It had turned out to be one of the most significant learning experiences I have had in my life. I stand behind such a  bold statement, despite the fact I have spent  8 years of academic study, went through many courses during my military service, and I have participated in countless workshops and professional training programs.

How can I tell it was such an effective learning experience for me? And what made this course so valuable? To answer the former - is in my consistency in following through, which means till this day I practice daily (I could say almost religiously) mindfulness meditation, and since that course I have taken many more advanced courses in and around this subject, To answer the latter, I would like to elaborate here what were some of learning strategies I observed, in which, I believe, were foundational for how and when people learn best.

Enthusiasm – The way our teacher introduced himself and his relationship to the topics presented, was genuinely inspiring, he made his intentions and reasons very clear and that have planted in me the seeds for the love of this subject, and for pursuing further. His words still resonant with me. 

Caring – Out of the gate I felt welcomed in the house and welcomed by the teacher, along the course I felt I got the attention I needed, the teacher demonstrated he was interested in our success and engagement and that we matter. 

Talking about it – the practice is essentially with oneself, can be in solitude or in group, however the learning can be in collaboration and communication in groups and with each other.  In particular the sharing between the students facilitated by the teacher made it enjoyable rich and helped me overcome many of my challenges 

Hands on - The course was hands on – the theoretical part only came after some  experience,  that was helpful in relating  intimately with what was being said and taught. 

Reviewing and repeating – reviewing and repeating what we have learned – and practiced - was truly refreshing and invaluable. – It had helped me internalize ideas from previous lessons. I realized that repetition, done skillfully, can have new angles that were not seen before, repeating intention helps internalizing principles that are timeless.  Also by giving internet links for those who wants to review and expand at home is useful.  

Applicability – The conversation about how what we are learning in class can be applied in daily life, is useful and helpful

Wellbeing – Making sure students are well rested and well fed before attending learning. 

Peace of mind -    Creating environment for students to learn calmly and peacefully with decent intervals for breaks and learning. 

It cannot be overemphasized how important is learning under the conditions of being peaceful, well rested and well nurtured,

Creativity – There are many ways to convey messages, with games, with visual effects, videos, obviously reading writing. Taking into consideration that  some people learn best using sights (visual), some people learn best using sounds (auditory), giving the student a choice and options to learn , allowing for their innovation and self-expression can be enjoyable and make a difference. 

Study environment - Changing study environment from time to time, sometimes in nature sometimes indoors finding some new scenery will create new associations in your brain and make it easier to recall information later