My name is Paul, and I am a science teacher with experience in pastoral leadership at the secondary school level. My journey into mindfulness began when I attended a Mindfulness in Action course led by Vishvapani Blomfield. This experience sparked a deep interest in the practice, and I have now been consistently practicing mindfulness for over a year.

A significant part of my mindfulness journey has been my involvement with the Mindfulness Wales community. This group meets online at 10 a.m., four days a week, and offers a warm and inclusive environment for anyone interested in mindfulness. The welcoming nature of this community has been instrumental in sustaining and deepening my practice.

Through these online sessions, I’ve had the opportunity to experience a variety of meditations led by experienced practitioners, each bringing their own unique style and perspective. These sessions also provide a space to connect with others and share our experiences, further enriching my understanding and appreciation of mindfulness.

One of the meditation leaders from Mindfulness Wales is Iwan Brioc, and recently I was fortunate enough to attend a three-day in-person event he organized, entitled The Art of Looking at Ourselves. This workshop was a profound experience for me, with many of the mindful activities leaving a deep and lasting impression that I am still processing. Throughout the course, we were encouraged to explore the question, “What if all there is, is this?” through a wide variety of innovative mindfulness practices.

As a biology teacher my passions include being in nature, whether that’s pottering in my garden or climbing mountains in Scotland.  It’s only in recent years I have realised that this love for being in the great outdoors has been part of my search for the mindful moments that are so enriching.

Mindfulness has become a wonderfully enriching aspect of my life, and I am deeply grateful to have discovered it. I feel blessed to have found a community of kind and empathetic practitioners.  I am now passionate about sharing mindfulness with others, as we work to build a kinder and more compassionate world. Recently, I have begun delivering mindfulness sessions for a small group of pupils at my school, and I am eager to expand and develop this further in the future.