The Principles of
Innate Wellbeing
A One-Day Workshop
with
Ian Watson
17th April 2026
Violet Hill Studios
St John’s Wood
London NW8 9EB
Feeling stressed, anxious, depressed or overwhelmed is a common experience for many people. Yet we were built to be psychologically and emotionally resilient, possessing an inner sanctuary where peace of mind and wellbeing can always be found, together with a source of intuitive wisdom that can guide us through life.
There is a simple understanding you can learn that will enable you to uncover the innate wellbeing that is your birthright and which can never be lost, although you can easily lose sight of it.
Through understanding the principles at work behind the scenes of your experience, you can uncover your innate wellbeing and enjoy a profound new level of inner peace, clarity of mind, ease and creativity.
Learning how these principles operate has a deep and lasting impact on mental & emotional health, which brings freedom from unnecessary stress and struggle, ease in personal relationships and increased enjoyment of life.
Whether you would like to learn or deepen your understanding of these principles for your own benefit or to support others, this workshop will provide a comprehensive foundation.
I’m Ian Watson, and I have worked in the field of holistic health and personal transformation since 1988, specialising in psychological and emotional health since 2003.
Over the years I learned and practiced various techniques to relieve mental stress and emotional suffering, but there was a ‘missing piece’ that I was yet to discover. Finally in 2011 my work was radically transformed when I was introduced to an approach known as the ‘inside out’ understanding or the ‘Three Principles’, discovered by Sydney Banks in 1973.
I came to see that most of us are inadvertently using our own mind against ourselves in a variety of ways. Rather than learning techniques and strategies to apply and practice, we can discover how the mind actually works, and thereby learn to use the gift we’ve been given in a far more effective, creative and naturally healthier way.
My Journey with the Principles
Following a fifteen year career in homeopathic practice & training I began to explore how I could help those who were struggling primarily with their mental & emotional health.
A decade of further training and exploration led me to an understanding called The Three Principles in 2011. Based on the work of the late Sydney Banks , the simplicity and practical impact of this approach has made it the foundation of my own work ever since.
I was fortunate to be trained as a practitioner and trainer by Dr Mark Howard and Cathy Casey, two pioneers of this work who learned directly from Sydney Banks.
What makes this understanding different is that there is no requirement to adopt certain practices, beliefs or techniques. Learning occurs as a result of each person’s own insight, and lasting changes in mental attitude, feeling state and behaviour follow naturally in its wake.
As an educator, my work is focused on making this understanding accessible to people from all walks of life. During the past fifteen years, I have been privileged to see countless people regain access to their own wellbeing and find freedom from long term psychological suffering.
I have been invited to share this revolutionary understanding within organisations including the Pret Foundation and Samsung, with health professionals, teachers, school children and many individuals & groups around the world.
I currently run an annual practitioner training programme in London for those who have seen the potential of this approach and are looking to bring this understanding into their chosen field or profession.
I hope you will join me for the day whether you are new to this understanding or looking to go deeper in your learning.
About the Principles of Innate Wellbeing
In 1973, an ordinary working man named Sydney Banks had a series of extraordinary insights into the nature of the human experience. What he came to realise will one day be viewed as a turning point in the evolution of human consciousness, and has already begun to radically transform the mental health field.
In essence, Sydney Banks uncovered the universal principles that govern our entire psychological and emotional experience. These principles provide a rock-solid foundation for understanding how we function, what we are really up against when we struggle, and how we can regain our peace of mind and access a deeper wisdom at any moment.
The Three Principles are not something to be memorised and understood intellectually, but are realised via your own personal insight. This one-day workshop is intended to create a relaxed and conducive environment in which insight occurs naturally and learning is effortless and enjoyable - exactly as it was designed to be!
“Every human being is sitting in the middle of mental health. They just don’t know it.”
Sydney Banks (1931 - 2009)
What we discover through understanding these Principles
Everyone has innate well-being and resilience on the inside, no exceptions
Peace of mind and well-being is the natural state of all human beings
Past events have no power in and of themselves to create ongoing psychological suffering
True, lasting psychological and emotional healing occurs via insight and a fundamental shift in understanding, not from techniques, practices or prescriptions
Dysregulation in body chemistry & nervous system are a reflection of a person's psychological state, not the cause of it
Life circumstances cannot create stressful feelings in and of themselves
Other people have no power to create your feelings - only you can do that!
Unhealthy behaviours and habits arise in response to internal distress, and fall away naturally by themselves when peace of mind is restored
Workshop Details & Booking Information
Date: Friday 17th April 2026
Time: 10am - 5pm
Venue: Violet Hill Studios, 6 Violet Hill, St John’s Wood, London NW8 9EB
Please note the meeting room is on the first floor and is accessible only via stairs
Cost: £90 including refreshments
Cancellation Policy: Please read the cancellation policy before booking
Booking: Places are limited and advance booking is required. Book online via BACS transfer or using the payment button below.
Contact: Any questions - email Ian
The venue is approximately 5 minutes walk from St John’s Wood (Jubilee line) and Maida Vale (Bakerloo line) underground stations
Refreshments will be provided during the breaks. Lunch can be purchased at one of the nearby cafes & restaurants or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch if you prefer.
Reserve your place by sending a BACS bank transfer with your name as the reference - please email Ian to request an invoice with the bank details. Alternatively, you can book and pay online using the payment button.