This is a free introductory course to meditation focusing on calming the mind and improving anxiety, stress, and concentration. Scientifically-proven benefits of mindfulness meditation include: reduces anxiety, promotes relaxation, control of emotions and less agitation, decreases blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, improves sleep and reduces insomnia, helps overcome addictions, improves digestion, increases gray matter in the brain, reduces implicit age and race bias, increases body satisfaction and helps brain to reduce distractions.
The list of benefits continues to grow as advances are being made in neuroscience and more studies using brain scanners examine immediate and long-term changes of the brain related to practicing meditation.
You may find this course helpful if you are...
- searching for inner peace and want to explore the capacities of your mind.
- wanting to quiet the mind.
- wanting to improve mental health.
- hoping to decrease mental chatter, pause, and make better choices.
- trying to improve anxiety and depression.
- looking to overcome stress.
- seeking balance in your life.
- curious and want to learn more about yourself.
You will learn by taking this course:
- What mindfulness means.
- Seating posture and other arrangements for meditation.
- Attitudes that cultivate a strong mindfulness practice.
- The simple meditation technique.
- How to practice mindfulness meditation focusing on various sensations.
- How to practice gratitude.
- Debunking myths about meditation.
- Common challenges when initially starting your meditation practice and how to overcome them.
- How to develop your own practice.
- How to incorporating mindfulness into everyday life.
Course Curriculum
Your Instructor
Kevin Qiu has been practicing meditation for nearly seven years with approximately 2000 hours of practice time. He discovered mindfulness meditation during his senior year studying at the University of Toronto, where he developed a passion for psychology and mindfulness.
He recently graduated from the Doctor of Medicine program at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. He had an interest in Psychiatry and learning about mental illness within hospital and clinical settings. He led morning meditations for students and staff at the faculty of medicine and co-led a meditation and yoga retreat for residents and medical students.
Outside of his academic life, Kevin further expanded his knowledge on mindfulness and meditation, yoga, spirituality, Buddhism, psychology, habits and mindset, productivity, and emotional intelligence through practicing and studying books, articles, podcasts and workshops. His passion for understanding the mind led him to working with various psychotherapists for four years. He attended several silent meditation retreats including Vipassana retreats and a mindfulness retreat in Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.
posture & journalling
You will learn various postures that cultivate an energetic practice while being gentle to your body. There will be self-inquiry and prompting journal exercises available to go deeper into the practice.
technique & approach
You will learn the technique for mindfulness meditation, the common myths about meditation, difficulties when starting to meditate and how to overcome them. You will learn the approach: the I B COAL AF attitude.
practice & awareness
You will be able to meditate for 5 minutes on your own after this course! You will practice mindfulness meditation through developing concentration and awareness.