Meet MA member Frances Rennell –
Frances has been teaching meditation on the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia from 2022, both online and face to face. Her training has given her a broad range of scope in meditation and mindfulness services from children to adults, including children from year 1 to 12, both individuals and classroom groups. She has also taught adult individuals and groups in both private and business sectors.
Larger organisations such as Smiling Mind and Headspace are already doing great things to promote meditation in schools as part of the curriculum across many regions. However there appears to be little that addresses neurodiversity, and this sparked my interest in working with children and teenagers who have ADHD/ASD and SPD (sensory processing disorder).
With extensive professional research, I developed a tailored program for teaching meditation and mindfulness specialising in the context of neurodiversity. I offer this program face to face for individuals or small groups in the school setting to students, Student Support Officers and parents. As well as the opportunity for extensive experiential practice, there are also worksheets, meditation scripts and cue cards for each type of program participant.
I do not want to seem like a ‘one track pony’ in my teaching offerings as I have extensive training and experience working in applying meditation and mindfulness both in secular and non-secular traditions such as those of Buddhist orientation, all of which have gifted me incredible joy and appreciation for the sacred space within all beings.
As a meditation and mindfulness teacher, the three things that I believe have made me a better teacher are:
‘know thyself’ – increasing awareness and self-awareness through the discipline and work of research and practice, helping to increase understanding, empathy and objectivity.
Detachment from expectations and outcomes – In reality, the numbers of people wishing to transform themselves with meditation and mindfulness may be few, yet sowing the seed is all important work. Whether that seed withers or is nurtured, the teacher may have little impact or control over.
Compassion and commitment – both have been so valuable to help me be kind to myself and others in learning to navigate life skilfully in companionship with meditation and mindfulness. Nurturing ‘good’ seeds can grace a life so richly, helping to sustain and ease the effort, discipline and humility required for a lifelong commitment.
What’s the story behind your first meditation experience?
I first started to meditate formally in the 90s when I had a very adverse reaction to an anti-malarial prophylactic drug whilst holidaying in Africa, which along other debilitating health effects, caused me to have increased anxiety, panic attacks and mild hallucinations.
Part of the therapy offered to help with the anxiety and panic was ‘Autogenics’ – a form of focussed relaxation in the form of a body scan meditation. This helped a little and I did a lot of research myself into other forms of meditation including single point focus and breathwork, which helped me retrain my brain and manage this condition so that I could function more normally throughout the day until the debilitating symptoms subsided over time. For me, meditation rather than medication has been a lifesaver!
What or who inspires you?
There have been many inspiring spiritual teachers that I have taken inspiration from in my life. Currently, Thich Nhat Hanh – his life, his books and his ‘Interbeing’ Buddhist teaching philosophy as promoted now through the works of his community known as Plum Village. I especially love the podcast ‘The Way Out is In’, offered on the Plum Village App and also the free teachings available from their website and Youtube.
Cushion time: How long did you meditate for today?
Today, I have used single point focus on my breath and its rhythm periodically throughout the day, whilst sitting and performing cardio exercise. This also helps me to be more mindfully present during my weekend days.
Meditation Apps, yes or no?
Occasionally I will use a meditation app – with tried meditations that I know well – usually Plum Village app and website, however over the years having experienced Buddhist training and varied meditation styles, I find it a lot easier now to practice un-guided meditation at will. I find that the mainstream apps for meditation often contain a high number of styles that are more like a guided visualisation with a lot of distractions for the brain, which is not my preferred style.
You’re the voice: Do you sing in the shower?
No, I find I tend to naturally have mindful showers, which do not involve singing, although I do sing at other times.
The getting of wisdom: What’s the best, or most important thing, you’ve learned as a meditation teacher?
Meditation is a powerful tool to raise awareness of and understand the root of our triggers, which is a gamechanger, especially when coupled with nurturing an open, non-judgemental mind whilst self- reflecting on conclusions and assumptions.
What makes your heart sing and what you have come to value most?
The lens of gratitude. Especially when experiencing the joy and grace of connecting to spirit and the sacredness within my inner being and its resonance with all life forms.
The best thing today: What’s the most inspiring or loveliest thing you’ve seen or experienced today?
The beauty and depth of gratefulness as I arose this morning was wonderful – feeling the safety of my environment whilst connecting to and appreciating the transient nature of eternal life continually broadcasting everywhere.