Best Practice Guidelines
Best Practice Guidelines for Trainers of Mindfulness Teachers
Mindfulness teacher trainers play a vital role in the development of ethical, skilled, and embodied mindfulness teachers. The Mindfulness Teachers Association (MTA) recognises this responsibility and has developed the following the Best Practice Guidelines for Trainers of Mindfulness-Based Teachers, building upon the Best Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness Teachers.
Trainer Eligibility and Requirements
Trainers must:
Have taught a minimum of nine mindfulness-based courses (e.g., MBSR, MBCT, Mindfulness Now, or equivalent) over at least three years, with full teaching responsibility.
Be recognised as a proficient mindfulness teacher, assessed by experienced peers.
Have undergone trainer training through an approprate learning pathway or supervised mentoring process where their suitability and skills were throroughly assessed, demonstrating capability in training others.
Continue to teach mindfulness-based courses to a range of participants in parallel with training future teachers.
Engage in regular mindfulness supervision related to both teaching and personal mindfulness practice, and maintain active peer relationships with other trainers.
Participate in annual mindfulness retreats to support deepening practice.
Stay current with the evidence base surrounding mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), especially those related to their training programmes.
Be familiar with and utilise up-to-date teaching competency assessment methods and reflective teaching practices.
Have a deep personal practice rooted in contemporary science, and where relevant, traditional contemplative traditions (e.g., Buddhist foundations).
Be a compassionate, collaborative team player, actively contributing to the wider mindfulness training community and adhering to high ethical standards.
Trainer Competencies and Skills
MTA-recognised trainers must demonstrate:
A lived, experiential understanding of mindfulness and its transformative potential.
Deep familiarity with the intentions, aims, and components of the specific curriculum being taught (e.g., MBSR, MBCT, Mindfulness Now).
A solid grasp of the underlying theoretical frameworks of MBIs, including psychological, educational, and contemplative bases.
Skill in adapting curricula to meet the needs of different populations, while preserving the integrity of the programme.
Expertise in group facilitation, creating a safe, inclusive, and appropriately challenging learning environment.
The ability to offer developmental feedback, supporting trainees in recognising strengths and working with growth areas.
Sensitivity to the interface between secular MBIs and traditional mindfulness teachings, with transparency regarding cultural and philosophical influences.
A strong commitment to ethical training conduct, including:
Training within clear professional boundaries and areas of competence.
Asking no more of trainees than is asked of oneself—especially in relation to formal and informal mindfulness practice.
Upholding an embodied presence, modelling integrity, humility, and authenticity.
Ethical Framework and Ongoing Development
All MTA trainers are expected to work within a clear ethical framework, in alignment with:
The MTA Code of Conduct and ethical values.
The ethics of their own professional background or field (e.g., psychotherapy, education, healthcare).
A personal and professional commitment to ongoing development, including CPD, supervision, and reflective practice.
These guidelines ensure that all MTA-recognised trainers uphold the highest standards of competence, integrity, and professionalism in the training of future mindfulness-based teachers.
The MTA holds that trainer competence is integral to the integrity of the mindfulness teaching field. These guidelines serve as a foundation for quality assurance, trainer development, and learner safety, supporting a consistent and ethical approach to mindfulness teacher training across the UK and internationally.
Welcome to the UK’s largest professional body of accredited teachers of mindfulness
The Mindfulness Teachers Association is the free professional register, and community of accredited teachers of mindfulness. It is open to all teachers of mindfulness who have a recognised, externally accredited training and qualification in mindfulness teaching. The MTA are commited to promoting, improving and upholding the highest professional standards of evidence based mindfulness practice within our community.