CPD - Meditation and mindfulness courses

Meditation is gaining in popularity as a simple practice which can help to reduce stress, improve our physical and mental health and promote happiness. This article will provide a brief overview to meditation and mindfulness, including the main benefits of meditation, and where to find courses to get you started.

What is meditation and mindfulness?

Meditation can be defined in many ways, but a simple way to think of it is as a mental training technique or practice that involves focusing the mind on a particular object, thought or activity to achieve a mentally and emotionally calm state for a period of time.

There are many different techniques to meditation, and which methods will work best depends very much on the individual practising them. Mindfulness is one of the most common forms of meditation and is a way of training your mind to concentrate on the present, in order to feel calm and improve your mental state. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and reduce stress.

Why might you want to meditate?

As human beings in the modern age we are constantly connected to the world around us through an array of images, media and communications. Add to this a faster pace of life, increased daily demands and stresses, and the advantages of meditation become clear.

Meditation has become increasingly popular in recent years, with meditation and mindfulness sessions now being frequently carried out in schools and workplaces, as well as being practised by individuals as a valuable way to help people manage their stress and improve their overall well-being.

Regular meditation practice has been shown to help us to renew and recharge, improve overall mood, and promote a state of balance, contentment and have a positive impact on physical and mental health. People who engage in regular meditation have lessened symptoms of depression and anxiety, and it has been proven to be an incredible tool in the treatment of addiction and chronic pain.

The great thing about meditation is that it’s never too late to start either as meditation is simple enough to learn and involves some fairly straightforward techniques. It is one of the most affordable and simplest ways to reduce stress and improve your health, and once mastered, is a skill that will serve you throughout your entire lifetime.

Benefits of meditation practice

As well as practising mindfulness in daily life, it can be helpful to set aside time in each day for a more formal meditation practice. Undertaking meditation and mindfulness regularly, even just for a short time, brings various excellent benefits. While many people start meditating to manage their stress and anxiety levels, there is a huge range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits to be gained from meditation.

These include:

• Improved overall well-being
• An increase in mental resilience
• Improved memory, attention, and focus
• Increased productivity
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Increase contentment and decrease depression
• Improved sleep patterns
• Alleviate diseases and illnesses such as migraines, insomnia, asthma, ADHD and many others
• Decreases in blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels, thanks to its stress-lowering properties
• Manage negative physical pain and addiction 

What courses do CPD offer in this area?

Being inspired to start meditating is very different from actually doing it, and you will typically only feel the benefits by beginning and maintaining a regular practice. Taking a CPD meditation and mindfulness course is a really great place to start to learn meditation in the simplest and most effective way possible.

Courses are usually taught by an expert in the field and a welcoming community, teaching you the best techniques to bring about a positive change in your mindset. There are CPD courses and classes that are designed to teach basic meditation techniques and theories for developing mindfulness and awareness among a range of other topics.

Meditation courses will usually involve class participation and practice of postures, breathing, and meditation techniques. You will typically be able meet with other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions. Many courses are designed for beginners with no previous experience necessary, ideal for those looking to learn more about meditation just for themselves or how to teach it to others.

Online CPD meditation and mindfulness courses

Online meditation and mindfulness courses have grown in popularity in recent years due to the flexibility and ease of learning they provide. These type of courses are usually self-guided, so that you learn at your own pace and are taught using guided meditations, exercises, handouts, and practical demonstrations. All meditation and mindfulness classes and online courses are unfortunately not created equal. Before setting off on your journey for a meditation and mindfulness course, it can be helpful to ensure that it has been CPD certified by an independent, recognised organisation.  

Within the CPD Courses Catalogue, you can find numerous online and face to face CPD meditation courses and training to get you started. To find out more about a particular CPD course listed on our website, complete an enquiry form and the details will be sent directly to the relevant CPD provider.

Accreditation for CPD meditation courses

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing learning, as well as store your professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, go to the myCPD Portal page.