Our Approach to
Meditation Training
Our approach moves beyond traditional "wellness" to reframe meditation as a systematic form of neurocognitive training. We focus on refining core executive capacities through the principle of neuroplasticity, the understanding that the brain’s physical structure can be reshaped by targeted mental exercise.
The 5 Elements of our Approach
Our approach is a proprietary five-stage system developed to optimise your performance. It is designed as a recurring training loop rather than a linear progression, ensuring your mental architecture remains resilient and innovative.
01. Reset:
Regain Your Physiological Baseline
Many of us start our day at a deficit.
High-stakes environments often leave us in a state of chronic hyper-arousal and physical tension. This "noise" in your nervous system means you are attempting to make complex, strategic decisions while your brain is physically diverted into a survival state.
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The Performance Approach:
We use the Relaxation Response, a universal physiological state that acts as the direct biological antithesis to the "fight-or-flight" response. Through targeted training in Interoception (the perception of bodily sensations), we "reverse-engineer" the stress response to shift your system from high-arousal to composed stability.
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The Performance Benefit:
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Immediate Recovery:
Achieve documented reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol, allowing you to re-access your full cognitive bandwidth.
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Structural Resilience:
Research shows this training increases cortical thickness in the brain's sensory monitoring hub (the right anterior insula), which acts as a neuroprotective buffer against cognitive decline.
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The Science:
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Benson, H., et al. (1974): Established the "Relaxation Response" as the universal biological antithesis to the fight-or-flight state. It documents immediate reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption.
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Lazar, S. W., et al. (2005): Demonstrated that meditation experience is linked to increased cortical thickness in the right anterior insula, the hub for interoception and sensory processing. This suggests a neuroprotective effect that can offset cognitive decline.
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02. Fortify:
Reclaim Your Cognitive Bandwidth
In moments of high pressure, your mind can become trapped in "loops" of rumination.
This high-stakes mental chatter consumes the cognitive energy you need for execution, leading to distraction and decision fatigue.
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The Performance Approach:
We move beyond simple relaxation to train the capacity for "Decentering". This is the technical skill of observing your thoughts as transient mental events rather than immutable realities, changing your fundamental relationship with internal pressure.
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The Performance Benefit:
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Mental Clarity:
Proactively reduce psychological distress and the "mental loops" that lead to burnout.
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Decoupled Response:
Gain the ability to remain objective and non-reactive even when facing intrusive or distractive thought patterns.
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The Science:
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Jain, S., et al. (2007): A randomised controlled trial proving that mindfulness meditation specifically reduces psychological distress by decreasing ruminative thoughts. It identified a unique mechanism, changing one's relationship to thoughts, that distinguishes it from simple relaxation.
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03. Calibrate:
Sharpen Executive Attention
The modern professional mind wanders for nearly 47% of the time.
This isn't just a minor distraction, it is a direct cause of inefficiency, poor performance, and the feeling of being perpetually "busy" without being productive.
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The Performance Approach:
We use Focused Attention Meditation (FA) training to exercise the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s seat of higher-order executive function. By strengthening this "neural muscle," we learn to de-activate the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain’s mind-wandering engine.
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The Performance Benefit:
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Precision Focus:
Enhance your metacognitive accuracy, giving you the ability to accurately assess and optimise your own performance in real-time.
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Attentional Stability:
Build the capacity to filter out digital and mental noise for sustained periods of deep, productive work.
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The Science:
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Killingsworth, M. A., & Gilbert, D. T. (2010): Documented that human minds wander 46.9% of the time, which directly causes reduced performance and happiness.
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Brewer, J. A., et al. (2011): Showed that experienced practitioners can significantly deactivate the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain's "mind-wandering engine". It also demonstrated stronger functional connectivity with regions involved in cognitive control.
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Baird, B., et al. (2014): Confirmed that targeted training significantly improves metacognitive accuracy (the ability to accurately monitor one's own cognitive performance).
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04. Ideate:
Unlock Strategic Innovation
Under sustained stress, the mind becomes rigid.
You might find yourself relying on habitual "history" and safe patterns rather than the novel, non-linear thinking required for genuine breakthrough.
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The Performance Approach:
We use Open Monitoring (OM) Meditation practices to cultivate a "distributed cognitive control state". By lowering cognitive barriers and reducing rigidity, you allow for broader, more creative conceptual jumps.
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The Performance Benefit:
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Divergent Thinking:
Proven to improve the volume, flexibility, and originality of your ideas.
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Insight Accuracy:
Increase the frequency of "Aha!" moments by reducing the influence of habitual thought patterns on complex problem-solving.
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The Science:
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Colzato, L. S., et al. (2012): Proved that Open Monitoring (OM) meditation specifically improves divergent thinking, which is the primary driver for idea generation and brainstorming.
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Ostafin, B. D., & Kassman, K. T. (2012): Found that mindfulness training improves the ability to solve insight problems ("Aha!" moments) by reducing the influence of habitual thought patterns.
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05. Inspire:
Lead with Sustainable Influence
Ambitious leadership requires high levels of empathy.
But, empathy alone can lead to personal distress and "depletion-led" burnout. Without a buffer, the emotional load of managing a high-performing team can become unsustainable.
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The Performance Approach:
We shift the focus from empathy to Compassion Training. This engages the brain’s reward and affiliation networks rather than distress signals, fostering an action-oriented state of leadership.
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The Performance Benefit:
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Burnout Protection:
Create a sustainable neurobiological buffer against the stresses of relational leadership.
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Team Trust:
Improve empathic accuracy, the ability to correctly infer another person's thoughts and feelings from subtle non-verbal cues.
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The Science:
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Klimecki, O. M., et al. (2014): Provided the first neurobiological distinction between empathy and compassion, showing that compassion training shifts brain activity to reward and affiliation networks rather than distress signals.
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Mascaro, J. S., et al. (2013): Demonstrated that compassion training improves empathic accuracy, specifically the ability to correctly infer another person's thoughts and feelings from non-verbal cues.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Performance Meditation Approach?
A: It is a proprietary, active five-stage training system that reframes meditation from a passive relaxation exercise into a systematic form of neurocognitive training. Instead of seeking "calm," we focus on refining the specific executive capacities required for high-stakes decision-making and leadership.
Q: What is the scientific basis for this system?
A: The approach leverages the principle of neuroplasticity, the scientific understanding that the brain’s physical structure and functional organisation are malleable and can be reshaped by targeted mental exercise. Just as physical training induces hypertrophy in muscle tissue, this methodology builds the "neural muscle" required for professional excellence. Our framework is supported by peer-reviewed research from institutions documenting structural changes in the brain’s executive centres.
Q: Is this training different from standard mindfulness apps?
A: Yes. While many apps focus solely on somatic relaxation, our approach is designed for the high-performance professional. We target specific cognitive bottlenecks such as high-stakes rumination and the Default Mode Network (DMN), the brain's mind-wandering engine that accounts for nearly 47% of our waking hours.
Q: Can I expect immediate results?
A: Functional and behavioural changes can occur rapidly. For example, the Reset phase is designed to induce the Relaxation Response, resulting in immediate reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol. However, fundamental structural changes, such as increased cortical thickness, are directly proportional to the consistency of your practice.
Q: How does this methodology support innovation?
A: Through the Ideate phase, we use Open Monitoring (OM) practice to cultivate a distributed cognitive control state. This has been proven to specifically improve divergent thinking, the engine of idea generation, by reducing cognitive rigidity and the influence of habitual thought patterns.
Q: How does 'Inspire' help with leadership burnout?
A: Relational leadership can be depleting. The Inspire phase utilises compassion training, which neurobiologically differs from empathy by engaging the brain’s reward and affiliation networks rather than distress signals. This creates a sustainable buffer against burnout while improving empathic accuracy, the ability to correctly infer a team member's thoughts and feelings.
Q: Is the approach a linear process?
A: No. The Performance Meditation Approach is a recurring training loop. Professionals utilise the circuit to continuously optimise their mental architecture, ensuring their "standard operating system" remains resilient and focused regardless of external pressure
An Important Note on Your Wellbeing
Meditation can be a powerful tool for building resilience and managing stress, and it is a complementary therapy. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or any other health concern, you should always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider. See our full Medical Disclaimer for more information.
Page Last Updated: December 29th 2025
Page Author: Simon Jones DipBSoM, Meditation Teacher