Testimonials

“An incredible, meaningful and transformational programme with stunning programme design, knowledge, and delivery. Highly recommend.”

“Super grateful for my experience with Jan getting through the 8-week MBSR program. Her expertise and guidance helped me and the group to improve our ability to cope with stressful situations with better tools. Everyone should be benefiting from this program!
It was an impulsive decision as I was overthinking it, but it was obviously a good gut-feeling! In case you doubt it, ATTEND IT! No regrets, believe me. 
Just a side note, the program doesn’t just finish after 8 weeks (so money is well invested). Again, thank you team for this short but pleasant enlightenment journey.”

“I loved the 8 week MBSR course I did with Jan through Mindfulness Aotearoa. Jan was kind and patient as she led us through 8 weeks of mindfulness, learning how to be more present in our lives, not brushing over the hard stuff in our lives but learning to be with it, whatever that looks like, which in turn made me feel stronger and learn that I can deal with life’s ups and downs by being present to them. I cannot recommend this course highly enough. Jan was supportive and available and gently guided us through the material. The day retreat was a total highlight. This will change your life for the better!!”

“I’d recommend this to anyone wanting down-to-earth tools to help them improve their relationship with difficult feelings. No silver bullets, no gimmicks, and free of religious undertones. I was suggested to do MBSR by my psychologist and my main hesitation was whether Mindfulness Aotearoa were a good outfit. I had Jan as facilitator and she’s excellent, I want to say flawless, in how she delivered the course.“

“Through this course I learnt to respond to things and not to react. I feel calmer, more focussed and more about to cope with stress. This course has both big and small tips to be mindful and be in the moment. It helped me a great deal in managing my thoughts and situations. Highly recommend.”

“I have found that living in the moment has opened up so much time for me. Life is so busy, and I used to spend so much time overthinking the past and the future, and then trying to distract myself by watching tv and spending time on my phone. I really am living in the moment and I have found time to do some of the things that I have wanted to do for so long.”

“At the very beginning this course struck a chord with me. I wish I had done this 2-3 years ago, I would have been in a better place mentally. Work / life balance is so important which this course has provided with being kind to yourself. Thank you so much Jan for taking the course. Very enjoyable.”

“I’ve gained insight into how I respond and ways to manage my response, and I’m less reactive. I’m feeling calmer and more in control of my mind. I listen more to understand the other person. I’d recommend this course to anyone who wants to understand their own mind and thought processes and get more control in their life.”

“This course was like a treasure box of insight each week. Learning that mindfulness is not about fixing anything was a revelation. I’m using what I learnt each day in many different settings. It’s been particularly helpful at helping me learn to be kinder to myself & others. Family and friends tell me I’m calmer, striving less and smiling more. Jan puts in so much work & brings so much kindness & generosity to the experience you can’t help but want to learn from her.”

“This is a great practical course that brings together many components of mindfulness into a concise and user-friendly toolbox that anyone can easily learn and use, without feeling overwhelmed.”

“This is a welcoming and beneficial course. There are a number of tools that I have been able to add to my kete. I felt supported every step of the way. I know I’ll be able to take my learnings and continue to practice mindfulness in my daily life. Everything was wonderful, thank you so much.”

“This is an opportunity to get to know yourself more and to get tools to assist you in your daily living – to be the person you are meant to be. I really appreciated and valued the professional leadership. Outstanding commitment.”

“If you’re losing the battle with your own mind, finding yourself losing control and acting out of proportion, do this course!”

“Thank you, it’s [the course] been worth every cent and I’m so glad that I’ve been able to be part of it. You and your course came into my life just at the right time! I feel so much more settled coming out the other side of this course as to when I came into it, so thank you again for all you’ve done.”

“Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 8 week course was the best birthday present ever for me. I have learnt so much about managing my stress and anxiety during the course. The tools and techniques are clearly explained and practiced during the session making home practice easy to do with the recordings provided. A very useful course for anyone wanting to improve their overall quality of their life and their relationships. Highly recommend! Can’t wait for the next one day silent retreat course. Thank you Jan :)”

“Thank you so, so, so much Jan for the course and your stunning teaching. The class has been so practical and has helped me so much in such a strong way. Forever grateful!”

“An 8-week course, with the amount of hours of practice and class time required is not easy for people to take on. Yet it allows one to delve into the experience and experience what this new practice entails and what benefits it has to offer. You would not get this immersion and experience from a shorter course. On that basis, I would highly recommend it. It was presented in an easily accessible way. There is nothing about it that you won’t understand, nothing that will clash with your religion or culture. And it will provide you with a toolkit of practices to support you in everyday life, in the good days and the bad days.”

“Since doing the course, my life has improved beyond measure. Paradoxically, being encouraged to carve out time that was just for me has made me a better mother, wife and clinician. I’m less rattled by the day-to-day stresses of my life.”

“This course is amazing. To be able to retrain your brain from always being on auto-pilot to taking a mindful minute or a 20 minute body scan is something you can do everyday. The results of my survey before and after the course was a complete 180 and I truly did notice the difference. Thanks, Jan – I highly recommend this course!”

“I feel empowered to use the techniques taught at the course – these are tools which have helped me to “take time out” and re assess situations and gain meaning from experiences. This course has also helped me to relax, sleep better and be more energised and organised.”

“MBSR has helped me to take control of my work/life balance and manage myself better, therefore reduce stress and have more energy.”

“I now have so many helpful tools. I have become more aware of my thoughts, and how to respond in a healthy manner. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and highly recommend.”

“This course was excellent. I learnt to look after my body and mind and to take time to relax. It helped me to understand myself and how to face difficult situations. I now have a better quality of life: work and home.”

“What an amazing course, I highly recommend! I have walked away with valuable tools I will use throughout my life. Thank you!”

“Jan’s course was my first introduction to Mindfulness and it is a terrific course. Thoughtful, well laid out and pragmatic. It’s a secular course that focuses on learning practical principles you’ll find applicable to your daily life. Many thanks Jan! Highly recommended!”

“Jan Haworth, who facilitated the course, was an amazing leader. I also valued the support of the group and have noticed changes in my life as a result of the discipline of daily meditation and the use of the practical tools provided in the course. I have no hesitation in recommending the eight-week course.”

“Very very helpful course, Jan the instructor is very professional and knowledgeable, and very caring and thoughtful. She offered lots of extra-curricular support and communication pre, during, and post course. In addition to the valuable learning, I especially enjoyed the opportunities connect in a relaxed and un-intrusive way with other participants who shared similar circumstances, and the beautiful space the course was held in.”

“I am so glad that I found this course, it was the best gift I could have given myself to set up for 2020. I now have a greater understanding of the importance of being present with myself and my experiences, interrupting my autopilot and not always being in a mad state of doing and distraction!
Becoming aware of our inner dialogue is a powerful tool to start making the changes we want to see in our life. Jan is such a warm and caring person who has so much knowledge and she imparts this practice professionally and with a sense of fun. I wholeheartedly recommend jumping into mindfulness!”

“I just completed the 8 week mindfulness course and I can’t recommend it enough. It helped me so much with my sleep and being more present. Jan is a fantastic instructor too.”

“The 8 week MBSR course is exceptional. Jan is a wonderful facilitator with a rare ability to hold space for all feelings, experiences and difficulties that students bring to class. Highly recommended.”

“I can’t speak highly enough about Jan Haworth and Mindfulness Aotearoa. The MBSR programme is a great combination of teacher led and home activity. A year later I regularly practice mindfulness and feel the benefits in mind and body. Over the years I’d heard but not accepted the benefits of mindfulness, when in fact there is a great deal of clinical evidence to support the practice. Love it!!”

“Dianne and Jan are amazingly skilled women who make mindfulness practice accessible for everyday life. I looked forward to the training every week and found that I benefitted in my personal life as as well as professionally in my work as a psychologist. I’ve also attended lots of the silent retreat days and found these great ‘top-ups’ of practice and sooo good for my well-being. Thank you both so much.

Highly recommend this course and the retreat days to people looking for some high quality self-care as well as for improving their professional skills.”

“I was alone feeling sorry for myself, aging daily, separated from my wife,  in the midst of fearless rains and rampant Covid, depressed about where the back end of life was leading.   And then with a recommendation, I signed on to an online introductory course with Dianne. It was serendipitous. Genuine and enlightening. Thoughtful. Friendly. Challenging. A success.  Life in the moment. I remain most grateful. The follow-ups added more positive outreach, understanding. Jan’s and Dianne’s observations were articulated with grace and sincerity but without notice, badgering or solicitation.  And not a quest for fees, nor a search for attention. I’m waiting less for tomorrow, whilst appreciating the present more.”

“I have found the course and practice making a big difference to my wellness and sense of calmness. My sister, who I am very close to, has also commented that she has noticed a real difference in my overall demeanour too. So it has been very helpful for me and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have done the course and the benefits I continue to enjoy. ”

“The MBSR course was genuinely life-changing for me.”

“This course showed me mindfulness is possible, useful, and not scary! It gave me a solid foundation and practical tools to manage stress, be more present, and listen to myself without judgment. I now have simple techniques I can use every day to feel calmer and more in control.”

“This course showed me what mindfulness really is—not just what you get on apps. I learned that practice doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to ‘achieve’ a state of mind to feel the benefits. I now have a better way to deal with challenges and stay present in daily life.”

“I’d definitely recommend this course. It changed my relationship with stress and emotions. It taught me how to truly listen—to myself, my body, and my emotions—without getting lost in the mental noise. The weekly strategies built my confidence, making mindfulness feel achievable, even on busy or difficult days.“

“I’d encourage you to be open minded and give this a go. Let go of expectations as best you can for the 8 weeks and see where you are come the end of it. Chances are you’ll be pleasantly surprised!“

“This course has enabled me to be more aware of the internal conflict, struggle and given me permission (as well as tools) to be kind, be present. I am feeling lighter and more confident to embrace the path ahead. Thank you.“

“I have found so much benefit from learning the skills during the course. It has allowed me to live more in the moment not worrying about what may lie ahead. I feel much more at peace. Communication and follow-ups have been excellent. The material was presented in a gentle, nurturing environment in a very sensitive way. Jan has a beautiful, engaging personality that made the course very enjoyable.“

“This course helps understanding and accepting yourself, and with accepting and interacting with others. I had great insights and learnt many skills.“

“I’ve learnt to be in the present and it has helped so much. As the weeks past I definitely felt more comfortable in the group setting and it has been such a great benefit. I feel far more relaxed. This course has helped me so much, beyond words.“

“Jan’s style of communication creates a sense of calmness and safety very quickly, allowing me to let go and engage honestly. I have been able to go ‘deeper’ than I would have on my own. Meditating in a group also had lots of benefits.“

“Don’t wait until the bad things happen to you and then decide to learn and practice mindfulness. You might not be able to handle those challenges without resilience. Learn it now!“

“From a learning perspective it’s something unique and worth trying. Being more in touch with yourself will influence everything around you, everything is connected. Flow on effect.“

“This course teaches great tools to have in your tool box for life.“

“This is an essential programme to prepare people to navigate life’s ups and downs skilfully. Wish I had done it at school age.“