Meet Natalie Michels, teaching meditation in St Agnes, Adelaide.
She has been teaching meditation for 3 years.
“The techniques that I teach are mindfulness, visualisation, breath, mantra, body scan and relaxation. I facilitate weekly classes from my studio in St Agnes, Adelaide and have also provided onsite sessions for councils and other businesses. I offer meditation for adults and also run a children’s program for ages 6-11.
Some keys that I have learnt is
1. Intuitively delivering guidance provides a deep attunement of self with the group and can provide as much healing for you the facilitator as the participants.
2. Keeping it simple is ok and most of the time provides are greater outcome.
3. Do not be afraid to embrace the noises, phones, garbage trucks, motorbikes and bring them into the practice as this is part of life.”
What’s the story behind your first meditation experience?
After my first marriage when I found myself feeling quite disillusioned and lost. This was in 1995 and at the time my counselor suggested it. I began with a group session and at that stage it was a bit more of the Woowoo style of meditation. I went on to experience Sweat lodges and many retreats and still enjoy the deeper retreat experience.
What or who inspires you?
I admire Tara Brach, she is the greatest influence for me. Her gentle, supportive and deep guidance is so healing.
Cushion time
I meditated for 30 minutes today and sitting upright in a chair.
Tools: Meditation Apps, yes or no?
Yes Headspace and insight timer have been so important on my journey.
You’re the voice: Do you sing in the shower?
Yes, doesn’t everyone?
The getting of wisdom: What’s the best, or most important thing, you’ve learned as a meditation teacher?
That meditation can deeply live within us, assist with attunement to self and all sentient beings and when we find that centre of stillness, which we all have inside of us, we can recognise that we are one interconnected soul.
What makes your heart sing and what you have come to value most?
Stillness, connection, kindness and compassion.
The best thing today: What’s the most inspiring or loveliest thing you’ve seen or experienced today?
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein
Natalie Michels
ALite Mind
www.alitemind.au