I have been a Breathworks teacher since 2015, leading mindfulness courses largely in London and Kent. 

I am an Associate Breathworks Teacher, teaching Mindfulness for Stress and Mindfulness for Health courses at the West London Buddhist Centre since 2016, as well as teaching independently. I am a member of the Breathworks Associate Training Team for the Workplace and for Health Professionals and a member of the Breathworks Workplace Advisory group.  

Recently I have also really enjoyed teaching Mindfulness for Stress courses to teachers and social workers in Kent as part of a lottery funded project to increase resilience amongst young people in Kent. 

I live with a chronic and painful illness (ankylosing spondylitis) and mindfulness continues to help me in dealing with my physical pain and restricted movement as well as my thoughts and emotions in relation to this, as well with my life in general. I am the mother of three teenagers. 

I am listed on the UK Network of Mindfulness Teachers and adhere to their standards of good practice in terms of CPD, Supervision and regular retreats. 

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Mindfulness Based Approaches (Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, the University of Bangor)
• Currently writing an MA thesis on Mindfulness for Parents of Teenagers as the final part of a Masters in Teaching Mindfulness Based
• Approaches (University of Bangor)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Housing Studies (Oxford Brookes University)
• BA Hons (2:1) in Comparative Literature and French (University of East Anglia) 
• Teaching Specialisms and Interests
• Mindfulness for Health (Breathworks)
• Mindfulness for Stress (Breathworks) 
• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) – trained at Bangor University 
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – trained at Bangor University 
• Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) – Trained at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre 
• Mindfulness in Schools Foundation Programme – MiSP , London Nurturing Parents: Mindfulness Based Wellbeing for Parents – trained with Eluned Gold at the Tavistock Centre, London. 

Supervision areas

I trained in Mindfulness Based Supervision with Breathworks (May – September 2017)

I completed a specialist training day in Mindfulness Based Supervision with Alison Evans from the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (June 2018)   

I get and provide regular peer supervision as a member of the Associate Teaching team in London and I also am a member of a peer supervision group with other teachers and have regular peer supervision with a friend who is also a mindfulness teacher. 

Personal practice

A daily mindfulness meditation practice for the past 9 years.  I usually meditate in the morning before I wake the children for school and most often do body scans, mindfulness of breathing, just siting and compassion practices. I am interested in exploring somatic practices. I also really love the Breathworks Treasure of Pleasure and have find that weaving that into my daily life through enjoying time in nature, taking time to looking out the window etc has been transformational.

Interests

Developing Mindfulness and compassion as a response to physical pain and psychological distress, both in myself and helping others find their own path with this. 

The interdependence and co-creation of mindfulness and compassion, both for self and others. I am interested in exploring both implicit and explicit ways of developing self-compassion. 

I have an interest (stemming from my own life experience) in teaching mindfulness to parents, and currently to parents of teenagers. This is a time of life when I believe there are particular vulnerabilities, both for teenagers and parents. I am also interested in mindfulness for childbirth and parenting in general and mindfulness in schools, both for pupils and teachers and in different workplaces.  

Noticing and being grateful for the many beautiful, inspiring and precious aspects of living life in this world today. 

Always developing my practice and learning from many wonderful, inspirational teachers. 

Location: London

To request Sophie Matthew as your supervisor please click on the button below.

Request Sophie Matthew as your supervisor