Who moved my cushion?

Who Moved My Cushion?

There’s a well-known saying: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” But here’s something else to consider: What if doing the same thing and expecting the same result… isn’t very smart either?

Why Mindfulness Teaching Needs to Evolve

We have an abundance of well-qualified mindfulness teachers. An ever-expanding menu of training courses. And yet… fewer people are signing up or engaging. The interest is fading. Something has changed, and it’s no longer enough to just sit and wonder: “Who moved my cushion?”

The call for innovation might well be the very challenge we’ve been resisting. In the spirit of the classic parable Who Moved My Cheese? perhaps it’s time to take a mindful look at how we respond when the familiar patterns in our environment begin to shift.

If mindfulness involves being aware of what’s happening, as it’s happening, why not turn our attention to what’s happening now in the world of mindfulness itself and ask what we can do to address the challenges we face.

Too many Teachers – not enough Students

It’s hard to imagine someone catching even a glimpse of inner freedom and not wanting to help others experience it too. Out of the goodness of their hearts, many people are inspired to invest time, energy, and money into training to teach mindfulness. And yet, let’s be honest: not everyone manages to find a way to teach, let alone fulfil their heartfelt wish to make a meaningful difference.

The current crisis in the mindfulness teaching field has been acknowledged by Jon Kabat-Zinn at an online event hosted by EAMBA on 4^th April 2023. The reality is there are not enough people signing up for the standard 8-week mindfulness courses. While research continues to explore the effectiveness of mindfulness courses, far less attention is given to how mindfulness teachers can turn their aspirations into effective action.

Meanwhile, each year, new cohorts of passionate, well-intentioned teachers emerge from respected training programs, eager to share the life-changing treasure they’ve discovered on their mindfulness journey. If we’re not careful, we risk drifting into a kind of meditative pyramid scheme: where each new level exists to sustain the structure, not necessarily to meet a genuine need. It’s a recipe for discontent, disappointment, even resentment.

Although it may not be easy to face the situation, avoiding it is not a viable option. Mindfulness practice invites us to turn toward discomfort and trust that fresh insights will emerge.

Inclusion through Innovation

We know that mindfulness can help people from all walks of life to survive, and even thrive, in these times of chaos and uncertainty. Although there’s no shortage of mindfulness courses and resources, many individuals and communities still feel: “Mindfulness is not for people like me.” And maybe… they’re right.

Traditional formats, scripts, and settings often don’t resonate with the lived experiences, cultures, or needs of large parts of the population. If people can’t see or feel why mindfulness is relevant to them, how can we expect them to be interested in what we have to offer?

There’s been a lot of talk in mindfulness circles about increasing diversity and inclusion. But if we truly want to make mindfulness more accessible, we need to ask ourselves: What can we actually do to make that happen? The fundamental simplicity of mindfulness doesn’t need to change. But we can reach more people when we offer it in a way they can relate to, and in a setting where they feel they genuinely belong.

When done with integrity, innovation doesn’t dilute mindfulness. Innovation distils mindfulness. Bringing us back to what truly works and why it works, connecting the essence of the practice to the realities of people’s lives, especially those it hasn’t yet reached.

The Fieldbook for Mindfulness Innovators, originally published in 2019 and updated in 2024, was developed by innovation consultant Menka Sanghvi for The Mindfulness Initiative. Its aim is to support the development of effective, high-quality innovations, ones that minimise risk, honour tradition, and remain sustainable over time. It has become both a respected resource and a quiet call to action. It encourages us to reflect on where we’ve come from and to ask: What are the next mindful steps we can take to serve the greater good?

As in many other fields, the most meaningful innovations in mindfulness are unlikely to come from established organisations, but from creative individuals and dynamic teams. They know best the people they wish to serve because they are part of those communities. They understand how mindfulness might actually land in a specific context because they’ve taken time to listen deeply. They are ready to take action because they care passionately.