Most people who meet me or who have seen me teach would say that I am outgoing, confident, and dare I say, a bit on the enthusiastic side. However, deep in my soul I long for quiet.
As a mindfulness teacher, I have had to be ‘on’ or what I like to call engaging my full voice on an almost daily basis. Needless to say, I wouldn’t be able to do this unless I have a practice of stillness and silence. For it’s in these spaces that inspiration can arise. It’s also in these spaces where I am able to rest and be available to the grace of the daily minutia of life that surrounds me.
My silent places are often found in nature, where I take refuge regularly. They are also found in creating art, baking goodies, and reading poetry. Most of all though, my most precious silent place is accessed through my breath and the practice of mindfulness.
Personally, I am a Canadian who has been living in Ireland for the past 25 years. I am both a divorcee and a widow. I have three beautiful children who have only just started to explore the world on their own as young adults.
Professionally, I have been teaching compassion based mindfulness for 15 years. I am a past Managing Director of the Sanctuary in Dublin City and I am currently teaching on the Being Present and 8 week MBLC teacher training programme, as well as a programme that I have developed called the Art of Rest.
Over the years, I have developed the Mindfulness and Compassion Based Professional practice course for the Sanctuary that is run in conjunction with Dublin City University, and have delivered the Sanctuary’s Caring for the Caregiver programme throughout the time of Covid.
I hold an MSc in Studies in Mindfulness and am currently working towards an MSc in Psychotherapy.
If you would like to join me for live meditation practices, I do so for the Sanctuary every Tuesday morning at 10am. You can access the Zoom link below:
My Silent Place 