Institute for Mindfulness-Based Approaches

MBSR Teacher Training

From the beginning of its first MBSR teacher training program in 2002, the IMA has offered a cohort-oriented model. That means that students start together and train together throughout the entire duration of a program. This allows for continuity, building of close relationships among teachers and students, a developmental approach that emphasizes depth. Students have clarity about the training path and continual access to trainers and fellow students. We believe this kind of training is the most conducive to a nurturing of mindfulness teachers.

Over 70 MBSR teacher-training programs have taken place since the IMA’s founding in 2001.

Important to know about our registration process:

Registration for the MBSR teacher-training program is generally only possible after an orientation (either online or live) has taken place. If you cannot attend an orientation, please contact us to discuss alternatives. The same is true if the orientation has already taken place. In both cases it is still possible to apply to the program.

What to expect during the training program

We offer two training programs that lead to certification as an MBSR teacher.

One program, currently offered in English in Norway, includes training as a teacher in MBSR & MBCT.

Our other program (currently offered in France (in French) and Poland (in Polish) is exclusively an MBSR teacher training. We also offer the same program in German in several locations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

The MBSR teacher training consists of eight modules totaling ca. 28 days that take place over the course of approximately 1.5 years. The MBSR- MBCT training consists of 7 modules totaling 27 days over ca. 1.5 years.

During this time, you will intensively practice the main exercises of the program (body scan, mindful movement, especially gentle yoga, sitting and walking meditation) and learn how to teach them to others. You will also learn all the other exercises of the program as well as how to teach the themes of each session. Further you will practice and learn to teach communication skills vital to mindfulness teaching, including what is called Inquiry, or Mindful Dialogue.

Exploring your role as an MBSR teacher is a core element of the training program. Because teaching a mindfulness-based approach is so intimately connected with a teacher’s embodiment of mindfulness, we spend a good deal of time looking at and working with all the aspects of this.

We support you in sharing your experiences with your colleagues once the training program is finished because this can be an important resource for you and a forum to discuss your future work as a teacher.

The teacher-training program will fully prepare you to teach MBSR and/or MBCT by yourself (or with another person if you so choose). The practically oriented learning units, combined with the individual mentoring by an experienced teacher as well as the nurturing of one’s own meditation practice, build a three-pronged approach that has been shown to be highly supportive to trainees.

The information packet includes detailed information about dates, course fees, seminar venue, faculty members and the curriculum of each training module.

Information about the orientation seminar and a registration form are also part of the packet.

Please see or download the packet for the training program you are interested by clicking below:

MBSR Dates and Seminar Locations

Requirements for the MBSR teacher-training program

Professional training in fields such education, health care, mental health, physical rehabilitation, arts therapies, social work, pastoral care, coaching, human resources and related professions (Exceptions may be possible. Please check with us).
Experience in mindfulness meditation before starting the teacher-training program.is necessary. This includes experience in, for example: Vipassana, Zen, Shambhala, Dzogchen, Contemplation, Mindfulness and other traditions that include mindfulness meditation as a core practice)
Participation in at least one 5-day silent retreat, led by a qualified meditation teacher approved by the IMA. The retreat needs to be completed at the latest by the beginning of the third module of the training program
Participation in an 8-week MBSR course is required. This must be completed before the program begins or within the first three months after the program has started. Online options are available if live attendance is not possible, but they must be discussed with and approved by the IMA.
We strongly recommend you take part in an orientation workshop (either live or online) when possible. Please see the dates on our web site. If you cannot take part, please contact our office and we can suggest alternatives.

In addition:

We ask you

to maintain a regular meditation practice, practicing daily.
Be at least 30 years of age (exceptions are possible subject to prior consultation)
Have some experience in mindful bodywork, such as Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, Pilates, etc.

How to register and/or receive Information about our training programs

By pressing the "Read More" button under each country, you will be directed to a page that provides more information, including downloading of a detailed description of the program as well as registration forms.

We have also listed contact persons who live and work in each country and are native speakers.

Countries in which we are currently offering trainings:

Germany (International)

France

Poland

Norway

Japan

Turkey

MBSR Teacher Training

Germany (Near Berlin)

International MBSR Teacher Training in English

The IMA is offering an MBSR teacher training near Berlin beginning in Late Fall 2019

The training is taught in English

FRANCE (Deux Sevres)

The IMA is offering a MBSR teacher training in Deux Sevres cooperation with the French Institute for Mindfulness beginning in November 2021

The training is taught in part in French and in English with complete translation into French

POLAND (Warsaw)

The IMA offers an MBSR teacher training in Warsaw in cooperation with the Polish Institute for Mindfulness, beginning September 2021

The program is offered in English with complete translation into Polish.

NORWAY (Oslo)

The IMA offers an MBSR teacher training in Oslo in cooperation with the Norwegian Institute for Mindfulness, beginning February 2022

The program is offered in English.

JAPAN (Tokyo)

The IMA offers an MBSR teacher training in Tokyo in cooperation with the Japenese Institute for Mindfulness, beginning September 2021

The program is offered in English with complete translation into Japanese.

TURKEY (Istanbul)

The IMA offers an MBSR teacher training in Istanbul in cooperation with the Turkish Institute for Mindfulness, beginning November 2021

The program is offered in English with complete translation into Turkish.