Essential Resources for Mindfulness Teachers

"Essential Resources for Mindfulness Teachers" by Rebecca Crane, Karunavira, and Gemma M. Griffith is a comprehensive guide for mindfulness teachers, offering a wealth of knowledge on both the explicit and implicit aspects of mindfulness-based teaching. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Explicit Curriculum:

   • Part I focuses on the explicit elements of mindfulness-based courses, including how to offer meditation practices, inquiry, and various mindfulness techniques. Chapters cover topics such as the essential spirit of mindfulness-based teaching, curriculum considerations, guiding formal practices, the body scan practice, mindful movement, and the sitting meditations.

2. Implicit Curriculum:

   • Part II explores the subtle but powerful implicit qualities needed within the teacher to convey the essence of mindfulness. This includes chapters on embodiment, relational skills, holding the group learning environment, the use of poems, stories, and images, and integrating the explicit and implicit curriculum.

3. Reflective Practice and Underpinnings:

   • Part III delves into the underpinnings, considerations, and theories surrounding the teaching of mindfulness-based courses. This part includes a new framework for reflective practice – the Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Teaching and Learning Companion (the TLC).

Plot Summary

The book is structured into three parts, each addressing different aspects of mindfulness teaching:

1. Part I: The Explicit Curriculum

   • This section provides practical guidance on teaching mindfulness practices, including meditation techniques, body scan practices, mindful movement, and sitting meditations. It also covers how to convey session themes through interactive dialogue and group exercises.

2. Part II: The Implicit Curriculum

   • This part focuses on the implicit qualities necessary for effective mindfulness teaching. It explores topics such as embodiment, relational skills, and creating a supportive group learning environment. It also discusses the use of creative elements like poems and stories to enhance the learning experience.

3. Part III: Resourcing Ourselves as Mindfulness Teachers

   • This final section addresses the personal and professional development of mindfulness teachers. It includes chapters on how to resource and support oneself as a mindfulness teacher, mindfulness-based supervision, professional practice, trauma sensitivity, societal themes, and the implementation of mindfulness-based programs.

Critical Reception

The book has received positive reviews from the mindfulness community and beyond. Here are some excerpts:

• Petra Meibert, Psychologist and MBSR/MBCT teacher trainer, describes the book as "a treasure and a generous gift to the mindfulness community and beyond. Each chapter is grounded in a deep understanding of mindfulness and its applications" .

• Maura Kenny, Founding Co-Director of the Mindfulness Training Institute Australia and New Zealand, praises the book for its clarity and accessibility, noting that it provides a rich history and deep wisdom from the authors' extensive experience in teaching mindfulness.

The book is widely regarded as a core companion text for both trainees and established mindfulness-based teachers, offering a comprehensive resource that will be returned to again and again for guidance and inspiration.