My practice

I want to take the time here, to not only honour the lineage of the mindfulness practice I’m offering, but also to really emphasise it as a deeply important aspect.

The qualification I’ve received is from the accredited online course ‘Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Programme’, created and led by meditation teachers Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield PhD.

The course itself teaches secular mindfulness and meditation practice, whilst weaving in spiritual wisdom in an accessible and practical way.

'To remember'

The very roots of mindfulness come from the early teachings of Buddhism, with mindfulness being a foundational practice that is commonly known to translate in the Pali language as ‘to remember’. In this tradition, mindfulness is a life practice that means to be present with all life, and to be aware of who we and others really are, which is a far vaster loving, gentle and aware self.

Whilst this practice originates in the early Buddhist tradition, the approach I offer comes much from the modern Vipassana meditation tradition, which began in the late 1960s/early 1970s when primarily American Western practitioners went to practice and study Buddhist meditation in places such as Thailand, India and Burma, eventually being guided by their teachers to offer these in an accessible and grounded way in the west.

My training is also very rooted in modern Scientific research and psychology, including education around trauma and neuroscience.

Everyone’s approach and style towards something will be different.

This not only refers to just meditation, but also any teacher of some kind who wants to share a particular life practice, and who wants to help people learn and develop in themselves.

So, my approach will always be grounded in who I am, both reflecting my personality, style and experiences as a person; As well as fully incorporating and honouring both the scope of my certification, as well as the limits of what I can and can’t offer.

Below are some of the agreements and guidelines I have established as part of any group, workshop or class I will offer. They are very open and naturally subject to change, as my experience and training will develop, in addition to feedback I receive from participants :)

Here they are:

Honesty and kindness as the foundation.

My approach will centre on creating and continually nurturing a culture of authentic kindness and belonging in the spaces I offer my practices to. For example, I will always begin any offering by group check ins eg. Name, (optional) pronouns, and how people are arriving into the space. This allows everyone in the space to connect more deeply with themselves and others, so they can show up in the most genuine an attuned way possible.

My own continued practice, study and accountability as a teacher and guide

My role in the work I offer will centre on myself as part of the group, just as much as my participants. This means that I will commit to showing up fully as myself, including my personality, style of practice and teaching, as well as accountability as a teacher. I will ensure that I will continue to ‘practice what I preach’, as well as having my own mentors, as well as developing what I do, including further training. Any such additional qualification or training will be listed at the bottom of the ‘About me’ section.

Engaged and anti-oppressive practice

Ok, this one may sound a bit much so I’ll explain! By ‘engaged’, I mean offering mindfulness always through the lens of it being accessible and applicable to one’s own life, and how this connects with how we can continually show up as our most true selves in the world. Also, this includes acknowledging all identities and backgrounds, and life experiences in the group.

Emphasising accessibility

The spaces and venues I teach at will always be safe and fully accessible. This includes prioritising spaces that have a culture of care and diversity, as well as being suitable for different body types, such as being fully disability and wheelchair accessible.

Feedback and discussion

Foundational to my practice will be inviting feedback from participants, as well as opening up respectful discussion in the sessions. This may include feedback forms that participants may fill out, as well as discussing some of the topics and practices I include. This also incorporates respectful disagreement!

Trauma aware

Mindfulness practice can sometimes bring up challenging experiences for people. I will invite people to practice what is safe for them to do so, and not to push anyone to work with that which they don’t feel ready to explore or discuss.

Creativity!

I’m a very creative person, so I’m sorry to say this will only come into my practice. Throughout my offering, I will often interweave mindful creative activities to help explore and deepen further, including art and writing. I may also use background music to accompany too.

Fun!

This may all sound very serious and intense, but one of (If not my biggest) values is being fun and playful with everything, essentially. I will create spaces that reflect these qualities, including using funny stories and anecdotes to spice things up and make them interesting. During the sessions, people are actively invited to free their inner child and be silly :)

Confidentiality

Mindfulness practice can often allow people to openly share about their lives and personal experience. In the sessions, what is shared should stay within the group, out of respect for people's privacy and personal needs.

Progress, not perfection

My practice is not there to fix people or to bring out any sense in someone that they must be perfect. My approach will always be on meeting people where they’re currently at, emphasising learning and understanding, over judgement over someone not feeling ‘good enough’ or experienced.

Last but not least, My work is there to help and meet people where they’re at, and so no one should feel that their intentions for mindfulness practice and coming to my offerings are the same, or even need to be explained to others. You can come and go as you feel you need it, and take what is helpful and leave the rest.

I hope you have found my words clear, and maybe see you at one of my spaces!

I wish you well on this life journey we embark on together.

Eugene