I have been practising mindfulness since I took my first eight-week course in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in 2013. I initially trained to teach MBSR and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on the Master’s programme at Bangor University in 2017, and more recently became accredited as a Breathworks Mindfulness for Health teacher. My meditation practice is also informed by Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, Focusing, and Interpersonal Mindful Communication (Insight Dialogue). The key point for me during my practice is letting go of what can be let go of and letting be what can’t, and finding manifestations of stillness and steadiness in my experience.
I have run drop-in sessions and workshops on a number of topics associated with mindfulness with Cambridge University and associated organisations, and run Breathworks Mindfulness for Health courses for people with fatigue and energy impairment online. I became involved with leading lunchtime sessions for what was Friends of Bangor (FoB) in 2019 – these sessions were a grounding resource at a time of great difficulty and provided a lovely opportunity to reconnect with my peers at Bangor University. I have enjoyed continuing my volunteering role as co-chair supporting the transition of FoB into the newly-formed Mindfulness Network Community Friends.
I was born in London but spent most of my childhood living abroad in Germany, Spain and the USA. In my teens I returned to the UK to continue my education and eventually studied English Language and Literature at the University of Glasgow. My vocational background is in English Language Teaching and Assessment, having taught English in Seville for many years and briefly pursuing a career in Assessment (exam production) in Cambridge, where I’m based now. I have a master’s in Applied Linguistics and Communication from Birkbeck College University of London, and speak proficient Spanish. I was once known to cycle across the odd continent, including a couple of trips across Europe, and the west coast of North America (Alaska to Mexico). More recently I am more likely to be found walking in nature, cycling somewhere where the wind is at my back and using my gears wisely, dancing flamenco or 5Rhythms, singing, and working on my recovery from chronic fatigue.