MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS

You only need to google the benefits of meditation to see the vast benefits a meditation practice can have on your mind, body and entire wellbeing.

My meditation journey started quite a while back when my then yoga teacher invited me to a Shambhala Buddhist meditation group that sat weekly. Although I found it hard and didn’t go every week when the group disbanded, I was disappointed and for a few years I didn’t do any more meditation at all.

In parallel to this, some time ago now, my brother took me to see the Buddhist zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh speak at the Royal Festival Hall and being part of a mass meditation was a very powerful experience for me. But it wasn’t until I saw the film in early 2018 ‘Walk with me’ which featured Thich Nhat Hanh and his community that I made a more serious commitment to a daily meditation practice. This daily practice led me in 2019 to study meditation further, undertaking a teaching course which explored mindfulness meditation from a zen Buddhist and yoga philosophy (Hindu) perspective. In 2021 I expanded my knowledge of mantra and meditation further by undertaking a 120 hour course studying mantra and meditation.

Meditation is not easy, and I try to infuse my classes with a sense of variety (including walking meditation for example) and trying different meditation techniques with no judgement or expectation of where the practice will take you.

You do not need previous experience to attend one of my classes, just a beginner’s mind - being willing to try different things, being non-judgemental towards yourself and others and a willingness to be open and honest.

I have written a number of meditations that are free to listen to on the Insight Timer App, please feel free to listen and share.