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Detailed List of Retreats

Change Your Mind - A Mindfulness Retreat

Teacher: Mark Joseph
Cost: 2 days accommodation + R400 surcharge
Dates: Friday 30 May 2025 - Sunday 01 June 2025

mark josephIn the 1980’s Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn brought mindfulness into western medical focus. He was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism at the time and wanted to introduce his eastern learnings into a secular western framework. He was highly successful, and his work spread worldwide from the university of Massachusetts USA in the form of MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). His definition: ‘Mindfulness can be cultivated by paying attention, in a particular way, on purpose and in the present moment, with three attitudes of  non-reactivity, non-judgement and open heartedness’ became the cornerstone of a Mark Joseph's work. He found it wasn’t about converting South Africans to Buddhism but sharing the heart of practices that transformed his mind and heart. Mark became fascinated with the collaboration of HH The 14th Dalai Lama and science, especially with the work of neuroscientist Richard Davidson and author Daniel Goleman. Mark has been running mindfulness workshops for many years incorporating neuroscience and performance psychology. In 2016 he created the ‘Mindfulness teacher training program’ and in 2018 it was introduced into RMB bank to train wellness ambassadors. During the pandemic this program spread to the entire First Rand organisation as well as ABSA and DHL. Mark has pioneered the growth of mindfulness not only in the corporate world but also in training psychologists and individuals in mindful therapy.

The essence of this program will be shared in this 2-day retreat and combines key points around how mindfulness contributes to:
- Focus and attention management
- Stress Management
- Insight and Innovation
- Psychological safety
- Emotional Intelligence
- Self compassion
- Empathy
- Wisdom

Experience the merging of the eastern and western forms of mindfulness to provide you with an evidence-based approach to cultivating a daily practice and how this will affect your positive mental well-being.

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Mark Joseph is truly grateful to have been part of the shift in the world of mental health from reactive to pro-active. His training is in mindfulness, neuroscience and positive psychology - which he brings into his teachings. Living in a Buddhist temple for 3 years and backpacking the Himalayas was life-changing and encouraged his love of ancient systems for building resilience and tenacity. His journey with his own struggles with mental health began at a young age, with daily panic attacks - fuelled by the suicide of his father due to ill mental health. By using pro-active techniques of mental wellness and mindfulness, his life stabilised and improved. This approach became his passion and led to his teaching and speaking on the subject as far back as 2001. In 2018 Mark took the leap from Managing Director of an advertising agency to become a full time mental health speaker and facilitator. In a few short years he has been instrumental in the change in culture in large corporations and his role has also expanded to wellness strategist and advisory. Mark truly believes that we can change the world, one liberated mind at a time.