Time 2 Be Mindful

Mindfulness movement is flowing into almost every part of modern life, from personal home practice, into the work place, into schools and universities, into hospitals and mental health centers and more…..It offers the perfect antidote to the over-stimulated, multi-tasking, “wired” lifestyle of 21st Century Westerners.

Join me in exploring with integrity how these ancient practices dating back to the Buddha can best be applied and experienced in these modern times for all the best possible, most wholesome reasons.  There’s a lot of “mindfulness” going around, so it is crucial to be clear and grounded, and in fidelity and alignment with the original teachings of the Buddha.  Otherwise, the practices loose their power, integrity and depth.

Mindfulness is best described as simply being in touch experientially with our moment-to-moment experience in our bodies, hearts and minds, with wholesome acceptance.  We join with our felt experience, letting go of right/wrong or future/past mental patterns or tendencies in the mind.  In this way, we can experience what is true and actual in any moment.

As a licensed clinical social worker, committed practitioner and experienced mindfulness teacher over the last 12 years, I am happy to compile the most up-to-date research, articles, resources and information on the mindfulness movement today.  No matter what your background, life and/or work situation, mindfulness can be integrated in practical and simple ways to transform your life for the better.

More than ever, it is truly time to be mindful……

While this practice dates back over 2,500 years, I discovered mindfulness practice initially through the present-day “secular” door.   Now, I walk a profound spiritual path as a committed practitioner of Vipassana Buddhist Meditation, and have found true community at Insight LA under the guidance of Trudy Goodman. Previously, I had explored Zen and Tibetan Buddhist practice, but had trouble connecting due to the cultural and religious contexts involved. However, over ten years ago, as an LCSW studying interpersonal neurobiology with Dan Siegel, PhD., I became aware of mindfulness meditation and developments in related neuroscience. This led to direct instruction at MARC/UCLA with Diana Winston, and next towards MBSR certification at the Center for Mindfulness/UMASS Medical Center, under the guidance of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Bob Stahl and Christiane Wolf.  Along with work and practice at Insight LA, I am a graduate of the Dedicated Practitioner’s Program through Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

Presently, I teach Basics of Mindfulness, Mindfulness in Everyday Living, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Basics of Mindfulness, Mindful Self Compassion, Awakening Joy and Mindfulness Meditation for Parents classes through Insight LA and beyond. Also, I provide mindfulness training in-services for school teachers and office staff’s throughout Los Angeles. I also have the honor of teaching on-going weekly mindfulness groups for people touched by cancer at the SIMMS/MANN Center for Integrative Oncology/UCLA and at The Benjamin Center Cancer Support Community in Santa Monica, CA.   I received a Masters of Social Work from USC, and am currently working towards my Doctorate in Social Work from USC, with the intention of establishing mindfulness-based practices for transitional foster youth in order to empower, liberate, heal, connect and train this at risk population in need.

On a more personal note, mindfulness practice has helped me to address maladaptive patterns of perfectionism and achievement, which only left me feeling constantly stressed, restless, unworthy and anxious. When I stopped working for the first time in my life to care for my then two young children, I experienced a crisis. I realized I could not just “be”. I possessed everything Western culture equates with “happiness”, yet I felt strangely unsatisfied deep down. In addition, I have always struggled to accept the truth of death/impermanence. Until I found this path, I was burdened with a pervasive undercurrent of existential anxiety, which led to low grade chronic gastrointestinal issues. Thankfully, through this practice, I have found great healing, refuge, peace and true happiness.  I live with my husband, two children and two dogs in the Hollywood Hills.

I hope that you are enjoying this site.  I look forward to hearing from you. Please feel free to get in touch via the form below, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Meditation Centers

Insight LA is based in Los Angeles