BEING PRESENT LEVEL 1 MINDFULNESS COURSE 2025
Are you interested in understanding the mind and how it works?
Would you like to develop your own mindfulness meditation practice and engage in mind training?
BEING PRESENT, our Level 1 course, is a comprehensive introduction to mindfulness. Through participating you will gain an in-depth understanding of mindfulness and meditation, and have the opportunity to develop a personal, regular and effective mindfulness practice, in a kind and sensitive atmosphere. It is suitable for all interested participants. The course will have a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 participants.
BEING PRESENT is also the first step in our MINDFULNESS TEACHER TRAINING PATHWAY.
Previous participants have said:
“The course was very valuable to me because it was exactly what I needed in life and it was great knowing I was at the right place doing something I and people around me will benefit from”.
“I thought about what I learned, I did different meditations often, I tried to incorporate it into my life, I basically started living Mindfulness. …I felt a sense of belonging to a group of like-minded people and I love being a part of the Mindfulness community”.
“I really enjoyed being a part of this group of people… you really did a great job facilitating the course throughout the year“.
As a participant on BEING PRESENT you will:
- learn how to practice mindfulness meditation
- explore the thinking and theory behind practices
- learn about the mind, drawing upon neuroscience, psychology and wisdom traditions
- gain insight into your own mind – habits of thinking and patterns of behaviour.
‘Being Present in 2025’ is an in-person course, It involves and includes:
- systemic mind training
- the development of a personal mindfulness meditation practice
- 4 modules, each with a study and practice weekend (Saturday and Sunday, 10:00-16:00 both days, in-person, meeting in Trešnjevka, Zagreb).
- 48 hours of in-person teaching including short talks, discussions, activities, sharing, and group mindfulness practice
- Being part of a supportive and engaging learning and practicing community over 5 months
- A handbook/manual for each module (in English)
- Downloadable audio recordings of tutor-led mindfulness practices
- Home/personal mindfulness practices and activities
- Online and email tutor support
- Informal, regular communication (What’s App group)
- Course completion certificate.
To receive a course certificate, you must complete all 4 modules either the in-person or online version of ‘Being Present’. Module completion certificates will also be available.
The course is taught in English with translation into Croatian as necessary. Course materials are in English.
The first module can be taken as a course in itself, without obligation to continue, or as the first step to the rest of the course. To complete the course, you must complete all 4 modules in sequence.
Being Present is ideal for beginners; however, it is also for those who have previous experience of mindfulness and who want to deepen and develop their practice and for those who might go on to train to teach the 8-week Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC).
The four modules and study/practice weekends:
MODULE 1: START WHERE YOU ARE 24-25 May 2025
Mindfulness is defined as paying attention to our moment by moment experience in a way that is non-judgmental and kind.
We are initiated into this graduated process through the core practices of settling, grounding, resting and mindfulness support. Also, we practice body scan and walking meditation and simple practices for integrating mindfulness into daily life. We simultaneously work on developing kindness as a basis for self- compassion
MODULE 2: STAYING FOCUSSED 05-06 July 2025
In module 2 we look at mindfulness and distraction and begin to see how distraction reveals an inner world of habitual patterning that ensnares our energies. We also begin to recognise attitudes of preference – like and dislike – and see how they narrow and contract our awareness, imprisoning us. In this context we learn to be able to see the difference between habitual reactions driven by conditioning and informed choices based on intelligent discernment.
MODULE 3: ACCEPTANCE 23-24 August 2025
Part of mindfulness practice is learning to work with strong emotions that arise and developing the capacity to ‘hold’ difficult experiences within body and mind. In module 3, through training in acceptance, we learn to acknowledge and come to terms with difficult thoughts and emotions by paying them close attention with a kind and inclusive attitude.
MODULE 4:’UNDERCURRENT AND OBSERVER’ – A MODEL OF OUR MIND
27-28 September 2025
During this module, we bring together all the themes from the previous three modules and help participants set up an ongoing mindfulness practice for going forward in their lives.
At this point, we explore the model of ‘undercurrent and observer’ as a way of mapping out the inner landscape of our mind and identifying where change can take place.
Throughout the course you will meet 3 tutors: Dr. David McMurtry, Helena Cuculić and Valentina Petanjek
