A woman practicing meditation or enjoying the peaceful scenery beside a lake, sitting cross-legged on rocks at the shoreline, with trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of paying full, non-judgmental attention to the present moment. To your thoughts, feelings, body sensations and surroundings without trying to push anything away or hold on to it.

Key Aspects of Mindfulness

  • Present-moment awareness → Anchoring attention on what’s happening here and now.

  • Non-judgment → Observing experiences without labeling them as good or bad.

  • Acceptance → Allowing thoughts and feelings to come and go, instead of resisting them.

  • Compassion → Cultivating kindness toward yourself and others.

Training dates

What others experienced after a 8 week MBSR Training

Chantal (24) | Rotterdam
”I have had a lot of benefits from participating the 8-week MBSR training. It helped me to be more mindful of certain habits and giving me more awareness of how I go through daily life. Marjolein is a very kind, helpful and clear trainer. When the group was being distracted you were always able to kindly direct everyone back to the core of the practice. I also enjoyed how you never were too ‘spiritual’ in giving life advices, but you were able to share very valuable insights with the group.”

A foggy forest landscape with dense green trees and mist covering the tops of the trees.

Gerard (37) | Rotterdam
”With the 8-week MBSR training I gained tools in how I can deal better with moments of (spontaneous) stress. I had a lot of benefit of the calmness Marjolein radiates during the course. She has a very nice way of speaking which I appreciated a lot during the exercises and the explanations.”

Rianne (20) | Schiedam
”With the 8-week MBSR training I learned how to create space into my daily life so I can feel more calm and happier. Marjolein is a patient and kind trainer with a very clear approach.”

Origin of the training

A Tibetan singing bowl with a wooden mallet resting inside, placed on a light wooden surface against a plain white background.

Mindfulness is known in many ancient practices. Here it’s linked to the training that was founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn, student of Zen Buddhist teachers as Thich Nhat Hanh & Sueng Sahn. Back when he was working in a hospital with patients who we’re dealing with chronic pain, depression and such he tried to find a way to give them perspective, a way to deal with their situation when nothing else was helping. With his background in Hatha Yoga, Vipassana teachings of Soto Zen and Advaita Vedanta he started to integrate this in his work, with positive results. From here in the years to follow, many studies, scientific research & working with this target group, the MBSR Training got created.

A way to be present with what is, even when that situation isn’t what we hoped it would be, requires courage, patience & loving kindness towards oneself.

With the 8 week MBSR Training you learn (again) how to surf along with the waves, instead of stopping them.