Health · Mind and stress
Calm Start: meditation and mindfulness for beginners
Six lessons built on NIH (NCCIH), NHS and healthdirect guidance: what meditation and mindfulness are, what the evidence really says, a first breath meditation, body scan and walking practice, building a habit, and when meditation isn’t the right tool.
About this course
Meditation and mindfulness for beginners.
Starter · About 1 hour of learning · 6 lessons · 14 quick checks · 1 download
Who it's for
Adults new to meditation and mindfulness who want simple practices for everyday stress, in Australia, the UK, the US or elsewhere.
How it works
6 guided lessons in your browser, with worked examples, exercises and a quick check after each lesson. Progress is saved in this browser only, and you can restart at any time. Lesson 1 is open to everyone, and you can take one whole course without an account. After that, a free account lets you continue past lesson 1.
Sources we rely on
17 published sources, mostly regulators and official bodies, listed below so you can check the original guidance yourself.
By the end you can
- Explain what meditation and mindfulness are, using official definitions
- Describe the evidence honestly and know when to stop or check with a doctor first
- Do a short breath meditation, a body scan and a walking meditation
- Plan a two-week practice and choose resources carefully
- Recognise when meditation isn’t the right tool and where to get support
Downloads
- Meditation practice log .xlsxA two-week plan, a 14-day log with before and after ratings, a review sheet, and a “when I’ll stop and get help” box with AU, UK and US support lines.
Rules by country
Learning time
About 1 hour of learning. May count towards your CPD or professional development; check your professional body's rules. Estimated from reading time, exercises, quick checks and downloads.
Sources
Check the originals.
Drafted with AI assistance and run through automated quality and source checks. How these courses are made. Spotted an error or out-of-date rule? Send a correction.
General information only, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or another qualified health professional about your situation. In an emergency call 000 (AU), 999 (UK), 911 (US/Canada) or 111 (NZ).
- Meditation and mindfulness: effectiveness and safety · National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH, US)
- Mindfulness · NHS (UK)
- Mindfulness · healthdirect (Australian Government-funded)
- Meditation · healthdirect (Australian Government-funded)
- 5 steps to mental wellbeing · NHS (UK)
- Breathing exercises for stress · NHS (UK)
- Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: an illustrated guide · World Health Organization
- Where to get urgent help for mental health · NHS (UK)
- Medicare Mental Health: 1800 595 212 · Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Talk to a counsellor: 1300 22 4636 · Beyond Blue (Australia)
- Shout: text SHOUT to 85258 · Shout (Mental Health Innovations, UK)
- Triple Zero (000) · Australian Government, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- When to call 999 · NHS (UK)
- National 911 Program · 911.gov (US Government)
- Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 · Lifeline Australia
- Contact a Samaritan: 116 123 · Samaritans (UK and Ireland)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline · 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US)
Publisher
Who publishes this course.
Published by trainyourself.org, a trading name of Combine TRS Pty Ltd (ABN 42 112 983 678), Brisbane, Australia.
How it's made: drafted with AI assistance from published official public-health and government guidance, then run through automated quality checks against our course depth standard and automated source checks that match each rule to its official source, listed above. Read how these courses are made.
Last updated:
General information, not tax, accounting, legal or professional advice. Spotted an error or an out-of-date rule? Send us a correction.
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