

Peace - Ease - Joy
Welcome! I'm so glad you have found your way here.
I guess you're curious about learning practices to support you or your workplace, community or sporting team, in cultivating mindful awareness, self-compassion or gratefulness. Qualities that support us to live this precious life, as well, full and flourishing as possible, in each of our unique circumstances.
So, now that you are here, I'd like to introduce myself to you.
And, as I tell you a bit about me, if anything I say sounds boastful, it is not my intention. You see, those who mentor me on the business side of things, tell me its important to let you know about my qualifications and some of my experience. Personally I'd be more comfortable leaving that all aside and simply sharing mindfulness, compassion and grateful living practices with you.
My name is Karen Haddon. I'm an internationally qualified senior mindfulness, meditation, mindful self-compassion, gratefulness gatherings and yoga teacher. Each day, in some way, I practice mindful, compassionate, grateful, yogic living.
I practice and teach because I've personally experienced the profound benefits of living with these practices and qualities interwoven into the fabric of my life. They have helped me to ride the waves of immense suffering from personal tragedy's with grace. Professionally, they allow me to be just as comfortable and authentic sitting in an intimate circle, surrounded by people who are struggling with deep personal suffering, holding safe space so that they can explore how mindfulness, self-compassion and grateful living can soothe their pain and allow them to live with more ease, as I am standing on a stage presenting to and engaging with a large corporate audience or hanging out in the depths of a sports stadium working with elite athletes.
My inspiration to teach evidence based programs and workshops, imbued with the qualities I have mentioned, comes from the transformations I feel privileged to see unfold, some subtle others profound, in those whose courageous hearts, sparked by hope of experiencing positive change, allow them to take the first steps into cultivating mindfulness, compassion and gratefulness. You can see what they've said here. The most incredible thing is that all I really do is sprinkle seeds, teach you how to plant them and support you in nourishing your new garden overtime, so that as each seed is ready, it sprouts new life and begins to flourish within you.
Why might you consider taking a program or workshop with me?
A good question! I would never be so bold or so brave as to teach mindfulness, compassion and grateful living without first taking comprehensive training in delivery of evidence based programs in this space. It is this training, and continuous professional development, that gives me the confidence to know that I am teaching in the most professional and safe way, for the people with whom I engage. The oath, "first do no harm" is profoundly important to me.
Each of my offerings are strongly rooted in the evidence based programs in which I'm formally qualified, including: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR); Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT); Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC); MBSR for Teens; Mindful Schools (US); Mindfulness in Schools Project .B; Positive Neuroplasticity Professional Training; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Circle of Security Parenting (COS); Yoga Teacher Training (500hr); Gratefulness Gathering Host and Feng Shui, the ancient art of creating mindful spaces.
Whether you choose to attend the formal Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction-Perth course with me to support your own wellbeing; an introductory workshop or comprehensive course in Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. to open to the possibilities that abound by intentionally cultivating gratefulness, resilience, awareness, compassion and empathy every day; or you send your teen along to MBSR-T; or engage me to work with your organisation to deliver mindfulness, compassion or gratefulness based training to enhance well-being and performance; whichever you choose, you will experience the true depths of transformation possible in live (in-person or online) mindfulness, compassion and positive wellbeing programs delivered by someone who has immersed herself in mindful, compassionate, grateful, positive living for over 23 years.
I get to work with some great organisations.
I offer programs independently and also support Australia’s top two mindfulness program providers, Openground Mindfulness Training and Smiling Mind, through facilitating courses and workshops on their behalf. In fact, I have delivered workshops both in-person and online to hundreds of organisations, ran programs with teachers from schools across the whole of Australia, from our major cities to remote locations like Alcoota in the NT and Norfolk Island. And I've successfully engaged two Grand Final winning elite sporting teams in mindfulness training. I'm often asked to share my knowledge at conferences and I have also been invited to write mindfulness materials for other providers.
Introduction to Mindfulness
4-Week Course
In-person
HiltonWA
Commences
29 Mar 2023
This 4-week course introduces you to the practice of mindfulness as an inner resource to support you to meet stress, anxiety and overwhelm in ways that allow you to live with more ease. I teach this course on behalf of Openground.
Inspiration and support for you!
Ok, enough about me already. I know you are here to find supportive practices and materials to help you to cultivate positive change of some kind in your own life. To find out what might support you, please take sometime to explore the offerings here and please do reach out if you have any questions and/or would like to chat about whether the program you're considering is right for you at this time.
I genuinely look forward to meeting you.
Immersion in the 8 week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) course in Perth, offers the possibility for you to experience some of the evidence based benefits of MSC as shown in research through the Centre of Mindful Self-Compassion in the US.
This course was created by Dr Kristen Neff and Dr Chris Germer and it is their full program that you will experience with me.
There are three main themes we investigate in Mindful Self-Compassion:
Mindfulness: cultivation of the capacity to be aware of and open to the unfolding of experience, both pleasant and unpleasant, in any moment. Throughout the course we begin to hold gently, kindly and compassionately whatever we are experiencing. Bringing tender care to ourselves.
Common Humanity: this aspect allows for a real felt sense of not being alone in our struggles. Overtime it is possible to acknowledge and believe that we are not alone in whatever it is that is troubling us. A term I like is "just like me". Not matter what I am experiencing there are other humans in this world, "just like me".
Self-Kindness: this is tricky, because we are so often not on our own sides. Instead our inner voices can be incredibly harsh and unwelcoming. In fact, if we spoke to others the way we so often speak to ourselves we'd likely drive people away. Beginning to befriend ourselves, being kind and compassionate to ourselves in the face of everyday challenges, is a key component of living with compassion. When we are kind to ourselves, taking a much friendlier stance towards ourselves, the benefits ripple out to all those around us.
I often say to people that Mindful Self-Compassion, this invitation to take time everyday to nurture and nourish ourselves, is not "self-fish" but rather it is a "self-less" act. For the very reason that the time we spend nurturing and nourishing our own hearts and minds benefits everyone else.
If you are ready to begin to make friends with yourself in a safe and nurturing environment, then joining the MSC 8-week course may be just what you're looking for.
The next Mindful Self-Compassion public course on offer is the 6-Week Short Course in MSC and commences in October, 2023.
For details on how to register, please contact me.
You're also welcome to call and discuss your personal reasons for wanting to do the course and ask any questions you may have.
Immersion in the 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course in Perth, offers the possibility for you to experience some of the health benefits identified through research into MBSR, including: reductions in high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, chronic pain and illness. Improvements in sleep quality, relationships, immune system function, clarity of thought, information processing, ability to regulate emotions, ability to maintain attention and cognitive function.
The next MBSR public course commences on 12 October 2023 and will be held in Wembley on Thursday evening's from 6pm to 8:30pm.
You can find out all you need to know about the course here or you can contact Karen directly to find more about the course.
The full Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course can also be offered for your COMMUNITY GROUP, BUSINESS or SCHOOL either in-person or online. Please be in touch to find out more.
MINDFULNESS BASED STRESS REDUCTION
MINDFULNESS-COMPASSION-GRATEFULNESS
FOR WELLNESS AT WORK
SCHOOLS - BUSINESS - COMMUNITY GROUPS
Karen's workplace wellbeing and performance programs are tailored to meet the well-being needs of your unique workplace culture. Offered both in SCHOOLS and BUSINESS settings, there are a variety of workshop themes to choose from. The emphasis is on gratefulness, resilience, awareness (mindfulness),compassion and empathy practices, for enhancing personal capacities and relationships to cope in a fast paced world, both at work and home.
Full immersion in our workplace programs can lead to enhanced clarity of thought, innovation, creativity, improved attention to detail and productivity, more compassionate and collaborative team work and greater appreciation for all of the gifts of life, including work-life, stemming from an enhanced sense of overall well-being, gained from intentionally interweaving the practices taught, into your workplace culture, as well as personal lives.
Each workshop or program includes education, mindfulness practices, team activities and may include some mindful movement based on yoga practices.
You can choose from:
- Introductory Workshops on Mindfulness - Compassion or Gratefulness - 1 hour
- 4 Week Mindfulness at Work - 1 hour per week
- 8 Week Mindfulness for Finding Work-Life Balance - 1 hour per week
- Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. Introduction - 1.5 hours
- 6 Week Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. Full Program - 1.5 hours per session
- Bespoke workshops to meet your organisation's unique requirements.
LIVING AND LEADING WITH G.R.A.C.E.
Living and leading with G.R.A.C.E. is born from a combination of the practices, teaching’s and science of living a grateful, resilient, aware, compassionate and empathetic life. G.R.A.C.E.ful living invites us to see the beauty in the miniscule moments of life, to feel grateful for the abundance we have, to choose to fully feel, embrace and care for the pain and suffering within ourselves and to see and care for the pain and suffering in others, to give ourselves permission to slow down, to stop rushing, to tap into our own inner resources for strength and resilience.
Living with G.R.A.C.E.fulness is the recipe that allows us to live our best life. As an AFL player I have had the great fortune to mentor calls it, we can become the “best version” of ourselves.
The themes you will explore, experiment with, learn and grow in a Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. workshop, or better still, in the full Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. 6-week program, are:
Gratefulness: living gratefully means we are appreciative of the abundance in our lives in any given moment. The abundance of clean air, fresh water, food, transport, opportunities, people, resources of all kinds, the natural world...Br David Steindl-Rast says "it is not joy that makes us grateful, is if gratefulness that makes us joyful'. When we are grateful, we have a greater sense of ease, satisfaction, appreciation, joy and happiness.
Resilience: we all have an inner well of resiliency resources, sometimes, we need to intentionally ignite or top up the well, perhaps adding new resources. Resiliency allows us to bend with the winds of change, to weather the inevitable storms of life.
Awareness: is possible through mindfulness practices, that is, cultivating present moment awareness, so that you can be awake to and responsive to the whole of your life, with patience, peace, ease and joy.
Compassion: is the capacity to treat yourself and others with understanding, concern and friendliness.
Empathy: is tuning into and understanding other people, it's about conducting yourself with a great sense of emotional intelligence.
The Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. workshops have been received a fantastic response so far:
"We've had really good feedback from our staff about the half day of learning about Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. Karen is an inspirational, authentic speaker who really knows her stuff and easily and gracefully connects with her audience." School Principal 2021
"After Karen spoke at our conference we've had a lot of interest from school leaders wanting to explore different parts of GRACE in more depth with Karen. Many have also asked for Karen to bring Living and Leading with G.R.A.C.E. to their school staff." Conference Organiser 2021
To book me for your school or business workplace, or your community group, please be in touch:
MINDFULNESS IN SPORT
Mindfulness for sport people allows you to enhance your capacity for fine pointed attention and focus. With a regular mindfulness practice it is possible to learn how to stay in the moment of play in the midst of many of the distractions and agitations that may arise in a game.
Mindfulness is the tool that allows you to access flow states. In flow you are performing at your optimal human potential.
Karen has successfully worked with multiple grand final winning elite sport teams. If you would like to find out how to work with Karen, as an individual or a whole team or club, please be in touch.
MINDFULNESS CURRICULA FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
With 1 in 7 Primary school students and 1 in 4 Secondary school students affected by mental health issues in any one year, mindfulness programs in schools help to build capacity in emotional regulation, positive coping, resilience and self-awareness.
Karen has an in-depth knowledge of multiple internationally recognised mindfulness in schools programs and can assist you in choosing the most appropriate mindfulness skills training for the students in your school.
TESTIMONIALS
2020
"Karen is amazing. A true inspiration and so compassionate and gentle with her delivery. I've appreciated the time and feel inspired to continue..."
2020
"I've learnt to slow down, not live so much in fear, to rest, to offer myself self-compassion and how to be really present with my students. "
2021
"Karen's style is perfect for this course and I'm recommending it to everyone. I've become less reactive and now respond to stressful events appropriately." 2021
2021
"I have noticed changes in many areas: work, less tired, more conscious of choices, braver in asking for what I need, more empathetic towards others and more grateful for all that I have." 2021
Organisations Who've Chosen to Work Directly with Karen Haddon
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Openground Mindfulness Training
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Smiling Mind
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zero2hero
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Youth Involvement Council Port Hedland
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Cancer Council WA
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Solaris Cancer Care
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HBF
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Fremantle Council
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Podiatry WA
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Australian Institute of Management
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Bunnings Warehouse O'Connor
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West Australian Cricket Association
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William Langford Community House-Inc
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Fremantle Women's Health Centre
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Department of Justice WA
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Conscious Beginnings
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Flow Wellbeing
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Rio Tinto
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Brentwood Primary School
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Iona Presentation College
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Seton College
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Santa Maria College
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Mazenod College
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Mosman Park School for Deaf Children
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School of Specialised Educational Needs: Behaviour & Engagement (SSENBE)
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St Helena's Catholic Primary School
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Mary MacKillip Catholic Community Primary School
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Catholic Primary Principals Association WA
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West Australian Association of Teaching Assistants
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Curtin Education Conference
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Mind Matters and Kids Matter
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Graduate Teacher Induction Program Staff-Teacher Development - Department of Education WA
Since 2016, in her work with Smiling Mind, Karen has also facilitated mindfulness based workshops and programs with more than 140 small and large business'; teachers from over 150 different schools across Australia and internationally; and 2 AFL teams, who both went on to win their grand finals after adding mindfulness as a key ingredient in their recipe.
In 2019, Karen was part of a research study, where she led a group of Veterans, who were experiencing PTSD, and loved ones of Veterans, in an adapted 10-week version of MBSR. This course was facilitated on behalf of Openground for Organisations in partnership with Open Arms.
"There are tremendous benefits that arise from mindfulness practice, but it works precisely because we don't try to attain benefit.
Instead we befriend ourselves as we are.
We learn how to drop in on ourselves, visit and hang out with awareness"
Jon Kabat Zinn