Meet the expert teachers of our Mindfulness in the Workplace Course, located throughout the UK and bringing experience from many sectors and industries.

If you would like to work more closely with one of our associates who seems to be an especially good fit for your organisation, please feel free to say so when you enquire into mindfulness training with us.

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Andrew has been practicing mindfulness for 7 years and is the Workplace Policy Lead for the UK Mindfulness Initiative, set up by Parliament to support the use of mindfulness nationally. Andrew was co-author of ‘Building the case for Mindfulness in the Workplace’ (2017) and is an Accredited Breathworks Mindfulness trainer (July 2018).

Having achieved a law degree, Andrew joined the Civil Service and worked there for nearly 18 years predominantly in project and programme management. Most recently Andrew was the Programme Director of the Building Safety Portfolio (BSP) at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, established following the Grenfell fire tragedy, where he designed the BSP as a ‘mindful programme’. Andrew has also brought Mindfulness into his senior leadership roles at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Transport for London.

An accomplished leader with clear insight into how teams work, Andrew has personal insight into the pressures on top executives and how mindfulness can help teams and team leaders.

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Tina is an experienced and fully accredited mindfulness teacher.  She trained with Breathworks and has carried out additional training with Bangor University and the Oxford Mindfulness Centre.  She is also a qualified yoga teacher.  She has a deeply rooted meditation practice and attends meditation retreats and courses regularly. 

Tina’s teaching is based on strong communication skills from her former career as a television journalist and filmmaker at the BBC, and also at City University as a lecturer in broadcast journalism.  Her work as a journalist has given her a deep insight into the stresses and challenges people can face both in the workplace and at home, and how mindfulness can help. 

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Alessio is a Chartered Psychologist, Associate Fellow, listed on the Expert Witnesses Directory of the British Psychological Society and registered with the HCPC. He is the founder of UK Jersey-based CTT International, offering professional bespoke psychological services, Court Opinion,  mindfulness and cognitive based therapies and EMDR. He is an adult Dyslexia diagnostic/identification and workplace needs assessor.He is a honorary visiting research fellow at LJMU and employed as the only Consultant Psychologist Lead in Chronic Pain Management, in Jersey.

He is the first Jersey-based mindfulness teacher listed on the UK  Network for Mindfulness Teachers and Breathworks Accredited since 2013. He is now a Breathworks Associate contributing to the training of other teachers. He is also the MD of Jersey International Mindfulness Centre Limited, a mindfulness specialist provider to corporates, legal, banking professionals  and high-performance athletes.

• Committee Member of Dyslexia Jersey until 2014
• Committee Member of the Jersey Personal Injury Medicolegal Society (JPIMS) 2009 – 2016
• President, Jersey Association of Italian Culture (JAIC) 2016 - 2018.

He has provided consultation and expertise on stress in the workplace to UK and local Government agencies and regularly presents at work, research conferences, leadership events and not-for-profit events, as well as contributing to various strategic and organizational change and development initiatives, including  in the UK, UAE, Canada and Italy.

He started off in a working class Italian family, trained as a classical pianist, but then became a chef and subsequently joined the Italian parachute regiment, before moving to the UK (he thought he would stay for three months just to learn English and found love). These days he enjoys spending his spare time low-water fishing and time out at sea in Jersey.

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Caroline is a free-lance mindfulness trainer with extensive experience of working with teams across the corporate and charitable sectors. She has a degree in Modern Languages and a Masters degree in International Marketing, and trained to teach mindfulness in 2012.

Caroline is also Vice Chair of an Adoption and Fostering panel and works as a volunteer with asylum seekers. She was brought up in France and in the past has worked in Brussels including a stint on the India desk at the European Commission and for several years as an EU researcher and lobbyist both in Brussels and with a large fair trade charity in the UK.

Caroline Raven has been practising mindfulness on a personal level for over 25 years. She is passionate about the field of personal development and in passing on what she has learnt to others.

Caroline teaches mindfulness privately and in corporate settings. Her clients have included Capital One, Experian, Nottinghamshire Police, the British Geological Survey, St Gobain and the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation.

In her spare time, Caroline enjoys coastal walking, yoga and art.

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Vishvapani has extensive experience of bringing mindfulness into workplaces and helping teams embed mindful approaches in their lives and work. He has trained in several mindfulness curricula and is a leader in bringing mindfulness to Criminal Justice settings and public policy. Over the last decade he has led more than 120 mindfulness courses.

Vishvapani has worked with leading business schools (London, Said and Cardiff), and senior management teams in the public and private sectors. Clients include G4S, Wales Probation and Prison services, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, the UK’s Department for Communities, Insolvency Service, social service departments, counselling services, healthcare teams and schools. As Wales Director of the Mindfulness Initiative he works with the Welsh Government on binging mindfulness into public policy.

Vishvapani has a First Class degree in English Literature from Cambridge University and an MA in Drama from London University. He’s an engaging speaker, an author and a regular contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He lives in Cardiff with his family and several chickens.

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Stanter was diagnosed with severe Rheumatoid arthritis in her teens and was told that she would end up in a wheelchair.  Instead, she embarked upon a journey of self-discovery and is now a freelance mindfulness teacher and coach, delivering mindfulness workshops and courses across Yorkshire and is founder of ‘Open Mind’

For the last 29 years, Stanter has embraced a holistic approach to her health and wellbeing, exploring different ideas and techniques from established teachers such as Tara Brach and Ken Wilber, incorporating their teachings into her daily life.  She also discovered the practice of mindfulness.

An experienced and qualified manager, adept at coaching and training delivery, Stanter holds a BA in Social Anthropology (School of African and Oriental Studies University of London, 1997) and is a fully Accredited Breathworks Mindfulness teacher (2014).  In 2017 she trained with the ‘Mindfulness in Schools Project’ qualifying to deliver their ten-week Dot B programme to children. Stanter played a leading part in developing a pain clinic in West Yorkshire, which was nominated for an outstanding performance award at national level.

Stanter has delivered mindfulness sessions – either one-to-one bespoke sessions or group workshops – to local government; NHS staff; fostering services; Neurological Centre, Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors services.  She is experienced in working with complex clients suffering from long-term health and mental health conditions, and trauma including Manchester Bombing victims. 

Stanter has defied her original prognosis.  She has walked on hot coals, lived on the River Ganges, meditated in the desert and by the ocean. She lives life to the full.

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Alison is an experienced Breathworks Mindfulness Teacher, Accredited since 2011 and a member of the UK Network of Mindfulness Teachers.

Alison works for Breathworks as a Senior Trainer, Supervisor and Mentor; involved in training and supporting mindfulness teachers and facilitating meditation retreats.

Alongside this, since 2013 Alison has been running a continuous program of Mindfulness for Health courses in the NHS - helping patients with chronic pain  transform their relationship to pain and suffering.

She has also helped to bring the Breathworks approach to staff in a number of NHS Trusts, including her own where she teaches the Mindfulness for Stress course as part of a workplace wellbeing initiative. She enjoys having such a broad variety of people to work with in this field.

Alison has a particular interest in the area of Compassion, and is also trained to teach the Mindfulness Based Compassionate Living , and Mindful Self Compassion courses.

Alison finds her own mindfulness practice invaluable in keeping her balance and perspective in life as an NHS Health Professional and Mother. She believes that we can all weave mindfulness and self/compassion into the busiest of working and family lives.

Alison holds a Bsc. in Psychology with Sociology, a Diploma in Counselling, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Therapy. She has specialised in Community Mental Health.

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Andrea Cygler is originally from Manchester but is now based in Liverpool. She is an experienced and well-qualified wellbeing practitioner who has taught and practiced complementary health, therapeutic touch, meditation and relaxation techniques, stress management and resiliency training for 20 years, working with all ages and diversities, all over Merseyside and the North West.

Although she had tried different forms of meditation over the years it was only after an 8 week Mindfulness course that her practice become sustainable, enjoyable and truly beneficial. She has trained as a Mindfulness teacher and qualified with Breathworks in 2014 . She has also done some MBSR training with Mindflow and is a qualified Mindfulness in Schools Instructor (www.mindfulnessinschools.org). She teaches for Breathworks and also runs her own mindfulness courses and meditation sessions in Liverpool.

She does have a small private practice but her main focus is on group work and community projects and most of her work over the years has been within support services, adult learning services and the school environment.

She is committed to inspiring, enabling and supporting individuals in taking an active and integrative approach to their wellbeing, encouraging a deep understanding of the connection and relationship between body, mind and spirit and a mindfulness- based approach is now at the heart of all her work.

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Annika is an experienced mindfulness trainer with a commitment to bringing mindfulness into workplaces. She completed her training in at Bangor University’s Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice in 2012 and has been teaching mindfulness in general population courses and in busy work places since then.

Annika’s clients have included staff in. schools, local businesses, local councils, police and ambulance services and she provides all aspects of mindfulness programmes from introductory sessions to full courses.

Coupled with her background in project management, further studies in coaching, psychology and, her experience in tailoring mindfulness for individual work place settings, she is an in ideal position to help implement sustainable mindfulness programmes in work places.

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 Benedict is an Associate Mindfulness Teacher with Breathworks and delivers Mindfulness  for Health and Mindfulness for Stress courses at the West London Buddhist Centre. He’s also a practicing counsellor and is Clinical Lead for Mental Health for Spectra-London CIC where he heads up a Public Health England-funded mindfulness-based chemsex addiction recovery programme.

Benedict has been practicing mindfulness for nearly 20 years but was drawn to the Breathworks approach during his own journey of recovery from illness and decided to train as a teacher in 2015.  He’s particularly interested in the practice of mindfulness in cities and has recently completed a pilot study at the University of Sheffield into the therapeutic potential of mindful walking in urban environments, to be published in Psychogeography and Psychotherapy (PCCS Books) later this year.

In his spare time, he loves to cook, enjoys sampling (though not always mindfully!) London’s rich and varied cuisine and is a self-confessed film geek.

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Carole has 18 years experience within the Voluntary Sector built through a range  of roles including self-employment as a trainer, consultant and  quality reviewer, being an employee of a charity as well as volunteering.  She has worked with social enterprises, start up community groups, small and large charities as well as support organisations to the voluntary sector and through this delivered hundreds of personal/organisational development courses including mindfulness and resilience as well as peer support programmes and self-management groups within mental health.

With a strong commitment to her own personal development and wellbeing, Carole knows first hand the effects of stress and anxiety.  Carole first came to  yoga and meditation when having time away from work in 2001 and through volunteering made a move into the voluntary sector the following year.  People appreciate her honesty and down to earth style, sense of humour and ability to present things in a simple and clear way. 

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Colette has extensive experience in the mindfulness field. She is a mindfulness teacher, trainer and supervisor and certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher (MSc, The Centre for Mindful Self Compassion, in the process of teacher certification.

She delivers stress reduction and resilience training across a range of sectors including education, health and business.

Colette holds a doctorate from the University of Liverpool and is a trained integrative counsellor.

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Dave is a Breathworks Trainer and Associate. He has practised and trained in mindfulness and meditation techniques for over fifteen years and has been teaching and delivering mindfulness training since 2013.

As well as his training with Breathworks, Dave holds a post-graduate certificate with distinction in Studies in Mindfulness from the University of Aberdeen and is an approved teacher with the UK Network of Mindfulness Teacher Training Organisations. He has also trained to teach mindfulness with The Mindfulness Association, and is trained and accredited with The Yoga Alliance to teach yoga and meditation.

As well as his work for Breathworks, Dave is the director of his own successful mindfulness training company, Mindfulness Liverpool, where he regularly delivers training, workshops and courses in many different settings. Dave is also employed by The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts to teach mindfulness as part of their student support/counselling team and is a guest lecturer in mindfulness at the University of Liverpool on the clinical psychology program.

Dave's teaching is warm and accessible and he is known for his friendliness and approachability. His skill set and wide range of experience mean he can adapt easily to meet a client’s needs.

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Debbie is a qualified Breathworks teacher with particular interest and skills in the use of mindfulness techniques in patients with chronic dizziness. She has designed and delivered bespoke courses and support groups (based around the Breathworks model) to this group.

She is also interested in the use of mindfulness techniques in clinical leadership, leading sessions on this, and the use of mindfulness to help support the well-being of students and all hospital staff.

Debbie is senior clinical scientist in the NHS specialising in the testing and treatment of vestibular (inner ear balance organ) disorders. She also lectures on these subjects at Manchester University.

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Heather has worked with young children and those who teach them for decades, having progressed to the headship of a primary school before entering university-based teacher training. Over this time I have come to understand that what enables teachers to thrive in the profession is not just extensive subject and pedagogical knowledge but the ability to be “bomb-proof”; it was the examination of exactly what this term means that led to my own journey in mindfulness and to specialise in educational settings, following my training with Breathworks.   

Positive wellbeing, for me, starts in childhood; in the application of this principle to practice I have gained the qualification to teach mindfulness to children aged 7-11 from the Mindfulness in Schools Project. Lately, my work with teachers and their children has led to much success in the delivery of a mindfulness project with primary and secondary schools in a city located in the north of England.

Living in a multigenerational family, with 2 working dogs, in the heart of a rural county, means that my own mindfulness practice has become my daily, lived, experience. Weekly attendance at my meditation group sessions and commitment to their regular retreats supplement this, as does much reading and personal research; the work of Jack Kornfield provides regular inspiration for me.

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Jo has worked as a clinical psychologist since qualifying from her post-graduate training in 1994.  She has held a number of positions in child and family mental health services, learning disabilities and neuropsychology within NHS Trusts in Oxfordshire, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and has specialised in physical disability in young adults for the last 9 years.  She has extensive experience in applying an integrated approach to ensure that psychological therapy is tailored to individual need.

Jo’s introduction to mindfulness was initially through her current role – she was keen to explore how ‘third wave’ psychotherapeutic interventions could be integrated into her work.  Within half an hour of her first Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction 8 week course, she had an “Aha!” moment realising how enriching and transformative mindfulness could be in her personal, as well as professional, life. 

Jo is now a fully accredited Mindfulness for Health and Stress teacher, having trained with ‘Breathworks’. She is particularly interested in delivering mindfulness courses to staff working within the care sector. Jo brings a down to earth, humorous and inclusive approach to teaching mindfulness.

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Julia is an Accredited Breathworks Mindfulness Teacher and Psychotherapist (MBACP Accred). She specialises in working with people who suffer with chronic pain and illness, as well as long-term stress and disordered eating.

She chose to train with Breathworks Mindfulness while searching for some relief to her ongoing battle with back pain and migraines and found this approach of tremendous, life-changing benefit.

Julia runs two Mindfulness Meditation Groups and regular Mindfulness for Health and Mindfulness for Stress courses in East Sussex and Kent, and also works extensively with individuals and couples, where a more personalised approach can be offered.

She creates a welcoming, supportive and encouraging environment where anyone new to mindfulness can explore, learn and develop. She’s also available for corporate and business training for ethical organisations.

Julia is a registered Mindfulness Teacher with the UK Network for Mindfulness-Based Teacher Training Organisations and the Mental Health Foundation.

"I am constantly inspired by new discoveries and the richness that mindfulness brings to our lives and feel truly privileged to have been a part of some amazing life journeys that have been shared with me by others -  to whom I have been fortunate enough to pass on my learning.” - Julia

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Karen is an accredited mindfulness teacher, certified coach and MBTI facilitator. 

Karen offers tailored mindfulness programs for the workplace as well as retreat days in nature. 

She specialises in ‘coaching while walking’ in natural settings tapping into the beneficial impact nature has on our psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing.

Karen is an accredited and associate mindfulness trainer with Breathworks UK and a member of the Association of Coaching.

Karen has worked with Kew Gardens, The Royal Town Planning Institute, Trades Union Congress (TUC), K Benchmark, Adam & Eve Communications, Here East and others. 

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     Louise is a clinical psychologist, who has worked extensively in primary and secondary mental health care services, and now works in a busy NHS hospital, supporting patients living with chronic health problems and going through complex surgery.

For the past 10 years, Louise has developed an interest, and strong expertise in, mindfulness and acceptance based approaches.  She is a qualified mindfulness practitioner and Associate with Breathworks, who deliver mindfulness training and courses.  She has experience delivering mindfulness courses and individually, to people living with chronic pain and illness, stress, and also to people in the workplace.  Louise is also experienced in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and also Compassion Focused Therapy, and has delivers training in this to other professionals.  She has also delivered ‘ACT in the Workplace’ groups to staff in NHS and educational settings.

For the past 3 years Louise has joined with her sister Rachael, to form InTwoMinds.  Together they have run courses for teachers, using both ACT and mindfulness.  The aim is that participants find ways of incorporating these skills into both their own lives, and into the wider school programme.  They also give talks to parents and educational groups, run inset days, and lead sessions with children in the classroom.

Louise has 3 children, who remain her priority - even more so as they begin to flee the nest.  She enjoys year round outdoor swimming, taking her dog on long walks, singing in a community choir, and making things for people.

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MJ has been accredited with Breathworks as a mindfulness trainer for six years, where he has taught many of the MfS and MfH courses locally in Manchester. He has been a practising Buddhist for many and worked at the Manchester Buddhist Centre since 1997. He has taught many meditation and Buddhism courses and has a regular meditation practice.

In 2010 he qualified as an Alexander Technique teacher. This technique is well known for posture and about bringing our awareness to our habits both helpful and unhelpful ones. With greater awareness, or mindfulness of our day-to-day activity, we see how our bodies affect our thoughts and vice versa. So he enjoys using his AT skills combined with the Breathworks material, especially with its emphasis on mindful movement and Mindfulness in Daily Action.

Mj has worked with the NHS, it's Graduate Leadership Academy, staff at various trusts and a variety of healthcare professionals. Other clients have included the Royal Northern College of Music, Nando’s management team, Havas Lynx, Autotrader Companies and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

As part of the senior training team Mj is frequently involved in the BW training retreats, supervision of practice courses and one-to-one supervision.

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 Sophie has worked as a mindfulness teacher since 2015. She currently leads mindfulness courses, workshops and retreat days in London and Kent.

Sophie is an Associate Teacher and Supervisor for Breathworks, and teaches both Mindfulness for Stress and Mindfulness for Health courses. She is also a Breathworks trainer for mindfulness in the workplace and for health professionals. Sophie is also teaches MBSR, MBCT and MBCT for Life and is qualified to teach the Mindfulness for Schools Foundations Programme and the Nurturing Parents: Mindfulness Based Wellbeing for Parents Programme.

Sophie has had a personal mindfulness practice for the past 9 years. She is currently completing a Masters in Teaching Mindfulness Based Approaches at the University of Bangor by writing an MA thesis on Mindfulness for Parents of Teenagers, something that has become very relevant in her own life! Sophie also lives with a painful, chronic health condition and has found mindfulness to be indispensable in relation to this, as well as in every other aspect of her life.

Sophie is a member of the UK Network of Mindfulness Teachers and adheres to their standards of good practice.

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Steve has many years’ experience as a mindfulness teacher, trainer and coach. His own clients are predominantly those dealing with chronic conditions, from pain to anxiety, stress to cancer. He was awarded a grant for his work with veterans with PTSD. He helped develop national guidelines for mindfulness teachers.

Steve gained his Doctorate through research into the use of mindfulness and outdoor therapy for people with chronic conditions. He has an MSc in Design Management in which he examined the impact of environmental design on health and wellbeing. He also holds a BSc. (Hons) in Integrated Therapy as well as Diplomas in counselling and psychology

A former military medic and an emergency care practitioner, Steve is a Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing instructor who teaches Casualty Care for a Lake District mountain rescue team. He is also a TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) advisor for Mountain Rescue.

He was UK delegate to the first Asia Pacific ICHPER (International Congress on Health, Physical Education and Recreation) Conference in Malaysia and is a UK member of the International Adventure Therapy Committee. He has presented at conferences in the Czech Republic, London, Geneva and Johannesburg.

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Taravandana brings a wealth of experience and skills founded upon a combination of 35 years of experience within the NHS as a clinician (allied health professional), senior manager and organisational development lead in a range of NHS organisations including acute, strategic health authority and clinical networks.  She has led on a number of regional and local consultancy assignments and since 2008 has run her own business. She has been practising and teaching Mindfulness for 30 years and is an Accredited Mindfulness Trainer

Mindfulness

Taravandana has practised and taught Mindfulness within the Buddhist tradition since 1988 including through leading retreats. She is passionate to pass on the benefits she has personally experienced with others especially those who work in stressful jobs doing their best to make the world a better place. Her clients The Kings Fund, NHS Senior leaders and clinicians, front line staff and teams

Consultancy

Taravandana has proven ability in a range of developmental approaches including mindfulness and resilience, coaching, mentoring, action learning, facilitation, change management, leadership and organisational development.

Her clients include:

The Kings Fund, Novum Coaching, NW Employers, Salford City Council, Health Education England, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust,  Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, NHS NW R&D Network, NHS NW Leadership Academy, NW R&D Team, Preston and Chorley CCG, NW Dental Deanery and Post Graduate Medical Deanery, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Solutions PT Ltd, Torus Housing Group, New Charter Housing, Manchester Buddhist Centre, Taraloka Retreat Centre.

Coaching

Taravandana has been coaching and mentoring since 2002. She combines empathy and support with constructive challenge to enable individuals to bring about change, maximize their contribution and increase their level of fulfilment. She uses a range of tools including mindfulness, appreciative inquiry, emotional intelligence, 360 feedback, Myers Briggs Type Indicator and Firo-B.

Qualification and Accreditations

• Accredited Breathworks Mindfulness Trainer
• An accredited (ILM Level 7) executive coach, Coaching Supervision
• MBTI Step 1 and 2 and TEIQ Assessor.
• Affina OD Team Journey Consultant
• A member of European Mentoring and Coaching Council
• Associate of CIPD.

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