Course Information

The Feeling Tone Programme: Exploring Mindfulness Frame by Frame with Mark Williams Attend one-day Introductory Session only (in-person, non-residential)

When: 8 Sep 2023
Where: Bangor University, North Wales
Tutors: Mark Williams, Antonia Sumbundu

The feeling tone 'Frame by Frame' programme is an eight-week course designed as a follow-on for those who are familiar with mindfulness practice.

This Introductory Session will give you the chance to learn about the course and both the ancient wisdom and recent psychological findings that inform it. These suggest that every waking moment, our understanding of the world is dominated by imagining how we can take action within it. These perceptions and plans are coloured by what is called ‘vedana’ or ‘feeling tone’: the moment-by-moment ‘read-out’ of how much any sensation, thought, impulse or emotion feels pleasant, unpleasant, or neither. Based on this moment-by-moment ‘read out’, the body allocates its resources as it gears up for real or imagined action. This can prepare you well for action, but it can also put you at risk of becoming exhausted without your realising it.

In the four sessions, we will explore the rationale for different aspect of the programme through lecture, practice, enquiry and Q & A, discussing ways to help become more aware of feeling tones and their impact, and how such awareness can make a difference in daily life.

Outline of the day

9.30 Session 1 – Background and Rationale: The driven mode and grounding

10.30 Break

11.00 Session 2 – Feeling tone: exploring ways to dissolve reactivity

12.30 Lunch

13.30 Session 3 – Unconscious busyness and unexplained exhaustion: the body budget

15.00 Break

15.15 Session 4 – When motivation collapses: What we can learn from procrastination

16.30 End


Who is the event for?

The Introductory Session is designed for mindfulness teachers and trainers and those who use mindfulness in therapy, coaching or other settings. 


Requirements to attend:

An interest in mindfulness and feeling tones. 


About the trainers:

Mark Williams is an Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology and Emeritus Fellow of Linacre College, University of Oxford, and was Founding Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (2008-2013). The main focus of his work has been to understand how best to prevent serious clinical depression and suicide. With colleagues John Teasdale (Cambridge) and Zindel Segal (Toronto), Mark co-developed Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for prevention of relapse in depression. Now retired, he continues to research, to teach mindfulness to teachers-in-training across the world, and to explore, with colleagues, how mindfulness and compassion might most authentically be cultivated in evidence-based public policy. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and of Academy of Medical Sciences, and an honorary Canon of Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford.

Antonia Sumbundu has been teaching and lecturing on MBCT internationally for many years as a trainer and supervisor. In 2010, she was awarded a Master of Studies in MBCT by the University of Oxford and in 2022 she completed the Bodhi College Dharma Teacher Training program. Antonia is an instructor for the Tergar Meditation Community where she is leading retreats and supporting practice groups internationally. Originally trained as clinical psychologist, Antonia has had a long term interest in the psychology and clinical applications of meditation. 


Timings:

9.30am - 4.30pm (lunch 12.30pm-1.30pm) 


What to bring/wear:

Mats & cushions will be available, but please bring your own equipment if you prefer. Loose and comfortable clothing is advisable. 

A light vegetarian buffet lunch will be provided, along with refreshments during the day. 


Location:

Reichel Hall, Bangor University

Bangor, North Wales, LL57 2AS

Please note: This event is non-residential. Please consider the timings of the event when you plan your travel or accomodation. 


Rates:

Attend one-day Introductory Session only 

Full Rate for One Day - £99.00 

Bursary-assisted places are available on this event until three months before the event starts. If it is less than three months before the start date of the event, please get in touch to discuss if an application is possible.  When applying for a bursary-assisted place, please first register on the event and select the fee ‘I’m applying for a bursary-assisted place’. Once you have registered for the event you will also need to complete and return a bursary application form.  

To find out more about our bursary schemes, criteria for bursary applications and to complete the bursary application form please visit: https://home.mindfulness-network.org/bursaries/  

Employer’s rate: Recognising the administrative overhead of dealing with employers, there is a £50 surcharge if the employer is paying directly; where possible we would advise applicants to pay themselves and reclaim on expenses to avoid the charge. 

A light vegetarian buffet lunch and refreshments will be provided. If you have any specific dietary needs that relate to an allergy or intolerence, please provide this information in the extra comments box on the application form or alternatively, please contact us at training@mindfulness-network.org


The Application and Payment Process:

Our application and payment process involves the following steps:

  1. We receive your application form and assess it to ensure that this retreat is suitable for you. We endeavour to make assessments within a week, but if the retreat leader is on annual leave or on retreat, then this can take a little longer.
  2. Upon offering you a place, we will then invoice you for the deposit or for the full amount, depending which option you choose when you complete your application.
  3. Your place is confirmed once we receive your deposit or full payment.
  4. If you selected to pay the deposit only, we will invoice you for the balance four months before the retreat starts.
  5. We will email you the joining instructions and log in instructions for our communiyt site in advance of the course, more detailed course information will be available on our community site leading up to the event. 

Payment and Cancellation Policy:

Please note that we are planning for this course to be held in-person, but if this is not possible with regard to Covid-19, we will advise you as early as we can if the course needs to be moved online. More on this can be found in our T&Cs, below.

Please read our Terms and Conditions for information regarding payments and cancellations.


For more information:

Please email us at training@mindfulness-network.org


Click here to sign up to this event.