Mindfulness

We recognise that during a busy workday, it is often a low priority to look after ourselves and our minds. By practicing mindfulness and getting into a healthy routine, we can shift this mindset and learn how to become mindful at work and at home too.

Take a look at upcoming sessions and courses, hand-picked mindfulness resources filled with apps, books, YouTube meditations, and more.

 

Why does mindfulness matter?

When we practice mindfulness, we start to pay attention to our thoughts and feelings, and how we are reacting to them. Mindfulness isn’t about trying to change these thoughts; it is about recognising them for what they are and allowing them to come and go while we remain calm and focus on our breathing.

Mindfulness can often be difficult for some people, especially if they are experiencing low mood or high levels of stress. However, the more we practice mindfulness, the easier it becomes. Mindfulness can also help improve our mental and physical wellbeing.

Mindfulness Courses and Sessions

What mindfulness sessions do we currently offer?

If you are interested in any of these courses or would like more information, please email the Staff Wellbeing team at nuhnt.staffwellbeing@nhs.net requesting a referral, putting Mindfulness in the subject heading.

MBCT-L Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy For Life

Our 8-week evidence-based course, also known as ‘Mindfulness for Life’, teaches simple but powerful techniques from mindfulness traditions and cognitive therapy. It offers skills for keeping our balance through life’s ups and down and for responding skilfully when difficulties arise, engaging with what is most important to us and flourishing.

The course will run via Teams for 8 weeks, 8.30am-10.30am from 28 October 2025.

Finding Steadiness at Work

This new 6-week course has been specifically developed for staff in a busy, demanding healthcare setting. The course aims to teach self-care through mindfulness-based strategies to optimise our wellbeing at both home and work. Each session is an hour long and focuses on education regarding self-care and mindful practise.

The course will run at City hospital 12pm-1pm from 5 November.

We are happy to go to departments in the hospital to run the Finding Steadiness at work course to teams. 

Mindfulness for the Menopause Session

This session will guide you through how to be more mindful during your menopause and how to use mindfulness to cope with your symptoms.

Watch the Mindfulness for Menopause video. 

Mindfulness and Meditation Drop-in Sessions

Mindfulness Drop-in Sessions

There is no need to apply, and everyone is welcome to join, whether you are an experienced or new to mindfulness and meditation

All you need to do is log into the meeting a few minutes before the start of the session, and the mindfulness teacher will be waiting to greet you.

The session lasts for 15 minutes and is an opportunity to practice meditation together. There is no obligation to do or say anything; simply turn up and be guided through a practice.

You are welcome to join regularly or just from time to time. If you are new to mindfulness, it can be helpful to join the sessions a few times before deciding whether you find them helpful.

Every week:

Click the links above to join each session.

Meditation Drop In Sessions

Every Thursday from 12-1pm David runs a Meditation drop in session in the QMC Staff Wellbeing Room. No booking is required, just turn up.

A space in the day for quiet contemplation. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or a complete beginner, all are welcome. Guidance will be given on request at the start of each session

External Mindfulness Drop in Sessions

The following sessions are also free to access:

 

Mindfulness Association

A free Mindfulness Meditation  session led by experienced tutors.
Monday to Friday 10:30-11am and 7-8pm 

Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

A chance to explore some mindfulness practices and learn a little more about what mindfulness involves.
Monday to Friday 1-1:30pm and 7-7:30pm

Mindfulness and Meditation Resources

Mindfulness Audio Meditations

This 25 Minute Body Scan Video by Mindfulness Practitioner Karen is one of the foundational practices of mindfulness meditation. It is suitable for practicing meditators or newcomers to mindfulness and meditation. It can be done lying down or sitting in an upright chair.

Please note that you will need to play two external videos during the session from YouTube.

Sitting Practice

This 25 Minute Sitting Practice video is a key practice in 6 and 8-week courses. It helps to open awareness to the breath, body, sounds, and thoughts, and to practice holding all of these in awareness with a sense of steadiness and stepping back. This practice is suitable for people who are new to mindfulness as well as participants who have completed one of our mindfulness courses with NUH.

Oxford Mindfulness Foundation

A chance to explore some mindfulness practices and learn a little more about what mindfulness involves.
Monday to Friday 1–1:30pm and 7–7:30pm

More resources

Mindfulness Resources – Apps, Books, Podcasts, and more can be found on the intranet.