Leadership Training Program

 
 
 

Diversifying the Field of Mindfulness

Braided Wisdom Leadership Training is a cross-cultural mindfulness training program uniquely described as braiding the way of one’s spiritual path.  Braided wisdom is cultivated by weaving and integrating cross-cultural mindfulness practices of spirituality and earth based practices rooted in indigenous wisdom and modern day understanding of human development to heal, strengthen and transform the human spirit.

Upon completion, this program will qualify you to be credentialed as an International Mindfulness Teachers Association Certified Mindfulness Teacher - Professional Level.

The next training will be begin in Fall 2027. Applications will open in 2025. Sign up below to stay informed!

 

Sign Up For the Waitlist

Our next Leadership Training will be held in 2026-2027. An application process and program dates will be announced in February 2025. Sign up to stay informed!

Core Program Components

 

Cross-Cultural Mindfulness Training

Learning how to guide and facilitate meditation and group mindfulness practices

Council Training

Learning how to hold and lead council for collective healing and community building

Wisdom Teachings

1-2 Weekday Evening Classes each month for wisdom teachings and contemplative practice

 

Deep Dive Practicums

Five Practicum Weekends with diverse and prominent guest mindfulness teachers

Ritual & Ceremony

Five Half-Day Saturdays Teaching Ritual & Ceremony with South African Medicine Elder & Diviner

Pod Meetings

Monthly Mentor Pod meetings with 3-6 students with assigned Mentors/Teaching Assistants for group practice

 

Additional Support

  • Seasonal check-in meeting with an assigned mentor for personal support and development 

  • Spiritual Buddy System that rotates every season 

  • Land-based gathering at Wolf Dream Mountain in Lake County to learn earth based practices and cross-cultural ceremony

  • Access to Braided Wisdom hosted workshops/events to support additional learning and community building 

  • Required assignments, readings, audio, and video

  • Personal journal assignments to do on your own time to help you reflect on the teachings as you go

  • Online learning portal to access course assignments

  • Personal practice, ritual, ongoing meditation practice, mindful movement

 

Teaching Team

  • Carol Cano

    Founder, Lead Teacher

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  • Imee Contreras

    Co-Teacher

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  • Jennifer Biehn

    Movement Teacher, Mentor Elder

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  • Mbali Marais

    Medicine Elder, Diviner, Mentor

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  • TBA

    Mentor Elder

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Guest Teachers

  • "I have developed the courage and inner strength to embark on my path with heart. The community helped me find comfort and peace in my own skin and improve my personal relationships with my loved ones. The teachings and reflections have taught me to be more compassionate and kind not only to others but more importantly, to myself."

    Phillip Binondo, Lecturer & Human Rights Advocate

  • “I use the facilitation skills learned from the program to lead healing circles in the community where I’ve worked with cancer patients and their families. The training provided unique resources and a structured approach that I have made my own with sound healing and healing arts, enabling me to lead more confidently. Finally, the program has helped me ground more deeply into my Indigenous roots, understand and apply Buddhist teachings in daily life, and reconnect to my own cultural rituals and ceremony.”

    Inez R. Consuelo, Healing Practitioner

  • "Blessed to have moved toward that resonance and Carol's teachings. Her compassion, grounded perspective, agile intellect, and humor are qualities that spoke to me and called me in. From the Deep Renewal Woman gatherings, to the unfolding of the Braided Way, I continue to build my own acumen and tools from her offerings and teachings. This excites me, as Braided Wisdom will continue to be a cornerstone that holds the healing of the planet and our whole humyn selves a top priority."

    Tara Marchant, Artist & Storyteller

FAQs

  • No, you do not need to work in the healing arts to participate in this program.

  • No, you do not need to be Buddhist or Indigenous to participate in this program, although having your own mindfulness practice would be supportive.

  • This program is 14 months long with a break for the month of December.

  • You will need to complete 35 hours of mindfulness teaching in your work or a volunteer setting.

  • No, you do not need to complete the International Mindfulness Teacher certification protocol to be part of this program, however, it’s highly recommended.