I started teaching the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program in 1995 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This approach to stress management was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. In 1993 I did a week-long training with him in teaching this type of program. At that time I had practiced yoga for 11 years and meditation for 7 years. I had taught people to be in their body and work with their body through dance and body awareness for over 20 years at that point in time, so teaching from a mind/body approach was something I was very comfortable with and had some experience in. It was still, however, quite an experience and a lot of hard work to teach the first MBSR program in Ottawa. It has continued to be both a joy and a tremendous challenge since 1995.
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In 2008, my husband and I bought a place in the country on a lake in the Lanark Highlands, south west of Ottawa. This was a dream come true for me and many of the photos on this site are from this area. Our three sons had moved away. I was ready to “retreat” into nature. It was and still is a “coming home” of sorts. It is the first time I really understand the importance and value of “place”. In 2010 we sold our house in Ottawa and moved up full time. The only thing I do not like about living here is leaving, even for a short trip into town.
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I stopped teaching in Ottawa in 2010 and have had the fortunate situation of teaching MBSR at North Lanark Community Health Centre in the village of Lanark. I currently teach about 2 courses a year and I work with some of the most wonderful people in the world, both participants in the program and staff of the health centre. It is truly a gift I was not expecting when I moved here. I also do some telephone coaching with people who want to stay connected to themselves and move in a direction that suits them best whether it is in making a change in their lives or in wanting to be mindful in how they are dealing with the challenges of life.
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