I’m a Socially Engaged facilitator + practitioner integrating Qigong and Buddhism to inspire creative action and collective care.

I hold a MA in Buddhist Studies with the University of South Wales and my research explored whether Zen can really be expressed through Zen Arts.

I’m passionate about Climate + Social Justice, Diversity and Inclusion. As a practicing Buddhist I believe that Buddhist principles and practices can be applied to address social, political, and environmental issues.

I offer private + public workshops and work with individuals, organisations, charities, businesses and B-Corp.

I live in south Cornwall with my husband Charlie & our dog Kiki. I’m an Ordained Lay Sōtō Zen student. I use pronouns they/them.

Before becoming a facilitator and shifting my interest towards Buddhism + Qigong, I was a full time freelance photographer for 10 years. If you are interested in seeing my portfolio, you can access it here.

  • We're a team of passionate thinkers and doers, dedicated to building with purpose and clarity. Collaboration and curiosity drive everything we do.2022 - 2025 - MA in Buddhist Studies

    2022 - Yearlong Qigong mentorship programme with Mimi Kuo-Deemer

    2021 - extended study programme Depth and Embodiment: An Integral Path with Christina Feldman, Chris Cullen, Christoph Köck and Yuka Nakamura

    2018 - Yin Yoga intensive with Norman Blair - 30 hours

  • 2024 - October - Received Jukai Precepts during a sesshin with Ordinary Mind teacher Malcolm Martin

    2023 - Year and a half study of Zen precepts with the Ordinary Mind teacher Malcolm Martin

    2023 - 3 day sesshin with the Ordinary Mind

    2022 - Body, Speech, Mind – bringing Zen practice to life - 5 days silent meditation retreat in Gaia House

    2021 - Dependant Origination - 7 days online silent meditation retreat

  • As a facilitator I foster a space where inclusivity, compassion and playfulness are cultivated. I encourage students to explore their inner landscapes by deepening the awareness to their body and the heart/mind. I believe that each of us knows what is the most nourishing, we just need to remind ourselves how to listen more deeply.

    As someone who was diagnosed with PTSD, I pay a great importance to making sure that the workshops and classes I offer and offer: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment and choice, and humility.

    My classes welcome all expressions of gender.

PHILOSOPHY + PRACTICE

ENGAGED BUDDHISM

I’ve been a practicing Buddhist for 10 years. In 2022 I started an MA in Buddhist Studies exploring if Zen can really be expressed through Arts. In October 2024, I received Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts. Jukai is a formal declaration of wishing to live life in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.

I’ve been practicing and teaching Qigong for over six years. My journey with movement, however, started much earlier, exploring diverse practices such as Yoga, Somatics, Feldenkrais, Kinstretch, and weightlifting. When I came across Qigong it resonated with me on a deeper, intuitive level. The forms made a profound sense in my body, unlocking a natural flow that felt both grounding and energizing.

Currently, I am immersing myself in Chén Shì Tàijíquán (陳氏太極拳) under the guidance of Shifu Huang Ping, a former Chinese National Champion and esteemed member of the China National Wushu team, renowned for her mastery in Taiji and Baguazhang. Practicing with Shifu Ping has offered a transformative perspective on what it truly means to move with intention. Every gesture, every transition, is an opportunity to embody mindfulness, balance, and strength—making the principles of internal martial arts tangible in everyday life. And of course humbling!

QIGONG + TAIJI

In 2021—the year we moved to Cornwall—after a local Zen meetup, I was first introduced to gongfu cha (功夫茶; making tea with skill). Engaging with tea in this way felt both exciting and strangely familiar. I was mesmerised by the teaware, and the taste of the tea transported me back to my grandmother’s tiny kitchen. Sharing tea together in that moment felt incredibly meaningful and marked the beginning of my deep respect and adoration for tea.

Community Tea Sessions serve as a vessel for connection, education, and—perhaps most importantly—joy.

Raising a cup to all the tea shared so far—and all that’s still to come.

GONGFU TEA

I think of determination and resilience every time I see a tiny seed making its way to the top of the soil. Just like humans, a germinating seed adapts and recovers from change. The other day, I went to my garden and discovered that my little carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) had been completely devoured by slugs. I didn’t think they would make it. But a few weeks passed, and I can see them growing stronger - wearing the holes in their leaves from slug damage like an insignia.

We live in a world where we are constantly encouraged to monetise. At every step, we are told how easy it is to make a profit - all it takes is another reel or the correct hashtags. As strange as it sounds, having a hobby - doing something purely for the love of it, whether it's growing a garden, darning, or knitting - feels radical and anti-capitalistic.

GARDENING

Extending gratitude to my teachers

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to learn from wonderful teachers who continue to inspire my practice. A deep bow to you.

Mimi Kuo Deemer

Mimi is an author and teacher of meditation, qigong, and internal martial arts (6th generation lineage holder in Baguazhang). I started practicing in with Mimi in 2021 as a way to support my PTSD flare ups. In 2022 I did a yearlong mentorship with Mimi. Her knowledge, light heartedness and a healthy dose of goofiness inspired me to start sharing Qigong with others. I’m deeply grateful for the Mimi’s warmth, encouragement and kindness that have supported me all these years.

Master Huang Ping

A former Chinese National Champion and member of the China National Wushu team, who dedicated her life to Taiji and Bagua. Learning Yang Taiji forms from Master Ping is a highlight of my week.  I’ve practiced many movement schools over the years (Scaravelli, Hanna Somatics, Hatha and Iyengar Yoga) but I’ve never met a teacher who explains movement in such a creative, relatable and inspiring way. I’ve only been practicing with Master Huan Ping for a little while but during this time she helped me understand the way energy can be expressed through movement, something I thought about in the past but could never quite grasp it. I feel honoured to learn from Master Huang Ping, thank you for expanding my world.