I’m a socially engaged facilitator, photographer, and counselor in training, teaching Qigong, Buddhism, and Gongfu cha. My work embraces collective and creative care as practice. (They/Them)
I hold an MA in Buddhist Studies from the University of South Wales, and my research explored whether Zen can really be expressed through Zen Arts.
I’m passionate about our planet, social justice, and inclusion. As a practicing Buddhist I believe that Buddhist ethics can be applied to address social, political, and environmental challenges, which is why my practice is socially engaged.
Engaged Buddhism is a form of Buddhism that emphasises both personal and social transformation. It includes conversations around race, ethnicity, gender, human rights, and politics. Engaged Buddhism suggests that the causes of suffering are not only to be found in the mind, but also in political oppression and social inequality (Fuller, 2021:1). The movement was popularized by Thich Nhat Hanh during the Vietnam War, using Buddhist principles to advocate for peace, relief work, and social change.
This means we are being called to take our practice outside of the meditation hall. We practice in every moment of our daily lives, not just on a cushion. We practice mindfulness during work, while cleaning the house, while climbing, or protesting. Everything we do can become a meditation if we realise that what’s happening in the world is also happening within ourselves.
My Substacks:
have a cup of tea ~ where I hold the Collective Breath and share reflections on engaged Buddhism, Qigong, gongfu cha + ordinary life 🌱
Chop Wood, Carry Water ~ a personal project + an ode to labour, heritage, landscape, and community.
I live in south Cornwall with my husband Charlie & our dog Kiki. I’m an Ordained Lay Sōtō Zen student and gardener.
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.
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October 2026 - February 2027 - Level 2, Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2)
2026 - FAMO Anatomy Trains in Motion with Kath Pent
2023 - 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
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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
Regular attendance at sesshins and silent meditation retreats (3,5,7 days)
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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 12 years. In October 2024, I received the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts. Jukai is a formal declaration of a wish to live in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.
Practicing mindfulness doesn’t only involve sitting with our bum on a cushion. It extends into every action we engage in. Walking, sitting, working, resting - any action can be done for its own sake, without rewards or personal ambitions. The goal is simply to perform a task with full awareness of the present moment.
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. Every gesture, every transition, is an opportunity to embody mindfulness, balance, and strength - making the principles of internal martial arts tangible in everyday life.
QIGONG + TAIJI
GONGFU TEA
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 joy.
GARDENING
I think of determination and resilience every time I see a tiny seed making its way to the surface. Just like humans, a germinating seed adapts and recovers from change.
I often see links between Buddhism and activities I engage in. Whether that’s running, bouldering, or taking photographs, the threads are there. Yet, to me, growing a garden best shows how Buddhist practice meets daily life.
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.