During a pain management seminar at Ipswich Hospital, I first heard mention of mindfulness. Living with chronic back pain, the brief mention sparked something in me. It felt urgent to find a way to live with the stress the pain was causing. I decided it was worth exploring further on my own.

That curiosity led me to the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, and from there, I began a daily guided practice. For the first time, I tasted a worled that offered freedom, space and clarity. I glimpsed the possibility of shifting perspective, of loosening the heavy shield of pain that had dominated my life. At this point I had no idea of the potential of this path or where it would lead me.

Two years later, I enrolled in a formal Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course, which deepened my understanding my understanding and commitment. I continued to practice daily, exploring the fild widely and immersing myself in its teachings.

As a former educator, in Primary schools, ESL classrooms and music tuition, I felt called to formalise my mindfulness training. I completed a yearlong teacher training course with the Mindfulness Training Institute, led by Martin Ayleward and Mark Coleman, and became an IMTA-accredited mindfulness teacher.

A pivotal part of the training was a five-day silent retreat. I’ve since attended several. These retreats, while challenging, offer something rare: the chance to observe the full spectrum of the mind without distraction. While mindstates play out organically, we meet ourselves anew. There is a kind of unlearning… a return to what was always there. In silence, the nervous system resets.

In my work within the NHS I’ve seen how mindfulness quietly underpins many psychological modalities even when not named. I’ve used mindfulness-based approaches to support young people and I’ve witnessed its power to create space, soften resistance and foster healing.

Yet, the medical model stops short, not fully embracing mindfulness, especially its deep connection with the body. It’s in nurturing this relationship that we find opportunities for deeper healing. That’s why I created the HMB course, a holistic approach that honours the body, the breath, and the deeper layers of awareness, rooted in principles that have shaped my own healing and growth.