teacher training

Fully Recognized by the Mindfulness Center at Brown University and Global Mindfulness Collaborative (GMC). 

MBSR Foundations Training Recognition 

The goals/learning objectives for MBSR Foundations trainees, as outlined by the Mindfulness Center at Brown University, are:

• Characterize and articulate the personal and collective key learnings made available through the 8-week MBSR curriculum;
• Express, through personally honed language, the effects and impact of both formal and informal MBSR practices on oneself as well as others in the program;
• Identify and analyze the critical nature of the relational field and dialogue and inquiry as it shows up in the MBSR classroom, as a specific strength of the program;
• Offer short introductory programs based on elements of the MBSR curriculum;
• Ascertain one’s own strengths, personal patterns and responses, and areas of development as a critical component for skill in teaching.

The format for the 10-Week Online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Foundations Training program combines concurrent required participating in an eight-week MBSR program (including an information session) as well as engaging in the 10-Week Foundations Seminar.

The required concurrent participation in the eight-week MBSR class will allow the participant-trainees to engage in formal MBSR mindfulness meditation practices, as well as investigation of themes of perception, automatic, habitual stress reactivity, mindfulness-mediated stress response and interpersonal communication.

If you have not taken the eight-week MBSR program as a participant prior to your application to this Training, you will not be able to take this MBSR Foundations program.  Taking the MBSR program for the first time with Foundations does not fulfill the pre-requisite requirement.

MBSR Foundations involves meeting twice each week (Tuesday and Wednesday nights) over a 10-week period, in addition to the MBSR All-Day (see below for detailed schedule).  If your application for 10-Week Online MBSR Foundations Training is accepted, you will be automatically registered in both the eight-week MBSR program and MBSR Foundations Seminar.  There is no extra application nor any extra fees required for the automatic required enrolment in the eight-week MBSR program.  Please note again, the automatic enrolment in the eight-week MBSR program does not fulfill the prerequisite for having taken the eight-week MBSR program prior to this Training.

The program begins with a “Foundations Opening”.  This will be a week prior to session one of the eight-week MBSR program.   The program ends with “Foundations Closure”.  Please see details below under Dates/Times.

Requirements For the 10-Week Online MBSR Foundations

• Successful completion of a live (online or in-person) 8-week MBSR program (including eight, 2.5 hour classes, an all-day class, and daily home practice)
• Consistent daily meditation practice (two years preferred)
• Consistent body awareness movement, preferably yoga (two years preferred)
• Participation in a 5-7 day silent (live online or in-person), teacher-led mindfulness retreat within the last three years.  If you would like a list of possible retreat locations that could meet this requirement, you can email us at info@drkasimalmashat.com. 
• Graduate degree or equivalent background experience in healthcare, public health, medicine, or education. Graduate level work in other disciplines will be considered, including business and law.  This will be addressed case by case. 

The importance of directly experiencing the dynamics, rigor, structure and fluidity of the MBSR curriculum, personally, cannot be over emphasized. Through a trainee’s own direct experience of the eight-week MBSR program, the personal and multi-faceted nature of the MBSR program is revealed. This personal experience directly fosters the early learning of the participant-trainee.

The experiential in vivo nature of the program is enhanced and supported by cognitive frames that help deepen understanding and integrate learning.

Reflection and investigation in the MBSR Foundations seminar is supported with reflective writing, group dialogue, readings, written assignments, and a variety of individual and group learning activities.

Participant-trainees will begin to apply their learning by guiding peers in a short meditation practice sessions and to express, creatively, how the required readings are integrated into their experience of the eight-week MBSR program.

Between sessions, you can anticipate an additional 4-6 hours for readings, preparation, reflection and assignments.  This does not include the daily home mindfulness practices that are part of the eight-week MBSR program (i.e., 40-60 minutes daily).

This 10-Week Online Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Foundations Training program, offered through the Centre For Mindfulness Canada, has 63.50 CE credit hours approved by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).  The Centre For Mindfulness Canada maintains responsibility for the program.

This eight-week MBSR program will be facilitated by Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat. He is a Registered Psychologist and University of Massachusetts Certified MBSR Teacher and authorized Teacher Trainer by the Mindfulness Center at Brown University. He is the founder of Center For Mindfulness Canada. Kasim has also completed a six-month meditation retreat in silence in Southeast Asia and presented a TEDx about mindfulness. For a full bio – click here.