“Our minds are busy and fast places (full of thoughts and thinking) and sometimes feel like they have a mind of their own! The mind and body can be a source of immense joy but through unintentional effort can cause us much pain and anguish too. This is not our fault and is thankfully is something that we can change though the combined understanding of modern brain science and training our minds using mindfulness meditation and compassion training
When practised regularly, compassion-based mindfulness and compassionate mind training, are effective tools which can help reduce anxiety, improve focus, attention and memory, and encourage feelings of well-being, self-compassion, kindness and happiness. Clients and collaborators have described Sandra’s facilitation style as non-judgemental, warm, kind, compassionate, human, natural, empathic and authentic. These attributes are borne from her personal practice, extensive and ongoing training and simply by being human in a modern world.
Prior to teaching mindfulness full-time Sandra was a Lead Researcher within the Neurobiology Department of the Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh) where she and her team investigated a class of neurodegenerative disease affecting animals and humans. With some 18 years research experience, she was an internationally recognised scientist in her field, consulted with policy advisors for the Department of Health UK was an invited expert consultant for the World Health Organisation (WHO). In 2019, Sandra returned to her research roots once again and has taken up a visiting research fellow post (non-remunerated) at The University of Lincoln. She forms part of a supervisory team, researching the efficacy of a specific mindfulness-based intervention she teaches. The study will involve assessing the efficacy of the intervention on perceived emotional, mental and physical health and well-being of participants, as well as exploring physiological, biochemical and cognitive markers of stress.
Sandra’s mindfulness teacher-training pathway is accredited by the Mindfulness Association Ltd, UK and the Mindfulness in Schools Project. She adheres to the guidelines for teaching mindfulness described by the UK Network of Registered Mindfulness Teachers, and is required to undertake CPD, teaching assessments and regular supervision.
See more from Sandra online: www.mindfulness-skills4life.co.uk
