Meditation Instructor Training for
Non-diet Clinicians
with Jenna Hollenstein
October 21 - December 16, 2024
The program includes 16.5 CPEUs from the Commission on Dietetic Registration
An immersive 9-week online training program conducted live with up to 30 students from around the world!
Research on meditation has shown how changes in the structure and function of the brain alter our physiology and psychology in beneficial ways. Besides lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and cortisol, meditation sharpens interoceptive awareness, the key feature of mindful and Intuitive Eaters.
As a result, practitioners are more conscious of the physical sensations of hunger, fullness, satisfaction, and the full range of their emotions.
This translates into eating primarily for physical hunger, prioritizing satisfaction, sensing and responding to emotional needs as they arise, and an improved relationship with the body and self.
This course is offered to clinicians who wish to begin or deepen their own meditation practice and to skillfully and responsibly offer the practice to those they work with. Specifically, the course has been crafted to integrate meditation with a non-diet, weight-inclusive approach to eating, wellbeing, and body image.
Testimonials
Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD
Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD
Carrie Schimmelpfennig, MS, RD, LD, CEDS
qualifications
The primary qualification to teach well is to practice well. This special program will support you to both deepen your own practice and understand the special nuances involved in offering it to others.
becoming a meditation instructor
Becoming a meditation instructor can be of great benefit to your clients, students, or patients—and, of course, to yourself. Even if you never teach a single person to meditate, your own personal practice will already benefit those around you. If you do choose to teach, you will be offering your students a life-changing method of working with their emotions, thoughts, and bodies that will accompany them the rest of their lives.
How does the program work?
This program is not self-guided. It is live, online. You are not left on your own with a bunch of videos and instructions for how to use the material.
Each Monday we gather live from 10 am ET – 12 pm ET via Zoom to discuss that week’s content. New material will be presented and followed by q&a, discussion, and breakout groups. Each week, you will receive homework comprising readings, writing prompts, and most importantly your own personal meditation practice. Homework is to be posted to our private, members-only forum before the next Monday class.
On Thursdays there are optional “office hours” from 11 am ET – 11:30 am ET.
Beginning in Week Five of the program and for each session thereafter, students will break into pairs to practice offering meditation instruction to one another.
Between Weeks Seven and Nine, each student will meet with me two times to give meditation instruction, receive personal feedback, and touch base on any questions about your personal practice.
During the final class there will be a test called a Warrior’s Circle. All of the test questions are provided to you the first week of class so there is plenty of time for review. You’ll be asked to prepare to answer all of the questions in your own words even though, during the Warrior’s Circle, you will be asked to answer just one question picked at random.
Please note: Attendance at Monday classes is mandatory. You may miss one class (except for the first or last class). If you foresee a problem with this, let me know ASAP so we can figure it out together.
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Classes will be held on nine consecutive Mondays from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET.
Each class is recorded.
There will be eight optional office hours on Thursdays from 11:00 am – 11:30 am ET. This is a chance to discuss your practice, share reflections about the homework, and ask questions.
The time commitment is approximately:
18 hours of in-person class time
4 hours of optional office hours
16 hours of independent writing and reading for homework
A personal meditation practice that begins with 10 minutes per day and gradually increases to 30 minutes per day by the end of the program
If you foresee a conflict, please email me before completing an application. If necessary, you may miss one class, however the first and last classes may not be missed. Use The Time Zone Converter to see what time the class is held in your city. You can use New York as the class location.
October 21 - December 16, 2024
Course Dates
9 Monday Classes from 10 am - 12 pm ET
October 21
October 28
November 4
November 11
November 18
November 25
December 2
December 9
December 16
8 Thursday Check-ins from 11 am - 11:30 am ET
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
November 21
November 28
December 5
December 12
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—Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD
“This practice has been a great tool in my work with clients who are experiencing challenges with food and body image. Jenna offers a wealth of knowledge and creates a safe space both in supervision sessions and her support groups, creating an environment that connects people and fosters insightful conversation. I highly recommend all of Jenna's training sessions, supervision opportunities, and support groups.”
9 Week Curriculum
WEEK 1: Introduction
Program Orientation
Learn the three-tiered learning objectives for our time together
The underlying “view” of the course
Why teaching meditation is so complementary to our work as non-diet clinicians
Learn about the technique known as shamatha-vipashyana (an open-eye breath awareness practice), what it is and isn’t
We will practice meditation together
WEEK 2: Entering the Path
The Philosophy and Principles of Mindfulness
Three different levels of emphasis in the meditation practice
How we hold our mind
We will identify the three most common obstacles to meditation practice
How obstacles are to be regarded as teachers
How to apply their antidotes skillfully
WEEK 3: Keeping it Genuine
Focusing on the Basics
We identify how this ultimately translates to working with our clients to prioritize their most basic biological and emotional needs.
We discuss how to create a strong personal practice by connecting with the three jewels (Buddha, dharma, sangha), by reframing the concept of discipline, and by developing a special routine to keep your practice sacred rather than self-help
WEEK 4: Opening Your Heart
We Delve into the Heart Opening
understanding the brain’s structural and functional changes
connecting with what is known as the four immeasurables:
lovingkindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity
We will discuss a modification for working with strong emotion
We will learn the basics of trauma-sensitive mindfulness with opportunities for further study
WEEK 5: Turning Your Practice Outward
Learn How to Prepare to Give Meditation Instruction
Letting go of expectations and tending to the needs of your students
We will begin to provide meditation instruction to one another in special breakout dyads
WEEK 6: Sharing the Practice with Authenticity
How to Protect the Transmission Quality of Shamatha-Vipashyana
Using your own words and connecting to the practice authentically
How to create an appropriate teacher-student relationship
How to create a trauma-sensitive container for teaching
Students will break into dyads and practice providing meditation instruction to one another
WEEK 7: Incorporating Meditation and Mindfulness Skillfully
Break down the practice side of offering meditation instruction as part of your non-diet clinical work
When to offer it.
How to offer it.
How to support your clients to develop their own sustainable personal meditation practice
how to help your clients connect the dots between the work you are doing together and the work they are doing with their own minds on the meditation cushion
Students will break into dyads and practice providing meditation instruction to one another
WEEK 8: Teaching Meditation to a Wider Audience
How to Prepare for and Give a Talk about Meditation (and non-diet work) to a Small Group
This skill gives you the opportunity to increase your reach
Help others make the connection between meditation and mindfulness and the work we do with food and our bodies
Students will break into dyads and practice providing meditation instruction to one another
WEEK 9: Warrior’s Circle
Our Final “Exam” — though it is likely very different from any other exam you’ve done
Each student will be asked a question pulled from a hat – from a list of frequently asked questions that you receive at the beginning of the course (yes, you get the questions and the answers to the final exam before you even begin)
Though you’ll have prepared to answer all of the questions, you’ll only have to answer the one that is pulled for you during the warrior’s circle
We’ll close out the program with a discussion of what you’re taking with you and how to stay connected
Questions ?
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The total time commitment is approximately:
- 18 hours of in-person class time
- 4 hours of optional office hours
- 16 hours of independent writing and reading for homework
- A personal meditation practice that begins with 10 minutes per day and gradually increases to 30 minutes per day by the end of the proEach week, plan on 2 hours of class and approximately 2 hours of independent work/reading. Your personal practice will increase from 10 minutes per day at the beginning of the course to 30 minutes per day by the end of the course.
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This course will prepare you to start or deepen your own personal meditation practice so that it is sustainable and supportive of your life. And you will learn how to teach meditation to the people you work with, including being able to transmit the technique in your own words while maintaining its integrity, answering the most commonly asked questions about a meditation practice, and supporting clients as their practice deepens.
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The technique we will be practicing and learning to teach is shamatha-vipashyana meditation or “the practice of tranquility.” It is an open-eye breath awareness technique that consists of stilling the body, feeling the breath, and letting the mind be as it is. You will receive complete meditation instructions, suggestions for troubleshooting posture issues, and extensive guidance on deepening your connection with the technique, both for yourself and for those you work with.
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That is totally fine but in this course we will be practicing the shamatha technique. At the end of the course you’ll be qualified to teach that technique only.
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We do not offer refunds so if this is a concern, please reach out before applying to discuss this personally with Jenna. Email her at jenna@jennahollenstein.com
Bonus Material
A 63-page workbook
What happens when the program ends?
It’s not goodbye! A free monthly peer supervision group will be available to continue the connection with Jenna and your fellow students and to discuss both your personal practice and your professional offering of meditation.
CPEUs
The program includes 16.5 CPEUs from the Commission on Dietetic Registration
WHO IS THIS TRAINING FOR?
This program has been created for beginner or seasoned meditators who practice in the non-diet space. The first half of the program focuses on your personal practice, while the second half expands to focus on teaching responsibly. You’ll learn how to offer meditation instruction to the people you work with confidently, compassionately, and skillfully. And you’ll gain skills to integrate the philosophy of mindfulness with recovery and body image work.
This program is not about becoming a spiritual guide, but about learning to impart this ancient technique (backed by scientific research, of course) responsibly, kindly, and intelligently in the context of a non-diet approach.
WHAT KIND OF MEDITATION WILL I BE LEARNING?
The technique we will be practicing and learning to teach is shamatha-vipashyana meditation or “the practice of tranquility.” It is an open-eye breath awareness technique that consists of stilling the body, feeling the breath, and letting the mind be as it is. You will receive complete meditation instructions, suggestions for troubleshooting posture issues, and extensive guidance on deepening your connection with the technique, both for yourself and for those you work with.
WHAT WILL I GAIN?
A strong and sustainable personal meditation practice
A sense of where you are on your unique spiritual journey
An understanding of the guiding view principles of mindfulness and awareness to deepen your personal understanding and connection to the spiritual path
Familiarity with key Buddhist teachings about meditation
A skillset that will differentiate you from others in your field
The knowledge of how to offer meditation instruction responsibly, including setting appropriate boundaries, understanding what it can and cannot help with, and how best to support others as their practice develops
The ability to answer the most frequently asked questions about meditation
A sense of community with your teacher and fellow students
Knowledge about what makes a meditation practice sustainable for yourself and others
Insight into keeping the practice sacred (rather than self-help)
Practice giving the instruction and receive feedback
A certificate acknowledging your successful completion of this program as a trained meditation instructor
Ongoing monthly peer supervision with Jenna and your fellow students to discuss your personal practice and to offer support in your professional meditation offerings
What’s the cost?
$995.00 Early Bird price (until November 18, 2024)
$1195.00 thereafter (starting November 19, 2024)
Limited to 30 people.
Payments may be made in 3 installments.
All payments to be received in full by the first class date.
Once accepted, applicants must pay within 10 days
to secure their spot in the program.
Apply here:
S C H O L A R S H I P S
We are offering 2 full scholarships to the program.
Program Materials:
You will have access to all class materials (class page, videos, forum) for 90 days.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jenna@jennahollenstein.com.
Refund Policy:
Please note: Our refund policy is very strict.
Since attendance is limited, there are
no full or partial refunds offered.
Your Teacher
The program was created by Jenna Hollenstein, also a registered dietitian, and tailored to the needs of other RDs. Jenna has been a registered dietitian for more than 20 years and a meditator for more than 14 years. She’s also a certified Intuitive Eating counselor, a meditation teacher, an author, and a nutrition therapist who uses a combination of mindful eating, Intuitive Eating, and meditation to work one-to-one with clients struggling with chronic dieting, disordered eating, and body image disturbances. Participants in this program will gain the necessary skills to teach the meditation technique clearly, answer the most frequently asked questions with confidence, and gain insight into the teacher-student relationship. They will also learn how to integrate the practice into their work as non-diet dietitians. This program is not about becoming a spiritual guide, but about learning to impart this ancient technique (backed by scientific research, of course) responsibly, kindly, and intelligently in the context of a non-diet approach.