MLY Teacher Certification Year

Stay Tuned (and sign up) for Next Learning Year Dates!

Train to Become a Certified MLP Mindfulness Teacher

Participate Online from Any Location

The multi-faceted and in-depth learning and guidance in the teacher training and certification pathway is directed at supporting graduates to be authentically qualified, caring, and competent to be mindfulness teachers, rather than simply certified.

The essence of the teacher training is gaining a solid working familiarity with and practice of the Mindful Life Program approach to mindfulness and its application for individuals in everyday life. This enables the participants to competently and skillfully introduce Mindful Life Program principles and practices in courses and programs as a certified teacher and compassionately guide learning in mindfulness practices and habits.

The year-long program begins with and includes the MLY Immersion Semester.

“This program is a journey into self that reveals the interconnectedness and value of each of us and all of us as a whole. It can help you define and fine-tune personal values. It teaches a path to wisdom and openheartedness found in a simple, daily commitment to living a mindful life.” – Recent participant

Practice, Insight and Transformation

The MLY Teacher Certification curriculum focuses on key areas of learning and practice, progressing from those directly supporting personal practice and expanding to study the historical and current perspectives of mindfulness and examine discerningly the latest research and documented benefits. Personal learning and first-person observational practice form a core practice for all participants. Through our monthly assignments, participants are introduced to readings and video teachings by a wide range of experts along with experiential learning assignments. The methodology and practice used in the training are based on a robust and coherent body of knowledge drawn from contemplative traditions, modern psychology, and neuroscience. Like any practice, developing competence requires a sound conceptual and practical understanding, as well as personal experience of the underlying theoretical body of knowledge.

Much more than taking a class or attending a retreat, the MLY Teacher Certification offers the personalized guidance and mentoring of experienced instructors and the opportunity to learn along with dedicated peers throughout the semester. The first two months with weekly classes provide a focused time to deepen your practice and anchor your experience of the learning community of peers. Our learning communities are intentionally limited in size. In this way, we provide an opportunity for the group and instructors to develop a close bond and create a supportive and safe environment for learning and growth.

We engage participants with many learning methods that, in combination, create a truly transformational personal experience. Through daily meditation and mindfulness practice and personal reflection, weekly and monthly live online classes and practice sessions, mentoring, peer sharing, and journaling, and monthly readings and assignments, the journey creates a wonderful rhythm supporting insights, knowledge, and growth over the course of the year.

The first semester forms the foundation for continuing into the second semester of teacher training in which participants prepare for and engage in two teaching practicums of eight weeks each. In addition to two personal retreats during the year, there are group retreats with all year-long participants which can be attended online or in person in Carbondale, Colorado. Upon satisfactory completion of the program, teaching candidates will earn certification as a Mindful Life Program Certified Teacher.

Highlights of the MLY Teacher Certification Year

Included in MLY Teacher Certification Year

Weekly live online classes of 3 hours for 8 weeks followed by monthly online classes
Monthly live group discussion and practice sessions
Individual monthly mentoring
Bi-weekly peer meetings
Two group retreats
Transforming to a Mindful Life Companion Journal
Daily Practice Journal
MLP Teacher’s Manual, curriculum, and teaching platform
Two 8-week teaching practicums
Easy online learning platform
Readings, videos, and guided meditations
Membership in the Mindful Life Community™ or Mindfulness in Recovery® Community

Monthly Curriculum Topics

Values
Genuine Happiness
Meditation
Wisdom
Mindfulness in Emotions and Relationships
Myths and Benefits of Mindfulness
Perspectives and Philosophies of Mindfulness

Engaged Learning Through

Daily mindfulness and meditation practices
Live guided meditations
Group dialogue in classes
Self-reflection and journaling
Reading, written, and group assignments
Peer learning and support
Two group and two individual retreats
Teaching practicums

Learn more about the first semester of the year, the MLY Immersion Semester.

Become a Mindfulness in Recovery® Certified Facilitator

MIR Institute Logo Participants in the Teacher Certification pathway can choose to add training and certification as a Mindfulness in Recovery® Certified Facilitator after their training year, which allows them to train in a fully integrated mindfulness program specifically designed for addiction treatment. We offer those who have successfully completed the Training Year to take part in a Mindfulness in Recovery® Facilitator’s Certification through our Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute. The additional training is offered to graduates at a 50% discount. Once completed, participants are listed as both as an MLP Certified Mindfulness Teacher and a Mindfulness in Recovery® Certified Facilitator. Learn more about this training at the Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute. If you have additional questions, please contact us.

Choosing to Engage

The decision to participate in in-depth mindfulness training can have a profound effect on your life and the lives of those around you. Choosing the right mindfulness program for you and at the right time in your life is very important. We encourage you to thoroughly learn about the Mindful Life Program and the MLP Mindfulness Learning Year programs through the website and resources. Through the program information and application process, we strive to ensure the best match for applicants with the program.

Upon Graduation

Our aim is to support participants’ learning to successfully complete the training year and feel confident and capable to facilitate MLP programa. Graduates of the program have been successfully bringing mindfulness training to a wide range of audiences both general and specific. Beyond courses presented to the public, MLP Courses have been taught to medical professionals, educators, mental health providers, law enforcement, emergency dispatchers, addiction treatment professionals, wellness and yoga center clients, and with customizations, to middle and high school students. The 20-hour MLP Mindfulness Foundations Course and Four Keys of Living Mindfully Course have had participants from late teens to adults.

Our deepest wish is that MLP teachers are bringing benefit to and improving the world through their way of being and how they teach these meaningful practices.

Ongoing Support After Certification

After graduation from the training year, MLP Certified Teachers are part of a community with support from the Mindful Life Program and the growing numbers of MLP teachers. Certified Teachers are asked to maintain their certification annually and are supported in many ways. We are committed to supporting teachers through:

Annual MLP Certified Teacher Retreats
Bi-monthly MLP Certified Teacher Online Meetings
Ongoing sharing through our online learning and community platforms
Curriculum updates
Listings of teacher bio and courses on the Mindful Life Program website
Guidance in outreach and opportunities for teaching

Join the MLP Community of Support

The Mindful Learning Year programs are led by instructors Mark Molony and Laura Bartels, with additional instruction by co-founder John Bruna. Mark Molony and Laura Bartels serve as retreat leaders, teachers, and mentors directly throughout the year. Sharing and support by MLP Certified Teachers who have graduated from the program, and by graduates of the Mindfulness in Recovery® (MIR) Facilitator’s Certification for those adding the MIR Certification to a teacher training pathway complements the community of support. MLY participants also become members of the Mindful Life Community™ or Mindfulness in Recovery® Communities, our online membership communities that have engaged members from around the world and offers daily teachings, meditations and guidance.

About the Instructors

Mark Molony

Mark Molony is a co-founder of the Mindful Life Program and a licensed social worker, therapist, and coach. Mark’s intention is to support others in generating new sustainable ways of being in themselves and with others that will encourage genuine happiness in their lives.

Mark lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his wife Toni and his four children Erin, Claire, Matthew and Pat.

Mark first became involved in mindfulness practices and meditation in 2001 when he experienced a major health challenge and looked to support his recovery through mindful awareness practices. Since then, Mark’s learning in mindfulness has grown, as has his practice and experience in teaching mindfulness to others in a range of settings.

Over the last 15 years, Mark has been fortunate to work with a broad range of inspirational friends and clients who have shared their life challenges and their learning with him.

Mark is an engaging and experienced facilitator who loves what he does and derives great joy and gratitude in exploring the mindful life with others.

Mark’s qualifications include a Masters of Social Work, specialist qualifications in counseling psychotherapy, Registered Mental Health Professional, Ontological Coaching Practitioner and a Cultivating Emotional Balance Accredited Teacher.

Laura Bartels

Laura Bartels is the Executive Director of the Mindful Life Program bringing personal and professional training in mindfulness and skills in living a meaningful life to a wide range of audiences. Laura’s experience in teaching spans engagement in public schools, universities, non-profits and professional groups. Laura’s previous professional path brought her to be a leader in the field of sustainable building and community development. In her past efforts throughout the US and with tribal nations, her work of helping people and communities put values into action offered a valuable foundation and perspective on the importance of inner sustainability. Personally and professionally, the skills of living mindfully became an essential part of Laura’s life.

In 2001, after a serious car accident and other significant life challenges, Laura began finding the value of meditation and mindfulness as a way to grow through these challenges. Having the precious gift of studying mindfulness and meditation with a range of highly experienced teachers over the last 18 years, Laura facilitates mindfulness courses and trainings and leads retreats, as well as giving presentations on related topics. She has brought programs to diverse audiences from educators and parents to law enforcement and emergency dispatchers. Laura brings sensitivity to both individuals and groups, and she has been looked to for her calm presence, leadership, and her kindness, and thoughtfulness.

Laura is lives in Carbondale, Colorado with her husband, John Bruna.

What participants have said…

“To spend a year dedicated to practice and deepening understanding of the Mindful Life Program philosophy, practice, and foundations course was truly beneficial. This year allowed me to cultivate healthy habits and tendencies that will be a part of my life from now on. I was most surprised at the support and inspiration that I experienced from the group of peers that I was in the program with. I am continuing to watch my own personal practice deepen and change, and I have my first course scheduled in the next month. I am looking forward to continuing to know this material more through the classes that I instruct. The Mindful Life Foundations Course continues to be the foundation on which my personal practice rests, and now I am honored to include this into what I can offer professionally to people. I am inspired to share this material that has removed much suffering from my own life, and from the lives of so many others.”

“Having the opportunity to participate in the Mindful Life Program Teacher Training has been such a blessing. It has deepened my mindfulness understanding, practice, and skills. Being able to teach this wonderful material has been so meaningful both to me and the students I have been able to share it with. To witness the impact this program has had on my own life and those in the classes has been truly powerful and inspiring. It is the kind of work you feel great doing.”

“Best decision made by myself in a very long time! The experience was more than I could imagine. For years I was quasi living a mindful life via emails, quotes, thoughts, and readings, however, for the teacher training program, I dedicated myself to the practice with all of my heart and soul. And that is when it all came together, with consistent practice and dedication. I’m now able and get to share this with others, and I’m seeing that others want to have what I’ve learned through doing the teacher training program! I’m able to intelligently speak about meditation, living in accordance with my values, making healthy decisions, and about compassion and loving-kindness due to practicing it in my life. This life and the life of those I love and those around me has never been more meaningful thanks to the Mindful Life Program!”

Additional Program Details

Application

The application process includes a written application, interview, and references. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The spaces are allocated on a first-come basis. Space is limited. Participants are selected for admission to the program on the basis of their perceived potential to succeed in their own practice and as a teacher and their dedication to personal growth.

Program Fee

The program fee for the next session will be announced soon. Program cost includes two group retreats, all classes, coursework, program materials, and individual mentoring. The fee also includes membership in the Mindful Life Community™ or Mindfulness in Recovery® Community and a copy of Transforming to a Mindful Life and a Daily Practice Journal.

Pre-Training Year Coursework

Prior to the start of the training year, participation is requested in one course (MLP Foundations Course, Four Keys of Living Mindfully, Mindful Healing or the Mindfulness in Recovery® Course) and the reading assignment of The Wisdom of a Meaningful Life: The Essence of Mindfulness.

Interested in learning more?

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