“I have been practising mindfulness for 25 years and became involved with the Breathworks programmes in 2007, training to become mindfulness teacher and initially delivering courses at the Triratna Buddhist Centre in Leeds. I am a founder member of Leeds Mindfulness Cooperative and feel passionate about sharing the best of mindfulness and mindfulness-based approaches to support people’s physical and mental wellbeing and personal development. For myself, I see mindfulness practice as a way to become more present and accepting of all aspects of ourselves, and to develop an awake, engaged and compassionate relationship with the world.

I offer one-to-one mindfulness mentoring and personal supervision for mindfulness teachers, I follow the good practice guidelines for mindfulness teachers and am registered with BAMBA (British Association for Mindfulness Based Approaches). In addition to my mindfulness teaching, I work as a psychotherapist in private practice and in the voluntary sector.”

“During my career in science and teaching, I came to Mindfulness to help me to reduce stress and anxiety in my life. I found it also opened me to delight and a deeper sense of connection. I now love that my work with Leeds Mindfulness Co-op allows me to share in a journey with people as they connect with the whole of their experience with compassion. Top priority for me is ensuring access to for all including people facing deprivation and those from marginalised communities. I am passionate about sharing mindfulness with people in their communities and neighbourhoods. My experience is that learning mindfulness in group situations with others who understand the social stressors within their community is supportive and powerful. I am committed to working in a kind and sensitive way to create welcoming, safe spaces for all, both indoors and outdoors. I trained with Breathworks and the Mindfulness in Schools Project and I am BAMBA registered.”

“When I was 23 an injury left me with chronic pain.  A Breathworks Mindfulness Course taught by Vidyamala in Manchester was transformative and I went on to train to teach in 2012.  Every time I teach a course I learn something new from the participants and from the content.  I feel particularly lucky to be able to work and practice as part of a co-operative with my friends.  I am also a postdoctoral researcher on ecology, environment and health at the University of York. I’m particularly interested in our nature connection work and helping more people access this through green social prescribing.”

Chris brings extensive experience in the third sector in Leeds to support the co-operative, particularly in the areas of governance, planning and preparing funding applications. Chris was inspired to volunteer as a director after seeing the positive changes that the co-op’s mindfulness training has brought to staff and local members of the LS14 trust in East Leeds.

“I completed an 8-week course with Uddyotani 12 years ago and I have drawn so many benefits personally and professionally from my own ongoing mindfulness practice since then. I qualified as a mindfulness teacher in 2019 after training with Breathworks. I am also a qualified coach, social worker and also work in the busy and constantly changing public sector. This includes delivering the 8-week mindfulness for stress course in the work context with colleagues. It feels like a special opportunity to now be able to teach and by teaching practice with others. To borrow a quote; ‘I teach what I want to keep learning!’”

“I have trained in the Mindful Self Compassion programme and have delivered the cooperative’s continuation courses. I am committed to making mindfulness training accessible for all and I work for the Cooperative on a voluntary basis. I am also a yoga teacher. I am interested in bringing my experience of working with Internal Family Systems into my teaching.”

“Practising mindfulness has helped me to experience a greater freedom to make choices about how I react to events.  I’ve enjoyed the feelings of community and connection that are important aspects of the courses, and I’ve begun training to teach mindfulness as a continuation of the positive feelings I’ve experienced as a participant.”