“In a world full of competitive wellness quick-fixes, I advocate for wellbeing with evidence-based, neuro-affirming, and trauma-informed mindfulness, respecting its roots in contemplative and indigenous wisdom, practice, and ethics. A lasting path to meaningful and inclusive living and wellbeing.” (Christoph Spiessens)
Christoph Spiessens is Belgian-born and has been a UK resident for 23 years. He specialises in mindfulness approaches that are inclusive and accessible, and his work in the field is deeply imbued with principles, passions and personal experience. As someone who is fascinated by the intersection of neuroscience, mindfulness, and spirituality (transpersonal psychology) he approaches all that he does with bold aims such as delivering culturally relevant and neuro-affirming mindfulness experiences whilst gently disrupting territorialism in the field.
His training is extensive and includes a master’s degree in teaching mindfulness, awarded by Bangor University, and a certificate of competence in teaching the MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) which represents the highest level of mindfulness teacher training in the UK. The combination of his formal education with over two decades of global learning & development work and his own lived experience, results in a personal, yet comprehensive and professional approach to delivering mindful activities in the world.
“As a proud Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) with trauma-acquired neurodivergence, I’ve learned that my sensitivity is also my greatest strength.”
There are two distinct delivery strands to Christoph’s work. The first comprises supporting groups and individuals with his main audience being made up of workplaces, the general public and minoritised groups (LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent people). He facilitates neuro-affirming training, delivers keynote speaking, teaches courses for individuals, and offers supervision for mindfulness teachers.
The second is to organise the annual Manchester Mindfulness Festival which he founded in 2021 and which, in 2025, went on to win ‘This is Manchester Awards’ in the ‘promoting wellbeing’ category. The festival invites a move away from hyper-individual focussed practice and is grounded instead in mindfulness’s original ethical framework which is to help us become better people and a better society.
Each year builds on the last, hosting leading experts in the field, supporting mindfulness-based collaborations between visitors and running a comprehensive programme filled with highly informative mindfulness-based talks.
“An inspiring and thought-provoking day. Mindfulness is at a crossroads. This was an important signpost to the future. Huge thanks to the leadership and generosity of all involved.” (Festival participant, 2024)
All of Christoph’s work centres around inclusivity, accessibility and being real. His work-based training is made up of robust bespoke sessions that support teams to mindfully face difficult issues of burnout, disconnection and siloing. Through building ease, empathy, compassion and meaningful connection, staff and managers are supported to transition into lasting change. The Manchester Mindfulness Festival brings people together to explore essential thinking on adapting practices for people with different needs. It is a well-connected event with partners including Manchester Mind, Oxford Mindfulness, Mindfulness in Schools Project, BAMBA body of Mindfulness Practitioners, Mindfulness Wales and further projects from South Africa, Czech Republic and Australia. With clear aims to foster connection and collaboration, it is an event that amplifies grassroots voices and deepens understanding of mindfulness for personal, professional, and social growth.
“It’s time to move beyond the misleading individual ‘blissing out’ image and remember mindfulness is an active approach to meeting personal and collective experience, rooted in various lineages of wisdom, ethics, and integrity.”
As a published author he has written two spiritual self-help books and also co-written ‘Neurodiversity Tips for Mindfulness Teachers’ with Liezl Laidlaw, which is a toolkit for teachers to make their classes more neuro-inclusive. This resource is being extremely well received and is complemented with one day workshops and further training opportunities.
Moving forward Christoph’s personal aim is to expand the Manchester Mindfulness Festival year on year to reach a global audience. He is also keen to see and support the lessening of territoriality in the field as well as more room being made for spirituality in mindfulness, alongside clinical teachings.
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