Rita Young
Rita is a Somatic Psychotherapist with 20 years clinical experience. She uses her knowledge of the body and psychotherapy to ground the skills of mindfulness into daily life. Rita has completed all levels of training outlined by the Centre for Mindfulness (MASS) for facilitation of the 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course. She is a certified mindfulness, mentor and meditation teacher who has completed Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program.
Alongside this she has qualified as a Mentor with Cloud Sangha in the Mindfulness Mentor Training Program
IMTA Certified Mindfulness Teacher
Her extensive experience includes teaching MBSR in the fields of health care and education, most notably to Medical Students at the University of Notre Dame. She has also facilitated the first Google Detachment Day, a full day Mindfulness retreat for Google staff.
"Teaching mindfulness is a continual and gentle re-examination and reflection of my own motivations for teaching which constantly change and mature – a living teaching – a lifetime engagement. It is not so much a method or technique but rather a way of tapping into all aspects of what it is to be human: the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. My intention is to come back to awareness over and over, and to be able to live my life consciously from moment to moment, and support others who choose to live the same way."
Vasi Alvanos
Vasi Alvanos is a Psychotherapist, Teacher, Counsellor, Coach and Mentor who has worked at the forefront of Body/Mind approaches to wellbeing, personal development and transformation
Beginning her training in a range of therapeutic massage modalities and energetic approaches such as Reiki, Vasi went on to extensively study and promote Somatic approaches to psychotherapy with teachers/leaders such as Tony Richardson, Julie Henderson, Daniel Weber and Robyne Speyer. Integrating the latest research in infant and childhood development, neurophysiology, neurobiology, and attachment theories, she has offered a client-centred, solutions focussed range of services to her clients for over 30 years.
For more than a decade she has also studied and integrated Ortho-bionomy and Neurofeedback to enhance the effectiveness of her somatic, biodynamic work.
Vasi has deepened and furthered her own practice undertaking many hundreds of hours of teachings and meditation retreats within the Tibetan Sakya Buddhist tradition. She teaches meditation to individuals and groups as part of her service.
Vasi is an avid gardener and horticulturist, who shares her joy for living and deep wisdom with all those that know her and call on her for support.