Information about the Mindfulness course for staff and PGRs The classes will take place from 3pm to 4:30pm on:Friday 2nd October 2026Friday 9th October 2026Friday 16th October 2026Friday 23rd October 2026Friday 6th November 2026Friday 13th November 2026Friday 20th November 2026Friday 27th November 2026Please note there will be NO CLASS on Friday 30th 2026Inclusive Day Retreat online (optional), Saturday 14th November 2026Donation: Staff £50*, PGRs £30* BOOK HERE SOON Course TeacherDr Kitty WheaterMindfulness CourseMindfulness is a well-researched and effective means of alleviating stress, anxiety, and depression, and promoting wellbeing and flourishing. This 8-session course is intended for those who want to develop skills to deal more easily with the stresses of everyday life, study, and work. It is a progressive course, suitable for beginners and those with previous experience of meditation. An optional all-day mindfulness retreat online is included, on 14th November 2026.The course-book, Mindfulness: a Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World (Williams and Penman), will need to be purchased separately. What will I learn? Mindfulness training consists of formal and informal practices, cognitive exercises, and psycho-education. Over five sessions, you will learn to steady your attention, recognise and work with unhelpful patterns of thought, and orient mental habits towards presence and appreciation. We will investigate the patterns of mind and behaviour that give rise to low mood and a sense of being ‘stuck’, and those that promote good mental health, wellbeing, and quality of life. How much time will I have to commit? As the course is progressive, you will need to be able to commit to the duration of the programme over 5 weeks, and to about 30 minutes’ home practice per day. What do previous participants say? ‘Really enjoyable and helpful – will definitely recommend it.’‘I felt understood, supported and had a safe space to come to.’‘Thank you so much. This feels like the beginning of a journey with meditation and compassion at the end. I feel well equipped to go forward and be kinder to others and myself.’ Is this the right course and/or the right time for me to attend The course is not a treatment for any specific physical or psychological conditions, and it is not suitable for people who are currently experiencing very severe problems in these areas. Before you book, please check the course webpage for more information. If you wish to discuss whether the course is suitable for you currently, please contact the Mindfulness Chaplain, Dr Kitty Wheater. *This is the recommended donation for the course. To make an alternative donation, please email mindfulness@ed.ac.uk. This article was published on Tuesday 27 January 2026