International Academy of Mindfulness
I AM UMV
Cultivating Mindfulness. Transforming Lives.
Ancient wisdom. Authentic practice. Modern application.
The International Academy of Mindfulness (I AM UMV) is the global mindfulness education and training initiative of the Universal Mindfulness Village (UMV).
I AM UMV brings together three complementary dimensions of mindfulness learning:
Mindfulness Now (UK)
The accredited mindfulness training framework of Mindfulness Now (UK)
Vipassana Wisdom
More than four decades of Vipassana meditation practice of Most Venerable Udaeriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero, developed within the forest tradition of Nissarana Vanaya
Contemporary Science
The latest scientific insights and contemporary understanding of mindfulness
Our aim is not simply to teach people about mindfulness, but to help them experience, practise and integrate mindfulness into their lives.
Our Purpose
The world is moving faster than ever. People are increasingly seeking ways to manage stress, improve wellbeing, develop greater clarity and focus, build healthier relationships and discover a deeper sense of meaning and balance. Mindfulness offers practical tools for meeting these challenges.
At I AM UMV, we believe mindfulness is more than a technique or a temporary practice. With appropriate guidance and sustained practice, it can become a way of relating to ourselves, other people and everyday life with greater awareness, clarity and compassion.
The Academy has therefore been created to make authentic, structured and practical mindfulness education accessible to people around the world — moving beyond intellectual understanding towards genuine personal practice and meaningful transformation.
Academy Philosophy
Ancient Wisdom. Authentic Practice. Modern Application.
The philosophy of I AM UMV is built around the meeting point of ancient contemplative wisdom and modern life. Mindfulness has deep roots in contemplative traditions, while contemporary research has increasingly explored its potential applications in areas such as wellbeing, stress management, education, leadership and human development. I AM UMV brings these dimensions together.
Authentic Practice
Mindfulness is ultimately something to be practised and experienced. Our programmes place strong emphasis on personal practice — developed through regular practice, observation, reflection and application in everyday life.
Wisdom
The Academy draws on the profound experiential wisdom arising from long-term Vipassana meditation practice in the forest tradition of Nissarana Vanaya, represented by Most Venerable Udaeriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero.
Contemporary Understanding
Our programmes recognise the importance of contemporary scientific research and evidence-informed approaches, presenting mindfulness in ways relevant to modern individuals, professionals and organisations.
Transformation
The ultimate purpose of learning is application. Our syllabus empowers students to cultivate genuine practice, awaken inner wisdom and progressively transform how they live, work and relate to others.
A High-Quality Programme, Made Accessible
Accessible does not mean compromising on quality.
Although participants may be able to access I AM UMV programmes without a mandatory financial commitment, the Academy is committed to maintaining a high standard of content, teaching, practice and learning experience. The programme is not a simplified or reduced version of professional mindfulness education — it is a carefully developed curriculum drawing on:
- The established mindfulness training framework delivered by Mindfulness Now UK
- The extensive Vipassana meditation experience and teaching wisdom of Most Venerable Udaeriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero
- The contemplative heritage of the Nissarana Vanaya forest tradition
- Contemporary scientific insights into mindfulness
- Structured teaching and guided practice, reflection and personal development
- Practical application in everyday life, with experienced coaches and facilitators
The absence of a compulsory fee does not mean the absence of investment. UMV chooses to make this investment because it believes that access to meaningful mindfulness education should not be determined solely by a person's ability to pay.
Our Commitment to Accessibility
Mindfulness should be accessible to everyone.
Financial circumstances should not prevent a person from accessing the opportunity to learn and practise mindfulness. Universal Mindfulness Village operates as a non-profit organisation supported through voluntary donations. In keeping with this philosophy, I AM UMV seeks to make its mindfulness education and facilities accessible to people without requiring a financial commitment to participate.
We recognise that delivering high-quality mindfulness education involves real costs — the time and commitment of experienced teachers and coaches, programme development, administration, facilities and technology. These costs are real, and UMV does not seek to hide or minimise them. Instead, UMV chooses to carry these costs through its non-profit model and voluntary support.
A Different Model of Sustainability
Quality supported by community.
I AM UMV is not intended to operate as a conventional commercial training academy. Those who are able to support the work may contribute, while those who cannot contribute financially should not be excluded. Voluntary contributions help support:
The time and expertise of mindfulness teachers and coaches
Development and enhancement of Academy programmes
Facilities, learning resources, technology and administration
Scholarships and wider access
Community mindfulness initiatives
The expansion of mindfulness education internationally
Some contribute financially. Others contribute through their time, skills, volunteering, partnerships — or simply by putting their learning into practice and sharing its benefits with others.
Our Courses
I AM UMV offers a progressive range of mindfulness programmes designed for different levels of experience, interests and professional applications.
Mindfulness Foundations
A starting point for anyone wishing to understand and experience mindfulness — practical approaches for developing greater awareness, presence, clarity and balance.
Mindfulness & Leadership
Leadership begins with awareness. Explores how mindfulness supports leaders in developing focus, clarity, creativity and compassion in decision-making and presence.
Mindfulness & Wellness
Practical approaches for cultivating greater awareness and balance in daily life — how mindfulness becomes part of a sustainable approach to personal wellbeing.
Mindfulness & Stress Management
Practical approaches for recognising stress, developing greater awareness of responses and cultivating more skilful ways of meeting challenging situations.
Mindfulness Coaching & Facilitation
For those who wish to take their learning further — combining personal practice, facilitation skills, coaching approaches and ethical practice to support others.
Who Can Join?
I AM UMV is intended for people from a wide range of backgrounds. Our programmes may be relevant to individuals, professionals, leaders, educators, coaches and organisations alike.
Previous meditation experience will vary according to the programme. I AM UMV provides learning pathways suitable for beginners as well as those wishing to deepen an established practice.
Individuals
People seeking greater awareness, balance, wellbeing and personal development.
Professionals
Those wishing to develop practical mindfulness skills that support their professional and personal lives.
Leaders & Executives
Leaders seeking to cultivate greater focus, clarity, creativity and compassion.
Educators
Teachers, trainers and education professionals bringing mindfulness into learning environments.
Coaches & Facilitators
Professionals incorporating mindfulness into their coaching, facilitation or wellbeing work.
Organisations
Organisations seeking structured programmes for employee wellbeing, leadership and workplace resilience.
Aspiring Mindfulness Teachers
Individuals wishing to deepen personal practice and progress towards facilitating programmes for others.
Guided practice. Real coaches. A living tradition.
Learning With Real Coaches
Every I AM UMV programme is led by experienced coaches and facilitators — not pre-recorded lessons. Participants practise together, ask questions in real time and receive guidance suited to where they are in their own journey.
This is what makes the Academy different: mindfulness taught the way it has always been passed on — person to person, practice to practice.
Our Learning Approach
Learn. Practise. Reflect. Apply. Transform.
We believe meaningful learning takes place when knowledge is combined with direct experience.
Teaching & Practice
- Clear, structured presentation of mindfulness principles and concepts
- Guided mindfulness practices to experience what is being learned
Reflection & Application
- Opportunities to observe personal experience and deepen understanding
- Practical methods for bringing mindfulness into everyday life, relationships and work
Coaching & Integration
- Structured guidance to support the development and continuity of practice
- Moving from attending a programme to living mindfulness as an ongoing part of life
Faculty & Lineage
Grounded in practice. Informed by wisdom. Connected to the world.
Most Venerable Udaeriyagama Dhammajiva Maha Thero
Has dedicated more than four decades to the practice and mastery of Vipassana meditation within the forest tradition of Nissarana Vanaya, Sri Lanka. Through his work in Sri Lanka and internationally, Ven. Dhammajiva has contributed to the development and sharing of mindfulness and meditation practice with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures — rooted in preserving the depth of authentic practice while making mindfulness accessible to a wider world.
Mindfulness Now — UK
I AM UMV's educational framework incorporates the accredited training framework of Mindfulness Now (UK), connecting authentic contemplative practice with a recognised contemporary training framework.
Contemporary Science
The Academy draws on current scientific understanding and research relating to mindfulness — helping participants understand the contemporary context in which mindfulness is studied and applied.
A Meeting of Three Worlds
Ancient Wisdom
The depth of contemplative practice and experiential wisdom.
Structured Education
A comprehensive and systematic approach to learning and developing mindfulness.
Modern Science
Contemporary research and scientific insights into mindfulness and its applications.
The result is an approach designed to be authentic, practical, relevant and globally accessible.
Our Vision
Bringing mindfulness to the world.
Through the global network and mission of Universal Mindfulness Village, the Academy seeks to make quality mindfulness education accessible across cultures, professions and communities. The Academy will develop opportunities for:
- International mindfulness education
- Online and in-person learning
- Professional development
- Mindfulness coaching and facilitation
- Leadership and workplace programmes
- Partnerships with like-minded organisations
- International teachers and facilitators
- Community-based mindfulness initiatives
We believe mindfulness should not be confined to one country, culture or institution. It can become a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern application, helping people everywhere live with greater clarity, balance and compassion.
Begin Your Journey
Learn Mindfulness. Practise Mindfulness. Live Mindfulness.
Whether you are discovering mindfulness for the first time, seeking to deepen an established practice, developing your leadership capabilities or preparing to support others through mindfulness, I AM UMV offers pathways for continued learning and development.
International Academy of Mindfulness — I AM UMV
A global mindfulness education initiative of Universal Mindfulness Village.