Meet MA member Susanne North
I commenced my personal practice about eighteen years ago (2008) when I experienced a number of challenging events in my life.
As part of my role in a local primary school from 2012-2022, I facilitated weekly meditation sessions to mothers and all the students at the school. It was during this time, that I certified as a Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher for children, training with Georgina Manning (Peaceful Kids) and Janet Etty-Leal (Meditation for children & teens).
After completion of my Mindfulness & Mediation Teachers Certification with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach from 2021-2023, I started teaching Vipassana Meditation on a weekly basis in Clovelly. My clients are primarily women aged 40+ and I teach weekly groups or on one:one in my studio in Clovelly.
I also continue to teach Mindfulness & Meditation practices to students in primary schools and pre-schools.
The key learnings that have made me a better teacher are:
- Meditation is about cultivating self-awareness of all our experiences as they are in the moment rather than seeking calm or relaxation
- That suffering is caused by our attitude to our experiences
- That self-compassion is an integral part of meditation
- That the body is a reliable anchor
What’s the story behind your first meditation experience?
My first teacher, Kevin Hume (then Sydney Meditation Center 2008), taught me so much about meditation, how to better relate to all my life experiences and live in the present moment. It had such a profound impact on me that my meditation practice became non-negotiable. To this date, I still remember Kevin’s teachings and lessons. I became very interested in Vipassana Meditation and started sharing the many tools with friends and clients.
What or who inspires you?
I am deeply inspired by the incredible wisdom of Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Rick Hanson, Henry Shukman and Dr Christiane Wolf.
Cushion time: How long did you meditate for today?
I meditate daily on my meditation cushion in my favourite place in the house, usually in the late afternoon. Depending on what is happening in my day, between 10 and 30 minutes. I would consider myself as a very mindful person, a quality that my parents instilled in me from early on.
Meditation Apps, yes or no?
A mix of silent meditation and guided meditations by my teachers as mentioned above.
The Way App by Henry Shukman
The getting of wisdom: What’s the best, or most important thing, you’ve learned as a meditation teacher?
Our wellbeing is shaped not only by our life experiences, but by the attitude and awareness we bring to them, moment by moment.
What makes your heart sing and what have you come to value most?
I have a profound appreciation of beauty, whether it is nature related, a tradition, a ritual, classical music, a beautifully written passage in a book, being with my family, swimming in the ocean and experiencing stillness.
The best thing today: What’s the most inspiring or loveliest thing you’ve seen or experienced today?
Swimming at Wylies Bath (a rock pool in Coogee) early in the morning, followed by a Qigong session and spotting the first five whales at Coogee.
Connect
SPIELFamilyCoaching: https://susannenorth.com.au/