Mission of the Ukrainian Mindfulness Teachers Association

The mission of the Ukrainian Mindfulness Teachers Association is to form and support a professional community of mindfulness teachers who act responsibly, ethically, and are grounded in their own lived practice.

We aim to:

• support the quality of mindfulness teaching in Ukraine;

• create a safe space for the professional development of teachers;

• foster a culture of mindfulness as a mature, responsible, and humane practice;

• counter superficial, overly commercialized, or personality-centered approaches to teaching mindfulness.

The Association exists for teachers who have already completed formal training, are aware of the boundaries of their competence, and seek professional community, development, and support.

A Broad Understanding of Mindfulness

We understand mindfulness not only as a specific program or a set of techniques, but as a broader approach to conscious experience, attention, and a responsible relationship with one’s inner life.

The Association recognizes different schools and formats of teaching mindfulness, including MBSR and other contemporary programs, provided that professional boundaries, ethical standards, and regular personal practice of the teacher are maintained.

Our Values and Principles

1. Self-Development and Capacity for Change

We acknowledge that teaching mindfulness is not possible without ongoing self-inquiry.

We value:

• flexibility of thinking and openness to learning;

• awareness of one’s own capacities and limitations;

• the ability to maintain healthy doubt regarding one’s interpretations and professional role;

• understanding the shadow aspects of one’s psyche and engaging with them responsibly;

• balancing care for oneself with responsibility toward the community and the wider environment.

2. Professional Development within the Mindfulness Approach

We support systematic and continuous professional development of mindfulness teachers.

This includes:

• deepening knowledge of mindfulness and related disciplines;

• understanding both the possibilities and limits of integrating mindfulness into people’s lives and practices;

• clear adherence to professional boundaries
  (not engaging in psychotherapy, coaching, or other helping modalities without appropriate education);

• embodying the principles of mindfulness not only in words, but in one’s own conduct;

• using clear, accessible language and maintaining transparent learning structures.

3. Ethics and Responsibility

Ethics are the foundation of teaching mindfulness.

We cultivate:

• compassion, kindness, empathetic joy, and inner balance;

• coherence between words and actions;

• responsible awareness of the influence a teacher has on students;

• the development of a mindfulness culture free from the “cult of personality” of the teacher;

• service to society as a direction of professional activity;

• transparent and mature teacher–student relationships;

• openness to feedback and self-reflection.

4. Principles of Community Interaction

We strive to build a community grounded in trust, safety, and cooperation.

Our principles include:

• Safety: acceptance of diverse perspectives, non-judgment, and emotional balance;

• Respectful and ecological communication: active listening, honest and respectful feedback, and willingness to clarify difficult issues;

• Healthy collaboration: mutual support without competition or self-assertion;

• Mindful leadership: responsibility and readiness to invest time, attention, and resources in the development of the community.

Concluding Statement

We view this system of values not as a declaration, but as a living framework that continues to evolve through practice, dialogue, and shared experience.

Every teacher who joins the Association contributes to the formation of a culture of mindfulness in Ukraine — a culture that is mature, responsible, and deeply human.