Meet MA member Lina Di Prisa
I am a meditation and mindfulness teacher with a strong background in leadership development, coaching and workplace wellbeing. I formally qualified as a Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher in 2021 (Certificate in Meditation Teaching and Holistic Human Development, and Holistic Counselling Skills for Meditation Teachers), and also hold a Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing. Alongside my teaching, I bring many years of experience working closely with people in leadership and organisational settings. My teaching is grounded in mindfulness-based meditation, with a focus on presence, self-awareness and compassionate attention.
I am particularly drawn to practices that are practical, accessible and supportive of real life — helping people slow down, regulate their nervous systems and reconnect with what matters most. I currently teach meditation in small groups and one-to-one settings, both in person and online. I work primarily with adults, including professionals and leaders, people navigating change or transition, and those seeking greater calm, clarity and resilience in their daily lives. My approach honours individual experience and cultural difference, and I am mindful of working within the scope of my training and competence.
As a meditation teacher, a few key learnings continue to guide my work:
• How I show up matters — my own presence, steadiness and authenticity set the tone for the learning space.
• People learn best when they feel met and respected — teaching is most effective when it honours individual experience and readiness.
• Gentle, consistent practice creates real change — simple practices, done regularly, are often the most powerful.
Meditation teaching, for me, is both a privilege and a continual practice of learning. I am deeply interested in supporting people to develop greater awareness, kindness and balance — in ways that are sustainable, human and relevant to everyday life.
What’s the story behind your first meditation experience?
My first experience of meditation came quite organically during my secondary school years in the late 1970s, through Speech and Drama classes. At the time, it wasn’t described as “meditation” — it was simply part of learning to settle, focus and prepare before speaking or performing.
As a young person, I experienced these moments as a place of quiet and calm. They offered a sense of peace and refuge from the busyness and pressures of everyday life, even if I didn’t yet have the language to describe what was happening. Looking back, I recognise these early practices as an introduction to stillness, embodied awareness and attentive presence.
Those experiences stayed with me. Over time, and particularly through adulthood, I came to understand meditation more consciously and deliberately, returning to it as a way of grounding myself, finding perspective and reconnecting with what matters. What began as something intuitive and unlabelled has since become a meaningful and enduring practice in my life.
That early, gentle introduction continues to influence how I teach today — with an emphasis on accessibility, simplicity and creating spaces where people can feel safe enough to pause, breathe and simply be.
What or who inspires you?
My inspiration has come less from any single practice or personality, and more from teachers whose work consistently reflects compassion, humility and integrity.
When I was younger, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was a significant influence, particularly through his emphasis on kindness, ethical living and the importance of compassion in everyday life. The late Thich Nhat Hanh has also been a quiet and enduring inspiration — especially his ability to make mindfulness deeply accessible, ordinary and human, and his reminder that peace is cultivated through small, intentional moments.
More recently, I have appreciated the work of David Michie, whose writing offers a contemporary and relatable way of engaging with mindfulness and Buddhist philosophy, particularly for people living busy, modern lives. Martine Salerno who does lovely Meditations with Angels.
What inspires me most is not perfection or achievement, but the consistent, gentle practice of awareness and kindness — and the way these qualities can be lived, rather than taught.
Cushion time: How long did you meditate for today?
Today I meditated for 25 minutes.
My preferred practice is lying down, which for me feels deeply grounding and supportive. It offers quiet time to fully relax, settle the body and reconnect — a reminder that meditation doesn’t need to be effortful to be meaningful.
I also enjoy walking meditation in nature. Attending to sounds, movement and the sense of stillness that can be found outdoors is an important part of my practice, and a beautiful way to integrate mindfulness into everyday life.
Meditation Apps, yes or no?
Yes — I’m very supportive of meditation apps. I appreciate the variety they offer and the way they can make meditation more accessible for many people. Anything that helps support regular practice can be valuable.
For me, there’s no single “right” way to meditate. Different tools suit different people and different stages of life, and I encourage curiosity, choice and self-trust when exploring what works.
You’re the voice: Do you sing in the shower?
No — I’ve never been a shower singer. For me, showering is quiet, mindful time. I enjoy allowing my mind to wander, feeling the warmth of the water, the rhythm of the drops and the simple, sensory experience of soap and movement. I like to take my time, no rushing, no noise. It’s a peaceful daily ritual, and I like to keep it just as it is.
The getting of wisdom: What’s the best, or most important thing, you’ve learned as a meditation teacher?
The most important thing I’ve learned as a meditation teacher is that my role isn’t to fix or change anyone, but to create a safe, steady space where awareness can naturally unfold. I’ve found that the simplest practices, offered gently and without expectation, often have the greatest impact.
It’s a reminder to me, too — that meditation is a shared journey, and that even as a teacher, I am always learning alongside those I guide.
What makes your heart sing and what have you come to value most?
Without a doubt, animals make my heart sing. I love cats — big, small, wild or tame — and I’m lucky to share my life with two wonderful cats, Marcus Aurelius and D’Artagnan. My love for animals has also taken me to Africa, where I’ve volunteered at a lion rescue centre and a cheetah conservation program.
I value their presence, their curiosity, and the simple, unguarded way they live in the moment. Animals remind me of what is important: connection, compassion, and joy in the everyday.
The best thing today: What’s the most inspiring or loveliest thing you’ve seen or experienced today?
This morning, I spent time feeding the wild birds in my garden. A baby Magpie, along with mum and dad, came for their daily mince, and two ravens — also with their baby. The baby Magpie is so demanding and adorable; watching them all interact is a small daily joy that never fails to lift my spirits. T
To top it off, my cactus has just flowered, revealing the most stunning yellow blooms. There’s something quietly inspiring about noticing these small miracles — the persistence of life, the beauty of the ordinary, and the simple, joyful moments that remind us to pause and appreciate the world around us.