An interpretative phenomenological study exploring the lived experiences of participation in a mindfulness and compassion course

The aim of this study was to examine the lived experience of an eight week or equivalent three–four day mindfulness and compassion course using participant diary entries to explore participant’s thoughts, feelings and emotions during the course. Sixteen participants (n = 14 females, n = 2 males; age group = between forty-five and fifty-four years old) participated in research during a mindfulness and compassion course. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to represent the experiences of the participants.Three superordinate themes were identified in the analysis: beginning the course; learning new skills and experiences; applications to everyday. Within the three themes there were twelve subordinate themes including expectations a person brings to mindfulness training; the social awkwardness of practicing in a group; meditation for beginners is hard work; the importance of the teacher in making it okay to experience uncertainty; the importance of metaphors/stories in making sense of mindfulness concepts; compassion: important but challenging; shifting awareness of body, place and mind; epiphanies/turning points/game changers: when it just makes sense; noticing suffering in everyday life; responding differently to suffering in everyday life; knowing the self-better: in a non-judgmental way; simple class vs. cluttered life: practicing in class is different to practicing in everyday life. The current study provides an understanding of the lived experience of participating on a mindfulness and compassion course.