Build your personal mindfulness practice, learn from experts in the field of mindfulness, and learn how to facilitate mindfulness meditation for your peers. This is a great program for students who wish to deepen their practice and/or share their love of mindfulness with others.
Students can sign up for 1, 2 or all 3 levels concurrently. Completion of all three levels provides students with an Introduction to Facilitating Mindfulness certificate.
MindFIT Level 1: Participation
Open to all students
- Build your knowledge and skills, and support your wellbeing by participating in 18 live mindfulness meditation classes with trained and experienced instructors.
- No experience necessary.
- CCR recognition available.
- From September to March, Mindful Moments Mindfulness Meditation sessions take place Monday to Friday, primarily in person with some virtual. Reduced schedule for spring and summer. Search for Mindful Moments sessions on Folio.
Time commitment: approximately 12 – 18 hours
- Attend 18 Mindful Moments Mindfulness Meditation sessions between September and March of any one academic year.
- It is ideal to attend all 18 sessions over a 3-8 month period for the greatest benefit and learning.
- Download the Level 1 attendance and reflection form (DOCX) and make sure to:
- Read the instructions.
- Record participation.
- Answer the reflection questions.
- Submit to laurena.brown@utoronto.ca once completed to receive CCR recognition.
- Begin any time.
- This module can be completed concurrently with other modules or on its own.
MindFIT Level 2: Education
Open to all students, staff and faculty
- Learn about the history, current issues, benefits and precautions around practicing and facilitating mindfulness meditation.
- CCR recognition available.
- Students are required to complete 6 lectures and reflections.
- Asynchronous and synchronous online options.
Time commitment: 6-8 hours
- Register for and attend a minimum of 6 MindFIT live lectures between September and March of any one academic year OR complete the asynchronous Mindfulness Lecture Series launching summer 2024. Go to Program Registration section.
- This level can be completed concurrently with other levels or on its own.
Register for the asynchronous summer option for Level 2.
Register for the Live via Zoom Lecture Series running in Fall 2024 and register for each individual lecture on Folio to get the lecture link:
- September 24: Anti-Ableism in Facilitating Mindfulness
- October 1: Socially Engaged Buddhism
- October 8: Trauma-Informed Facilitation
- October 22: Foundations of Buddhism
- November 5
- November 19
MindFIT Level 3: Student Facilitator-In-Training
Open to all students
- Learn how to facilitate mindfulness meditation for your peers, your community, or for your work setting. This is a great program for students who wish to learn about mindfulness, deepen their practice and/or share their love of mindfulness with others. For students studying social work, counselling, rehab sciences and related fields, this training will augment your professional program of study.
- *Levels 1 & 2 must be completed concurrently or prior to taking Level 3.
- CCR in Introduction to Facilitating Mindfulness Meditation is available for students who complete all 3 levels.
- Training is held online.
Time commitment: 6 training hours plus 1-2 hours independent work
NOTE: Levels 1 & 2 must be completed concurrently or prior to taking level 3. Exceptions may be possible for students for whom their lived experience(s) or formal program of study have provided ample knowledge. If you feel this is the case, contact laurena.brown@utoronto.ca to discuss further.
- Apply for Level 3 (see Registration tab below).
- Attend 6 training sessions.
- Demonstrate all required facilitation skills in class.
- Complete the capstone project.
Registration for Level 3 is closed. Recruitment for the winter term opens in December 2024.
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Considerations & Exceptions
If you are brand new to mindfulness meditation and looking to get involved, please sign up for MindFIT Level 1 to start building your personal practice, before signing up for Levels 2 and 3.
Participants with lived experience/ample knowledge may be exempted from MindFIT Levels 1 and 2, and move on directly to Level 3.
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What Students Are Saying
RATE
US2 votesI felt very safe in this environment. [The facilitator’s] teaching really encouraged me to speak up in discussions (which I rarely do) and I felt comfortable to ask questions. I found this experience very enriching and I can confidently come out of this program saying that I do feel more equipped to facilitate a mindfulness meditation session.
MindFIT Participant
MindFIT helped prepare me to facilitate a mindfulness cognitive therapy group through my practicum. I believe that without MindFIT, I would've lacked the confidence and knowledge.
MindFIT Participant
I plan on taking the skills I have learned to lead mindfulness check-ins before meetings start at my full-time job. I feel more confident reading and presenting/leading sessions now that I have gone through MindFIT.
MindFIT Participant