torstai 27. syyskuuta 2012

My Story



I have been teaching and presenting workshops on Mindfulness and Meditation since 1984. Having a background of traditional training in Tibetan Buddhism since 1982. I was ordained a monk in 1984, and have lead workshops in the UK, Europe, South Africa, and United States. 

Being fluent in Tibetan I have acted as interpreter for various Tibetan teachers in the UK and in India, perhaps the most well known being Mingyur Rinpoche, the author of "Joy of Living" & Joyful Wisdom". I was Rinpoche's secretary when I lived in Palpung Sherabling monastery in Northern India, and I acted as his translator there and on all of his UK teaching tours.

Since 1996 I have also been working in the Mental Health and Social Care field. I have experience with a variety of clients, from people living with HIV, intermediate care (physiotherapy), dementia and older people's mental health in acute admissions wards.






The path that lead me to become interested in Shiatsu and Seiki, the two forms of Bodywork that I practise, began in 1993. I had injured my back and was in considerable pain from two herniated discs in my lower lumbar area. I actually walked with a stick for a while. I was given various and, at times, conflicting advice from the health professionals I saw and I had numerous scans and MRI's. The choices seem to come down to "just living with it", or having an operation, of which the outcome wasn't guaranteed and carried its own risks.

Shortly after my injury I relocated from Scotland to South Africa where I ran a Buddhist Centre. For the first few weeks I was in such pain that I often had to teach from a reclining position as I couldn't put any weight on my coccyx. I swallowed painkillers like candy and had very little relief from pain at all. At one point I met an acupuncturist who helped me a lot with the pain. This was a breakthrough as I was dubious to go and see him as I don't like needles or injections.

When I moved back to the UK in 1996 I was assessed for capacity for work by a doctor. She informed me that I would never be fit for work again as my back injury was such that I could not sit or stand for prolonged periods. After a rest period, I decided that I didn't want to be defined by my injury and I began to work. This was a difficult time and I relied heavily on medication just so I could get through.
I moved again to India and lived in a monastery in the mountains for four years. A kind sponsor paid for me to have an operation on my back and I had a hemi-laminectomy. Around the same time I also had bilateral inguinal hernia repair work done. So, my back and front were considerably weakened. The back operation was not a success and I continued to have pain. A Shiatsu Practitioner friend of mine gave me a treatment and she encouraged me to get involved with shiatsu. When I returned to the UK I commenced Practitioner Training with the Shiatsu College in London and Brighton.




Through giving and receiving shiatsu I have regained my health and am now glad to say I have given up all pain medication. I empathise with people who have pain as I can remember my own. I am inspired to help others and I have found that practising shiatsu is the way I can maintain my own health and fitness.  

When I was about to leave the monastery my teacher encouraged me to train in shiatsu, he said "it's natural for you, it is in your hands the ability to do this". I was very inspired by his comments and I know when I am doing shiatsu and helping others and myself, I made the right choice.




BUDDHIST PATH


This is Lama Thubten and me in Oxford 1986. I lived with Lama Thubten for several years as his interpreter and personal assistant. I took Refuge with him in 1982. He spoke no English and was very traditional and I was very lucky to have had that time with him.





Me in Hotel Tibet, Lhasa. The South African Centres went on pilgrimage in 1994 to see HH Karmapa, Orgyen Trinley Dorje.






Lama Rabsang and me in Palpung Sherabling, Northern India 2000. In 2004 we left India and set up a Buddhist Centre in Wales.






Mingyur Dorje Rinpoche and me in Palpung Sherabling. I interpreted for Rinpoche for several years. He is a remarkable teacher and scholar, and he has a great sense of humour. I worked with Rinpoche and Eric Swanson on both of his books, proofreading and also interpreting for Rinpoche.




Mingyur Rinpoche teaching in Hay-on-Wye, UK, me interpreting. The cover picture of "Joyful Wisdom" (below) was taken during those teachings. Before Mingyur Rinpoche left his monastery in 2011 to take up the life of a wandering yogi, he encouraged me to keep on teaching workshops based on his two books, which I had been doing in South Africa and Europe. 






Hosting a Meditation and Bodywork workshop in Finnish Theatre Academy, Helsinki Finland. March 2013





The Spring Retreat in Kurhila, Finland. March 2013.



Andaman Islands, India, January 2015. I led the meditation module in the Camp Andaman