New Ground.
This supportive group course helps you meet the challenges of life after a cancer diagnosis with greater calm, resilience, and connection.
Whether you’re in treatment, recovering, or walking alongside a loved one, you’ll learn practical skills to steady the mind, care for the body, and live more fully in the present.
“When cancer suddenly tips your life upside down and you’re trying to right yourself, consider Jan’s mindfulness course. This companionable, beautifully led course teaches you how to be centred and calm, how to accept what is happening, and how to care for yourself. Without a doubt, this course aided my recovery.”
“I wanted to share some wonderful news—I had a recent scan, and the results were very positive. The mindfulness practices we’ve embraced have become central to supporting my health and ongoing recovery. During our recent holiday, we spent time meditating and consciously shifted our approach away from rushing around doing ‘stuff’. Thank you for your insights. Mindfulness has truly become an essential and valued part of our lives.”
At a Glance
New Ground is the internationally recognised Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) programme, developed by Dr. Linda Carlson and Dr. Michael Speca, and offered here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Who it’s for:
People currently in treatment (if health allows)
People post-treatment — months or years later
Whānau or support people
What you’ll explore:
Mindfulness meditation practices to steady attention, ease reactivity and be present
Gentle mindful movement, adapted for all energy levels and physical needs
Tools for dealing with difficult emotions, thoughts and physical sensations
Ways to bring mindfulness into everyday life, even on challenging days
Benefits you may notice:
Reduced stress and worry
Greater emotional balance and self-compassion
Improved sleep and energy levels
Feeling more connected to yourself and others
Regaining trust in your body
Better overall health: helps lower blood pressure, balance stress hormones, and reduce inflammation
Greater post‑traumatic growth—finding meaning, new purpose, and appreciation following cancer
About your teacher
Hi, I’m Jan Haworth, a Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) teacher. I’ve taught mindfulness to hundreds of people across healthcare, community, and workplace settings, and I’m passionate about making these practices accessible, practical, and relevant.
I also bring a personal perspective — I was diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago, and mindfulness became an important part of my own journey to living well again.
In my experience, a cancer diagnosis can be a terrifying and also pivotal moment in life. It can crystalise what really matters to you, help you find clarity, meaning and purpose — and perhaps even a catalyst to living life in a new way.
New Ground Course Dates
Have a Go at Mindfulness with New Ground
Want to know more about what’s involved in the New Ground programme? Join our free 30-minute online session. In this intro you’ll:
- Hear how mindfulness can support life after a cancer diagnosis and beyond
- Try a short guided practice in a safe, supportive space
- Learn what to expect from the full New Ground course
- Ask any questions you may have
Register in advance via the link below, after registering you’ll receive a confirmation email with information about joining the session.
Next session TBC
New Ground: Mindfulness for Living Well (MBCR) Course
20th May – 15th July 2026
WITH JAN HAWORTH
Wednesdays 10am-12pm, Epsom, Auckland
Retreat Day: Sat 27th June, 2026
Early bird $675 until 20 April – $725 after
*Payment by instalment available. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss payment options.
Ready to join in?
Enrol here:
New Ground is an 9-week group programme with a full-day retreat, offering time and space to learn mindfulness together in a supportive environment.
An important part of the course is home practice between sessions. We’ll invite you to explore mindfulness for around 20–40 minutes a day, but always in a way that can be adjusted to your health, energy, and life circumstances. Even shorter or more informal practices can be valuable. What matters most is giving yourself the chance to come back to mindfulness regularly, in whatever way is possible for you.
Enrolment Form
Thank you for filling out this form. We understand the personal nature of these questions. Please be assured this information is kept in strict confidence and only seen by your teacher, and will be deleted after the course is completed.
Cancellation policy: We understand that life can be unpredictable, and we aim to be as flexible as possible while also ensuring the smooth operation of our courses. Because group sizes are limited, late cancellations can make it hard to offer your place to someone else and can impact our planning and resources.
More than 30 days’ notice: Full refund less $25 processing fee, or transfer to the next available course.
14-30 days’ notice: Transfer to the next available course, or refund less 25% of course fee.
Less than 14 days’ notice: No refunds, but you may transfer to the next scheduled course.
After the course has started: Please contact us if unforeseen circumstances mean you can’t continue – we’ll assess on a case by case basis.
About New Ground & MBCR
New Ground is our local name for the internationally recognised Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) programme developed by Dr Linda Carlson and Dr Michael Speca at the University of Calgary.
MBCR is an evidence-based group programme that combines mindfulness meditation, gentle movement, and supportive discussion to help people manage stress and improve quality of life during and after cancer treatment — for both those directly affected and their whānau or friends who support them.
MBCR was developed from the pioneering Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme created by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Refined for over two decades, MBCR has been carefully tailored for people affected by cancer, with research showing:
- Less stress and worry, with reduced anxiety, depression, and fatigue
- Better sleep and energy, supporting day-to-day recovery
- Greater balance and resilience, even in challenging times
- Improved overall wellbeing and quality of life
The structured course includes guided practices, gentle movement options for all abilities, group reflection, and a full-day retreat — all designed to encourage home practice and support long-term wellbeing.
The aim of MBCR is to help people not just cope with cancer, but to live well – and thrive – after a diagnosis.
Who is this course for?
New Ground welcomes anyone affected by cancer:
- People currently in treatment who feel well enough to attend and participate
- People post-treatment, whether recent or many years later
- Whānau or friends supporting someone with cancer
If you’re unsure about timing — especially if you’re in active treatment — please feel free to get in touch to talk through whether now is the right time for you.
What to expect
Each session includes:
- Guided mindfulness practices (sitting, lying down, gentle movement)
- Opportunities to reflect and share experiences in a supportive group
- Practical ways to integrate mindfulness into everyday life
FAQs
Can I attend during treatment?
Is mindfulness the same as meditation?
Mindfulness is a way of paying attention that allows us to be present with our experiences, without striving or feeling like we have to change them. Meditation forms part of your mindfulness toolkit and is one way of familiarising and cultivating this type of awareness. The guided ‘home practices’ that you will become familiar with are exercises designed to develop an attentive, open, curious and compassionate attitude to your thoughts and experiences.
Do I need meditation experience?
What if I miss a session?
Life can be unpredicatble. Let me know if you can’t make it — I’ll help you catch up on what you missed.
Is it physically demanding?
No. Any movement is gentle, and you’re encouraged to adapt or rest as needed.
Ready to thrive and live well?
Discover practices that bring calm, connection, and strength.
What's coming up?
Sign up for mindfulness tips and to hear about upcoming mindfulness courses.
Call Us
Email Us
Sustainability statement
We believe personal wellbeing and thriving communities are deeply connected to the health of the planet. For each course we run, we plant native trees in partnership with Trees that Count - helping to restore our forests. Together, let's cultivate mindfulness and a greener future.
© Mindfulness Aotearoa, All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.