We Are Simply Changing
People’s Minds
Combining mindfulness training and Argentinean Tango
to reduce anxiety and depression
A call for collaboration
Hello,
I work as work as part of a social enterprise which is looking to develop a project to test and refine a novel
approach combining training in mindfulness techniques and dance. We aim to tackle stress, anxiety and
depression, as well as feelings of loneliness and isolation, in people aged 18 to 64 in Lincolnshire.
The project is being developed as part of a funding proposal and we are therefore aiming to make
participation free at the point of delivery in return for active collaboration on the project by those involved.
Our proposal is founded on solid research and we are now looking for groups and individuals that are
willing to contribute time and energy to refining the programme and delivery model as part of the project.
We would also like to make sure that we reach those that can benefit most and are in the most need.
For that we need your help.
If you feel that the people you work with or other groups you know of would be interested and could benefit
from, the project, please let us have some contact details and a few lines on why this would be relevant to
your group on the expression of interest form attached, then return it to me at roy@nowunlimited.co.uk.
We are keen to hear from anyone across Lincolnshire who may be interested in getting involved and
particularly interested in hearing from groups working in the area around Grantham. We also have a
specific interest in those working with the migrant communities, carers or ex-military personnel.
As we are working on a very short timescale, I would appreciate it if you could let me have your responses
as soon as possible, ideally by Wednesday 5th of June.
Attached are a short outline of the project, some information about our organisation and a short expression
of interest form to make it easy to respond.
Alternatively, if you would like to discuss things or simply want further information please do not hesitate to
call or email me using the contact details below.
Regards,
Roy Higginbottom.
Director
Now Un Limited
07748374751
roy@nowunlimited.co.uk
We Are Simply Changing
People’s Minds
Combining mindfulness training and Argentinean Tango
to reduce anxiety and depression
Project summary
Our intention is to pilot and research the effectiveness of a novel activity based approach to teaching
mindfulness using Argentinean Tango as a focus for the movement aspects of the programme. Over a nine
month period, we intend to adopt an action learning based approach to engage users in developing and
refining the programme, as well as engaging participants in developing a social context to support their
continuing practice in the future once the pilot is over.
Project Aims
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Delivery of a pilot programme to test the approach and provide robust evidence of it’s effects
Engaging users in an active process of developing and refining the programme, distilling out
essential components to produce a replicable, scalable and transferable model
Establishing a social context which provides regular opportunities to continue after the funded
element of the programme ends.
Supporting people in taking ownership of the regular practice sessions and managing them into the
future.
Who we are
Now Un Limited is a social enterprise providing a range of learning and development opportunities that
incorporate the use of mindfulness and flow states to improve both performance and health and wellbeing.
Background to the project
Mindfulness is simply choosing to notice the details of our experience without judgement and respond to
them skilfully. Studies have shown that it decreases anxiety and depression, as well as providing dramatic
improvements in cognitive function, mood, efficiency, even immune function. There is now also clear
evidence that practicing mindfulness leads to real and lasting structural changes in the brain.
As we have come to understand the processes and mechanisms behind this more, we have seen that one
of the key aspects to practicing mindfulness is just to practice focusing your attention onto a direct sense,
and to do so often. It also helps to use a rich experience that you can really engage with, with that, you can
practice mindfulness while you are eating, walking, talking, doing just about that gives you a lot of sensory
information.
Dance in various forms has been used as a therapeutic intervention for some time. Interestingly, recent
research using a waiting list controlled comparison found that an intensive programme of Argentinean
Tango had similar outcomes to a standard 8 week mindfulness based stress reduction programme (MBSR)
and actually had a greater impact on reducing stress levels. The research concluded that “Mindfulness
meditation and tango dance could be effective complementary adjuncts for the treatment of depression
and/or inclusion in stress management programmes”
We now intend to build on that research and have used our experience of mindfulness training and tango to
develop and integrated programme of mindfulness training which is based on the fundamental principles of
MBSR and utilises Argentinean Tango as the core movement practice of the programme.
Why the project is needed
Placing movement at the core and teaching people to dance also brings some intriguing possibilities.
Professor Mark Teasdale said of mindfulness, "Mindfulness is a habit, it's something the more one does,
the more likely one is to be in that mode with less and less effort... it's a skill that can be learned. It's
accessing something we already have. Mindfulness isn't difficult. What's difficult is to remember to be
mindful."
Traditional approaches to mindfulness teaching have shown some remarkable successes, there is however
an inherent problem. The numbers of people who continue to practice regularly after completing the 8 week
course can drop off dramatically, with attrition rates of 40% or higher in the first 6 to 12 months.
By focussing on dance as a central component of the programme we aim to make it particularly attractive to
groups and individuals that may not easily engage with mindfulness training and hope to sustain their
involvement by providing an on-going social context to support continued practice.
Key aspects of the project
The project can be viewed as three phases:
Developing core skills
Four to six cohorts of sixteen to twenty participants will be introduced to a programme of core mindfulness
training and tango skills in eight two and a half hour sessions held once per week. Members of each cohort
will be actively engaged in evaluating their experiences of the programme and making suggestions for
improvements and changes prior to the next cohort taking part.
Consolidating and continuing involvement
The project also is concerned with providing a welcoming social context which supports the participants
continuing their involvement by providing an additional weekly two and a half hour session for those that
have completed the initial course to meet, continue to practice mindfulness and to dance.
Securing a lasting legacy
In the final three month phase, a carefully managed process of transferring responsibility and control will
see interested members of the group actively encouraged and supported in taking on responsibility for
organising and arranging the regular practice sessions to provide a sustainable legacy and continuing
context beyond the life of the initial funding.
At the end of the project we would aim to have identified and refined the key elements of programme and
approach in the form of a model approach which is replicable in other areas and adaptable to other
contexts.
How you and your group can participate
Simply fill in the short expression of interest form at the end of the document and email as soon as possible
it to:
roy@nowunlimited.co.uk
Alternatively, for more information call Roy on:
or email on the address above.
07748374751
We Are Simply Changing
People’s Minds
Who we are
Now Un Limited is a social enterprise providing a range of
learning and development opportunities that incorporate the use
of mindfulness and flow states to improve performance and
health and wellbeing.
Background to our work
There is an increasing body of research to show that
mindfulness and flow are physiological states that promote
optimum performance, awareness and wellbeing and decrease
negative states like depression, anxiety, nervousness and
indecision.
Common to both is a complete engagement with the present
moment, outside of the background regrets about the past or
anxieties about the future.
Mindfulness is in its essence
simply paying attention in a
certain way to what is
happening right now, in the
present moment and accepting
that without judgement...
… and yet, this simple thing
has proven benefits in the
areas of increased creativity,
emotional resilience and the
ability to function in face of
life’s most difficult challenges.
Increasingly we have a clearer understanding of exactly what is
going on in the brain when we have these experiences. There is
also now a clear body of evidence that these responses lead to physical changes in the structure of the
brain. Additionally research has shown that these states can be learned and developed.
Who will benefit?
People interested in….
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Increasing their physical and emotional wellbeing
Finding motivation from within themselves, gaining
greater satisfaction in their achievements and improving
their quality of life
Building resilience and the ability to handle increasing
pressures, responding positively to the pace of change
in modern life
Organisations interested in….
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Enhancing performance and creativity
Improving working relationships and environments
Boosting profitability by increasing productivity and
reducing absence due to ill health
What we do
Training
In line with our person-centred approach we offer a variety of
ways to access our training programmes and tailor the
experience. People can choose from a range of levels and
courses of varying lengths:
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Flow-states are a state of mind
or even a state of being. Most
people can describe moments
when they are totally absorbed
in what they are doing, so
much so that “time flies by”
and what they are doing seems
both effortless and natural.
Athletes often describe it as
being “in the zone”, others as
being “on it”.
They have been linked to high
performance in both people’s
work and personal lives. They
have also been seen at the
heart of people’s most creative
and intrinsically rewarding
experiences.
Short introductory courses
Intensive programmes and retreats
Supported distance learning packages, enabling people to study at their own pace
Mentoring
People learn best in different ways and we have found that some prefer a more personal approach.
Mentoring support is available by email, telephone, face to face in small groups or on a one to one basis.
Consultancy
Both the Directors and Associates of Now Un Limited bring with them extensive business management
knowledge, experience and expertise in a variety of relevant fields.
By integrating this with the core principles of our mindfulness and flow state training, we are able to offer a
range of learning and development opportunities supporting cultural change management as well as
programmes of personal and organisational development.
Who we work with
We are based in the East Midlands and work with people and organisations across the UK and are working
to adapt integrate our work around mindfulness and flow-state experiences into established areas of best
practice in:
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Work with individuals, particularly those working in high pressure or stressful environments
The corporate sector
The health sector, working with individuals with life limiting health conditions
Working with children and young people in schools, the youth and community and justice sectors
The way we work
Our approach closely reflects the philosophy or our organisation itself in that we seek to work in innovative
and creative ways, involving people as participants rather than as passive recipients. We have a strong
commitment to research. We see the evaluation of what we do and the
dissemination of what we learn as being key to widening the impact of
We integrate our own
our work as a social enterprise.
experienced-based
learning with
established best
practice and robust
neuroscience
research to help
people find simple
and effective ways to
apply this to everyday
life.
Our programmes are practical, effective and evidence-based. Our aim
is to gain an understanding of the project as a whole, not simply
monitoring and evaluating it’s different elements in isolation.
Unique to the way we work is our person-centred approach that builds
on the interests of those we work with and their experiences of “being
in the moment” to raise their awareness of mindfulness and its
benefits.
Using this direct experience, we support them in exploring its
relevance to other areas of their lives exploring how this can support
them in living in ways that are more healthy, integrated, ethical and
connected.
The nature of the services we deliver also requires us to be authentic in our own practice, as well as being
flexible, aware and generous in responding the needs of the people we work with.
For more information about Now Un Limited,
Email:
info@nowunlimited.co.uk
Visit our website:
www.nowunlimited.co.uk
Alternatively you can phone: Roy on 07748 374751 or Maureen on 07939 845920
Now Un Limited is a Social Enterprise established as company limited by guarantee and without a share capital
(Company No 8314044) Registered address -16 Bramblewood Close, Gonerby Hill Foot, Grantham NG31 8QH
We Are Simply Changing
People’s Minds
Combining mindfulness training and Argentinean Tango
to reduce anxiety and depression
Expression of interest (The boxes will expand, so please use the space you need)
Contact Details
Name
Role / Job Title
Phone
Email
Organisation Details
Name
Address
Web.
Tell us briefly about the people and groups you work with
Why would collaboration on this project be of particular interest and importance to them?
What are the main benefits you would hope to see from their taking part?
Any other comments
Please return the completed form as soon as possible to:
roy@nowunlimited.co.uk