Meet Meditation Australia member Trish Talob, bringing her ‘equitable mindfulness’ approach not only to her teaching but also to her work as a centred designer.
In my 9 to 5 job as a human-centred designer, I help organisations create accessible and inclusive digital and in-person services. In my 5 to 9 job as a meditation teacher, I advocate “equitable mindfulness” by teaching meditation in a way that makes it more accessible to and inclusive of more people. I have been practicing meditation since my university days (around 12 years now), however, I am a fairly new teacher. I joined Meditation Australia in November 2023 and I have been teaching meditation since.
In addition to teaching classes in Sydney, I offer a self-guided kit that is designed to help folks learn mindfulness techniques like meditation on their own terms, in their own time and in their own space. I specialise in teaching meditation to people who are time-poor and/or often experience mental overwhelm.
Creating human-centred experiences as a designer has enabled me to develop a wide range of strategies for guiding people through meditation. My experience in designing experiences that are accessible to people with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who are time-poor has also deepened my ability to help people overcome barriers to meditation.
What’s the story behind your first meditation experience?
My first meditation experience took place whilst I was on a trip to Thailand as a late teen. I was visiting a friend and I was invited to join a Buddhist celebration that involved meditation. This experienced sparked my interest in both Buddhism and meditation.
What or who inspires you?
Although he’s not directly associated with meditation, Japanese author Haruki Murakami often inspires my personal meditation practice and teaching practice. Murakami often writes about meditative situations and scenes and they inspire me to come up with different ways of framing concepts and explaining instructions.
Cushion time: How long did you meditate for today?
I started the day with a meditative run – I aimed to spend at least 30 minutes of it observing my surroundings and immersing myself in the experience running.
When I got home, I did a 10 minute gratitude meditation whilst lying down before I started work. Throughout the day, I did 3 x 5 minute breathing meditations whilst sitting.
Tools: Meditation Apps, yes or no?
I’m not a huge fan of apps – I find they tend to have too many options and I spend way too much time trying to find meditations I like!
You’re the voice: Do you sing in the shower?
Yes! There’s something truly therapeutic about singing whilst being enveloped in the warmth of a hot shower!
The getting of wisdom: What’s the best, or most important thing, you’ve learned as a meditation teacher?
Putting your biases and assumptions about meditation aside can help you teach people more effectively.
I was introduced to meditation through Buddhism, so I learnt meditation in a way that was tied up with many traditions and rituals. I found that when I was able to separate my experience of learning meditation with my experience of teaching meditation, I could expand my horizons as a teacher.
What makes your heart sing and what you have come to value most?
The Japanese concept of “Yutori” – mental spaciousness and having space for life to just happen – has helped me really transform my perception of day-to-day life. I value all the small pockets of time between tasks to reflect, prepare and to just sit with thoughts and emotions, that I make for myself. Every morning, I set aside time to schedule snack breaks and space for catching my breath and organising my thoughts between meetings.
The best thing today: What’s the most inspiring or loveliest thing you’ve seen or experienced today?
Serendipitously discovering a wonderful social enterprise cafe (Two Good Co) in the beautiful space
of Yirranma Place in Darlinghurst. I was desperate to have coffee and a quiet moment to myself and the cafe just appeared before me like some kind of magic!
I really enjoyed sitting there drinking a coffee and admiring the beautifully crafted gates and ceiling.
