Testimonials

There is a gentleness to the meditation course, at the time I was not unsure of my decision at all to begin to start meditating, yet had no idea how this course would take shape. Both Jillian and Michael made me feel welcome, explained what was required of that day and away we went.

There are many skills to allow people space, to take their feelings/reactions into consideration and not over function to compensate. Jillian and Michael’s personal and professional serenity allowed me to take it all in at my own pace without feeling pressured or competitive. My job, whilst creative, is very competitive and you have to pick things up very quickly, so for me it was a breath of fresh air to enjoy the process of the course.

I have been meditating for nearly eight years and I can say with unconditional confidence if Jillian and Michael had not been such inspiring teachers, I am not sure if I would have explored the world of meditation at such a level. The benefits were so instantaneous, my curious side wanted to look deeper and as my teachers both of them supported, guided and encouraged me to find answers for myself. Meditation is experiential and they want you to have the experience. It is good to know that your teachers are there, without them trying to do it all for you.

I had no doubts about learning and that was, for me, the odd thing for me. I weigh up pros and cons in decisions and then go with what feels right after the deliberation. I attended one taster evening, signed up and away I went. I cannot imagine and would never want a life without meditation. I got to my early thirties without ever spending anytime for my wellbeing on a regular basis. I was upset when I realised that. Now, twice a day, I meditate. The effects are profound on many levels and why would I ever give that up?

It was colleagues/friends noticing the change in me on a day-to-day level, my reactions were not as heightened as usual whether it was a positive or negative response. One big change early on was throughout my life, I associated need with love, ‘if you need me then you must love me’ so unconsciously I had played the martyr role. Always putting others first to my own detriment. When they did not give back to the standard I perceived to have given, I would either try harder, depending on the friendship or cut them out completely. An imbalanced view of how friendships and familial relationships worked. I started taking a step back from their needs, their negative habits, which I had unconsciously been supporting and not fuelling their drama. I would notice things on a more subtle level, how I responded to situations, physical changes, finer tuning of my intuition. There is a stronger sense of knowing and what choices to make in both professional and personal life. Meditation has cleared so much of irrelevance from my path and there is more room to be aware. Giving me more concentration, energy, focus and less drama in my every day life but knowing when I require rest and stopping, rather getting caught up in the ‘work is your life’ ethos I somehow sustained.

I no longer live in London so my Monday night group sessions are a rare treat. They are very beneficial as are any of the retreats and courses. It started with Learning to Round, then two rounding retreats in India, another two in Norfolk, Exploring the Vedas 1-6, Power of Speech and Advanced Techniques.

Meditation adds to my life every day, whether I am aware of it or not. Depending on what you class as important in your life, genuine happiness and unconditional love don’t seem as unattainable as they once did and I now know that it is my responsibility to make those an everyday reality for myself.

Shazz, Artistic Director