Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation - 10-Week Introductory Course

The Samatha Meditation Centre is running mindfulness of breathing meditation classes on Thursday evenings in Great Holm, with a session on 12 November. The centre is at 1 Gatcombe, Great Holm, MK8 9EA, and the classes are taught in a group setting by a qualified teacher. The practice itself comes from a tradition going back more than 2,500 years to the time of the Buddha: the idea is to gradually turn your attention away from distractions and towards the experience of the breath, and from there develop calm, insight and well-being.

Each class combines a guided group meditation with a talk, and there's also the chance of a short one-to-one meeting with the teacher. It's open to complete beginners, and you don't need to be Buddhist to take part. If you can't make it in person, online classes are available too. Just a couple of things to keep in mind: under-18s need written parental consent, and the centre notes that the practice isn't a treatment for chronic mental health difficulties.

Beyond the weekly Thursday sessions, there's a 10-week introductory course running on Wednesday evenings at 7pm, which started on 14 October and goes through to 16 December. If you're looking for something a bit more structured to start with, that's the one to look at.

There's no fixed charge for the classes; the teachers give their time free of charge and the centre welcomes donations towards running costs. The Samatha Meditation Centre is run by the Samatha Trust, a registered charity (No. 1179867).