through the course placement and probably quickly qualify for the Bangor courses. The Zenways course is not something I have personal experience of but the organisation is not in any way a bad one, that I have heard of. That course and then some experience might gain you entry to Bangor to further your studies.

One word of notice. Be very honest with yourself about your practice and the fruits of it, whatever route you chose.

Best wishes,

Matthew

ps It's "Matthew", please.

[ChrisA]

Hi Matthew,

Thanks again for the advice and info, I will look into your suggestions and let you know what I conclude. I've only just checked this forum again as I had given up on the Bangor course, but I can see that it may be worth further consideration. I'm sorry for getting your name wrong, I seem to not be reading things properly at the moment!

Best Regards,

Chris.

[Quardamon]

Hello Chris,

You ask for a course to become a teacher. Only in answer to questions you give a little bit of specifics on where you stand now, regarding experience and education. You seem to have money and time, in that you do not care where in the world the course would be.
What does the teacher that you had in the last three years think of your aspirations?

On a very practical level: If you want a career, what people will come to your courses, and who will pay you?
Here in the Netherlands, there are health care workers that give mindfullness courses as an extra, besides other work that they do. They are paid by the institute that they do their other work for. The clients are patients that suffer from recurring light depressions, or headaches or (other) psychosomatic ailments. The clients were sent by their housdocter or a medical specialist. These people already were in a career in health care when they started a training as a mindfullness teacher. The other education that they have is in fact the basis for their job.

What career(s) did you try or have until now?
Sorry to say so, but maybe "not reading things properly" is a hint that you need a more careful planning. In my country there is an institute that helps starting entrepreneurs (with information, and courses of one evening). Does that exist in your country?

I just want to spare you the pain of landing flat on your face after a costly training, in stead of before.

I hope you can take this.
And I hope to hear from you.

Best regards,

Quardamon

[ChrisA]

Hi Quardamon,

Thanks for your advice. I have spoken to a couple of current meditation teachers in the UK, one of which has recommended a course they did to me, that they say would be a good starting point for going into teaching, especially combined with participating in a group/class in my local area. I also plan to do a Yoga teaching course, and see this combination of qualifications as a possible route into a job, whether it be through freelance teaching or being employed by someone else. I do not currently work in the healthcare/education industry, but I don't think this means I won't be able to teach meditation well to people in the future. With a combination of training and voluntary experience over the next few years I'm confident I will be able to gain some kind of employment in this area whether it be full-time or part-time alongside another job. I am not pinning all my hopes on earning a living in meditation/yoga teaching, however it's something that I want to at least explore and have a go at.

I am not aware of any entrepreneur help groups, however I am going to see if there are any near me :-)

Best Regards,

Chris.

[Matthew]

The most important factor in your quality as a teacher of meditation will be the quality of your personal meditation practice.