Meditation and mindfulness bring far-reaching benefits to your life and your relationship with yourself and others. From improved focus, an improved ability to respond rather than react to thoughts and feelings as they arise, even an improved and more compassionate relationship with your self.
Meditation helps us be present with ourselves and what’s happening in our inner and outer world, right now.
Also, this work reaches beyond just sitting on a cushion. This work is about how you take your practice into your whole life.
Meditation With Craig Behenna: What People Are Saying
“Craig’s guided meditation program was an absolute game-changer for me. I loved every minute of it. Craig would select themes and engage us in a comforting, very supportive manner, holding space for everyone in the class.
“As a group, we spent many months in our Zoom classes, all at the initial height of the covid outbreak. I was also concurrently completing an in-depth MBSR Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program — it was great, but it couldn’t hold a candle to Craig’s program. I learned so much and I truly believe it was central to helping me cope and work through our collective challenging period.
“As a psychosynthesis coach, I use imagery and guided visualizations very often with clients and groups. Craig’s program gave me much more confidence and direct instruction to work with others and, ultimately improve my daily practice.”
Mark Douglas, PLC
Owner, TheSeaWithinYou.com Transpersonal Coaching & Astrology
“Craig’s classes were exactly what I needed after almost three months of navigating my way through a series of painfully invasive tests for cancer, and following, was the anxious weeks of
waiting for “the call”. My goal in taking his classes was to appreciate the breath of life flowing through me in the moment, and not get sucked into a black hole of cancer thoughts… In my day to day life, I noticed that I felt more warmth
towards my fearful self, and I felt more gratitude for the hospitals and the care I have available to me in community. Being real wasn’t as overwhelming.
I achieved the results I desperately needed. I managed to stay grounded, I did not lose myself to worry and fear.
“Craig’s teaching style is firstly, very calming. He is clear in his directions and gives alternative options to one’s particular experience. He reminds me that there is no wrong way to meditate,
and the first most important piece is self-compassion. Craig’s voice is a gift. I feel his compassion for my experience in the world.”
Susan Walsh.
Benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness
I came to meditation practice because I needed it. Now it’s a foundation of all my client work. It provides me with awareness and presence to be with and guide my clients.
Meditation and mindfulness have many benefits. Our work together helps you develop greater inner wellbeing and a better relationship to your own experience.
People come to meditation and mindfulness with questions about:
- Fast or overwhelming thoughts
- Anxiety
- Wanting to lower stress
- Tension in the body
- Issues with self-trust
- Feeling a lack of connection with self
In recent decades there’s been a rapid rise in peer-reviewed studies that show the benefits of a regular meditation practice. My first teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, taught that breathing to the belly was an important practice, both as a foundation and in times of strong emotions. This is a common teaching in meditation traditions and is now backed up by recent studies that show we have 100 million nerve endings in the gut – and many of our emotions may be influenced by nerves in the gut. The gut and brain communicate with each other. And there are many other health benefits to a regular meditation practice, from help with stress, anxiety (including GAD), to possible benefits to cardiac health.
Meditation practice can help you reestablish your sense of connection with the rest of your body. And it’ll help you to trust the rest of your experience, as well as (but not only) your thoughts.
Meditation and Creativity
Many of my clients in the creative industries work with a form of meditation during our coaching sessions and outside sessions as part of our coaching process. in conjunction with coaching, they report they’re more able to make space to creative ideas and next steps in their work and life.
Clients take time to let go of fixed ideas and stories about who they are and the world they live in. They’re open to new ideas, stories, inspirations and intuitions that can guide them in new directions in their life and work.
Craig Behenna: Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher
I began my training with Thich Nhat Hanh and the monastic community of Plum Village, France, with many more retreats at Deer Park Meditation Center, California. I qualified to teach meditation and mindfulness with Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi. I teach1-to-1 and in groups online and in person (where possible).
FAQ
Do I need experience?
I work with people who have no experience who are looking to begin their practice and who want a trustworthy teacher and a solid method to establish a meditation habit. I also work with experienced meditators who are looking for a fresh perspective, a recalibration of their practice, an introduction to a Zen perspective on meditation and mindfulness. All welcome.
How many sessions do I need?
I run a six – to – eight session introductory program. This is sometimes available to the public and it’s also available one-to-one, or I can deliver it you your group or team, if you’d like to contact me. This is a comprehensive introduction to meditation and mindfulness in the Zen tradition, with recorded guided meditations and notes to accompany the course as well as our personal classes. You’ll have lots of support during the programme.
I can also teach a four-session introductory program on lovingkindness and compassion meditations, which are becoming more widely taught and making their way into the mainstream through modalities like Compassion-Based Therapy.
There are also other ways to work together if you’ve been meditating for a while. I generally like to make at least a four session commitment to ensure progress, to make sure the work is landing with you.
Sometimes a longer-term coaching relationship emerges. If that’s something you’re interested in, we can discuss that at the time.
At the same time, generally we have a sense of when the work is complete for now, once people have gained what they need.
Can I Claim These Courses As Professional Development?
Check with your provider. That said, mental health professionals including members of the Australian Counselling Association have been able to claim professional development points for completing my six-week introduction program. Contact me if this might apply to you.