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To book your place for this Saturday morning workshop just click the Book Now button and complete your registration and pay the €25. The fee is being kept as low as possible to be inclusive. If you can pay more, there will be an opportunity to offer a further donation to the teacher on the day via cash or Revolut.
This course is fully booked. if you would like to be put on a waitlist - email info@mindfulness.ie with your name and number
Like most people I was initially drawn to meditation because of suffering in my life. At the time I was working as a newly qualified solicitor. It was a stressful job and I experienced panic attacks. I learned how to meditate and it helped. I was able to stop and breathe. The inner pressure was more bearable. Over the years it completely changed my life for the better, to the point where I ultimately changed career in order to teach mindfulness full time and share the benefits with others.
In the beginning, if someone asked me why I meditate, I would probably emphasise how it helped me to “reduce stress” in my life. That felt like a socially acceptable thing to say. We are all interested in managing stress (particularly in the corporate world). There is something stoic about it. We endure stress because we are so busy.We manage it and we persevere. I would have been very hesitant to tell the same person how meditation made me more “joyful”. At the time, the word “joy” felt self-indulgent and, dare I say, a bit “happy clappy” to me. It didn’t feel socially acceptable to say that I just wanted to be happy… that life sometimes felt a bit grim and grey and relentless and I needed a counterbalance.
I think that in Ireland this attitude still prevails to a certain extent and it’s a pity. What is the point of life if not to experience moments of deep connection and meaning? The good news is that copious research has shown that joy, happiness and gratitude are states of mind that can be practised and cultivated. Neuroscience has shown how our brains have a “negativity bias” – we are hardwired to notice and remember unpleasant experiences and disregard pleasant experiences. If we are aware and we have the right intention we can bring this bias back into balance. We can be more objective. Awakening Joy doesn’t mean that we look at life through rose tinted lenses. Without glossing over the challenges of life which we are always faced with, we can discover that joy is always here in the present moment if we want it.
This course is fully booked. if you would like to be put on a waitlist - email info@mindfulness.ie with your name and number
Like most people I was initially drawn to meditation because of suffering in my life. At the time I was working as a newly qualified solicitor. It was a stressful job and I experienced panic attacks. I learned how to meditate and it helped. I was able to stop and breathe. The inner pressure was more bearable. Over the years it completely changed my life for the better, to the point where I ultimately changed career in order to teach mindfulness full time and share the benefits with others.
In the beginning, if someone asked me why I meditate, I would probably emphasise how it helped me to “reduce stress” in my life. That felt like a socially acceptable thing to say. We are all interested in managing stress (particularly in the corporate world). There is something stoic about it. We endure stress because we are so busy.We manage it and we persevere. I would have been very hesitant to tell the same person how meditation made me more “joyful”. At the time, the word “joy” felt self-indulgent and, dare I say, a bit “happy clappy” to me. It didn’t feel socially acceptable to say that I just wanted to be happy… that life sometimes felt a bit grim and grey and relentless and I needed a counterbalance.
I think that in Ireland this attitude still prevails to a certain extent and it’s a pity. What is the point of life if not to experience moments of deep connection and meaning? The good news is that copious research has shown that joy, happiness and gratitude are states of mind that can be practised and cultivated. Neuroscience has shown how our brains have a “negativity bias” – we are hardwired to notice and remember unpleasant experiences and disregard pleasant experiences. If we are aware and we have the right intention we can bring this bias back into balance. We can be more objective. Awakening Joy doesn’t mean that we look at life through rose tinted lenses. Without glossing over the challenges of life which we are always faced with, we can discover that joy is always here in the present moment if we want it.
Certified Mindfulness Teacher (MBSR / MBCT) (Institute For Mindfulness Based Approaches); MSC Teacher (Centre for Mindful Self Compassion); MBCL Teacher; Psychotherapist (MSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy University of Northampton)
Certified Mindfulness Teacher (MBSR / MBCT) (Institute For Mindfulness Based Approaches); MSC Teacher (Centre for Mindful Self Compassion); MBCL Teacher (Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living); Yoga teacher (Senior Teacher, Yoga Alliance); Psychotherapist (MSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy University of Northampton)
Barry has trained in a variety of complementary techniques – Mindfulness and Compassion (MBSR, MBCL, MSC and Awakening Joy), Psychotherapy and Yoga.
He works with groups and with people on a one to one basis.
He has practiced meditation since 2005. He is a member and former chairperson of the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland and currently sits on the supervision subcommittee of the MTAI. He has trained as a mindfulness supervisor and in the use of MBI:TAC.
Barry worked for over ten years as a corporate lawyer and has significant experience facilitating mindfulness and compassion training for organisations in a variety of contexts.
In 2017, he founded Mindfulness for Law (www.mindfulnessforlaw.ie) with the intention of bringing the benefits of mindfulness training to the legal profession. He has facilitated workshops and courses in many law firms and he works as a facilitator and student counsellor with the Law Society of Ireland.
In 2016, he co-founded Nature in Mind (natureinmind.ie), an educational organisation which aims to help people improve their health and well-being through mindfully connecting with the natural world.
