About Cathy

My journey with mindfulness began more than two decades ago when I was living in Hong Kong with my husband and son. The fast-paced and competitive environment often left me feeling depleted and frustrated. Seeking balance and emotional well-being, I turned to meditation. This was a revelation, particularly because I have diabetes, to discover the beneficial impact on my health. I felt calmer and my blood sugar management became more steady. The meditation practices not only helped me find inner peace, emotional equanimity, but also cultivated kindness and compassion towards myself and others.

Inspired by the transformative power of mindfulness, I founded MBH Advisory – Mind Body Health – ten years ago in Hong Kong. Through that company, I had the privilege of offering mindfulness courses and workshops, meditation retreats and community practice to a diverse range of participants, including students, parents, working professionals, educators, health care workers and cancer patients. The feedback and testimonials that I received from participants speak to the many beneficial ways mindfulness and compassion training have positively impacted their lives. (see About Mindfulness)

In 2022,  my family relocated to The Netherlands, embracing a new chapter filled with change and adjustment. Navigating the unknown can be challenging and trigger vulnerable feelings, but my meditation and mindfulness practice have provided me with an inner calm in moments of anxiety and self-doubt. I’ve connected to the power of being fully present and embracing new possibilities with a gentler approach. It reminds me of an article by Bonnie Ware, a palliative care nurse, titled “The Five Regrets of the Dying.” It serves as a powerful reminder to live authentically and make positive changes in the present rather than waiting for regrets later in life.

Alongside my mindfulness journey,  creativity has always been an integral part of my life. While painting was never my primary focus, I realised that something was missing when I neglected creative projects. During this chance to reset in The Netherlands, I made a promise to devote more time and energy to creative endeavours. Mindfulness has taught me that creativity arises from a space of presence and a quiet inner world. Being surrounded by nature in my new home has awakened my sense and inspired me in profound ways. From the warmth of sunlight to the sights and sounds of the natural world, I find inspiration at every turn. I’m delighted to share that my first painting completed this year has been accepted to hang in the esteemed Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023 in London. This greatly encourages me to continue exploring the intersection of mindfulness and creativity, as they both nourish and enrich my life.

As Jon Kabat-Zinn so beautifully said:

“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives.

It is about receiving the exquisite vividness of each moment, feeling more alive, and accessing our own

powerful inner resources for insight, transformation, and healing.”

QUALIFICATIONS:

• • • Member of VMBN (Vereniging Mindfulness Based Trainers Nederland), NL
    • Supervisor of mindfulness-trained teachers, The Mindfulness Network, UK
    • Certified MBSR Teacher, Brown Mindfulness Center, Brown University, USA 
    • Certified MBCL Teacher, The Mindfulness Network, UK
    • Certified MiSP Teacher (.b, paws.b, .b Foundations for school communities), Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP), UK
    • Breathworks Teacher-in-Training, Breathworks, UK
    • Qualified MBSR Teacher, The Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, USA 
    • Masters in Buddhist Studies, The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
    • Convenor of the Hong Kong Mindfulness Teachers Network (HKMTN) 2019 – 2022

Cathy follows the BAMBA guidelines for internationally-recognised professional mindfulness teacher standards