Build your personal mindfulness practice, listen to 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 share their love of mindfulness with others.
Students can sign up for 1, 2 or all 4 modules concurrently. Completion of all four modules provides students with an Introduction to Facilitating Mindfulness certificate. Note: Modules 3 & 4 must be taken at the same time.
MindFIT Module 1: Participation
- Build your knowledge, skills, and support your wellbeing by participating in 18 live mindfulness meditation classes with trained and experienced instructors.
- No experience necessary.
- CCR recognition available.
- Mindful Moments Mindfulness Meditation sessions take place Monday – Friday, primarily on campus. Choose from more than 10 weekly sessions.
MindFIT Module 2: Education
- Learn from U of T’s leaders in the field of mindfulness about the history, current issues, benefits and precautions around practicing and facilitating mindfulness meditation.
- No experience necessary.
- Lectures take place via Zoom on Mondays from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. for 2023. Dates listed under the Registration tab below.
MindFIT Module 3: Student Facilitator-In-Training
- Learn how to facilitate mindfulness meditation for your peers, or in your community or work setting. This is an introduction to facilitating mindfulness meditation.
- For students studying social work, counselling, rehab sciences and related fields, this training will augment your professional program of study.
- Module 3 takes place via Zoom on Mondays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. for 2023. Dates listed under the Registration tab below.
MindFIT Module 4: Co-facilitation
- Demonstrate your understanding of a variety of mindfulness meditation styles through facilitating the following practices with your peers alongside a qualified instructor:
- A grounding practice.
- A body scan.
- Silent observation of the breath practice.
- Guided meditation such as loving kindness, the mountain or the lake.
- Moving meditation.
- A short lesson.
- A capstone project.
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Program Eligibility
MindFIT Modules 1-4 are open to all registered students. Read How the Program Works for time commitments and registration information.
All students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate in Module 2 – the MindFIT Lecture Series. See Registration tab below for links to CLNx sign up.
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How The Program Works
MindFIT Module 1
Time commitment: approximately 12 – 18 hours.
- Attend 18 Mindful Moments Mindfulness Meditation sessions between September and March of any one academic year.
- Note: only 6 Mindful Moments Yoga sessions can count towards this total.
- Register to receive updates and encouragement (see Registration tab below).
- Download the Module 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 Module 2
Time commitment: 6 hours
- Register to receive updates and encouragement (see Registration tab below).
- Register for and attend a minimum of 6 MindFIT lectures between September and March of any one academic year (see Registration tab below).
- Download the Module 2 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.
- This module can be completed concurrently with other modules or on its own.
MindFIT Module 3
Time commitment: 6 hours
- Registered U of T students interested in learning to facilitate mindfulness for their peers must demonstrate their capacity to participate through one of the following:
- You have completed MindFIT Module 1 and 2 already OR
- You are registered for Modules 1 and 2 presently and can demonstrate your existing knowledge of mindfulness by completing the MindFIT Mindfulness Meditation Assessment.
- Students must be registered Module 3 and 4 concurrently (see Registration tab below).
MindFIT Module 4
Time commitment: 3 – 4 hours
- Co-facilitation is scheduled online and/or in person around your availability. Some co-facilitation takes place in the Module 3: Facilitator in Training outlined above.
- Students must be registered in Module 3 and 4 concurrently (see Registration tab below).
- Attend 18 Mindful Moments Mindfulness Meditation sessions between September and March of any one academic year.
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Program Registration
MindFIT Module 1
Register for Module 1 and to receive updates and encouragement.
MindFIT Module 2
Register for Module 2 and attend a minimum of 6 lectures listed below to complete Module 2.
Fall 2022 lecture schedule
- What is Mindfulness? on September 26, 2022 from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.
- The Benefits of Mindfulness & Precautions by Professor Ravi Thiruchselvam on October 3, 2022 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Inclusive and Trauma Informed Facilitation in Yoga and Mindfulness on October 24, 2022 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Addressing Cultural Appropriation in Yoga and Mindfulness with Professors Elli Weisbaum and Rose Mina Munjee on November 7, 2022 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Mindful Movement – Adapting our Practices with Bismah Kahlid Registered Occupational Therapist and On Location Accessibility Advisor, Accessibility Services on November 14, 2022 on 5:30 – 6 p.m.
- Mindful Eating on November 21, 2022 from 5:30 – 6 p.m.
Winter 2023 lecture schedule
- Buddhist Roots of Mindfulness on January 30, 2023 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Is This Spiritual? Yoga, Mindfulness & Spirituality on February 6, 2023 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Cultural Appropriation and Appreciative Knowledge: A Panel Discussion on Mindfulness & Yoga on February 13, 2023 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- The Neuroscience of Mindfulness on February 27, 2023 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Decolonizing Wellness Approaches by Being Mindful on March 6, 2023 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Making Mindfulness More Inclusive through Anti-Ableism on March 20, 2023 from 5:30 – 6 p.m.
MindFIT Modules 3 and 4
Applications for winter 2023 are now closed.
To stay up to date on our next MindFIT opportunities, sign up for the Multi-Faith Centre newsletter.
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Considerations & Exceptions
If you are brand new to mindfulness meditation and looking to get involved, please sign up for MindFIT Module 1 to start building your personal practice, before signing up for Modules 3 and 4.
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What Students Are Saying
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I 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