MEET THE TEACHERS...

KATHRYN LOVEWELL

Kind Mind Academy Co-Founder, Lead Teacher & Author

Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Senior Teacher

Kathryn first experienced MSC in 2015 after a long and deep search for self-acceptance and peace with her ability-challenged body.  MSC was the key she had been looking for to be happy in her own skin. Since that day, every challenge, every moment of pain, every sadness has been an opportunity to practice self-compassion and come home to kindness.

Kathryn is the Co-Founder of Kind Mind Academy and an award-winning emotional health and wellbeing specialist. Since 2007 she has combined meditation, mindful awareness, therapeutic practices and positive psychology to create personal and professional development programmes in the UK, USA & Australia.

She is a bestselling author and international speaker, sharing accessible ways to be kind to yourself no matter what your perceived ‘difference’ or difficulty.  

The Little Book of Self-Compassion is a lovingly crafted introduction to self-compassion for adults and young people.

The Voices in my Head is a charming and superbly illustrated book to help primary-aged children discover their compassionate voice.

Every Teacher Matters; Inspiring Wellbeing through Mindfulness, provides practical ways to develop self-care, resilience and increased mental health for educators under ever-increasing and prolonged pressure.

Kathryn is also the co-author of The Positive Edge Journal, sharing mindfulness skills to support mental health in a 52-week positive psychology journal.

LIZ WALKER

Kind Mind Academy Co-Founder, Head of Operations & Director of Kind Mind Publishing

Trained Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher

Liz Walker is an enthusiastic Mindful Self-Compassion teacher. She spent the first three years of her MSC experience gently deepening her personal practice whilst supporting Kathryn and their participants. Witnessing the dramatic change in her own inner landscape and the profound life-changes in the participants, Liz took up the baton to teach in 2018!

Liz is the Co-founder of Kind Mind Academy, the skilful ‘behind the scenes’ Operations Manager and queen of all things technical.  She has created a unique members platform for all Kind Mind Graduates providing all the resources for Kind Minders to continue their self-compassion adventure. Liz has also curated the new KMA website, making it easier to access all the free resources for newcomers to begin their self-compassion voyage with ease.

Liz is the Director of Kind Mind Publishing, having published both The Little Book of Self-Compassion and The Voices in my Head storybook and colouring book. (Liz loves her colouring books!) She is now underway with her next ambitious project. Watch this space!

JULIA SWEETMAN

Kind Mind Academy Associate Teacher

Certified Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher

Julia Sweetman is a Certified MSC Teacher and a Nutritional Therapist.  She teaches Mindful Self-Compassion courses and workshops in Ireland and sometimes we have had the privilege of teaching with Julia at Florence House for our 5 Day Intensive Trainings in for corporate trainings.  Julia provides an exquisite presence when teaching and holds a space of deep compassion and kindness.

Julia is extremely passionate about MSC, having trained with both Chris Germer and Kristin Neff.  She supported Chris Germer on his Core Skills Training in Cork in 2019 and volunteers to lead the free Global Mediations offered by the Centre for Mindful Self Compassion, (Circles of Practice - Public).

Julia has been involved in the health and wellness sector since 2008.  She is the Programme Director of Nutritional Therapy at Irish Institute of Nutrition and Health and delivers lectures and tutorials on nutrition, health, and wellbeing. 

Living life balancing nutrition with 'heart centred' practices of self-compassion, gratitude and loving kindness has had positive ripples in every aspect of her life. This includes her kindful approach to being a compassionate mum to amazing and fun-filled 9-year-old twins.

Julia advocates and teaches the benefits of regular self-compassion practice and the positive impacts of good quality nutrition. She is passionate about teaching practical skills to empower and assist individuals to live a healthier more balanced life.  We love and appreciate all the contributions (seen and unseen) Julia brings to Kind Mind Academy. 

www.healthbalance.ie

CAROLE LEGON

Kind Mind Meditation Guardian

Carole attended the first ever MSC training that Kathryn and Liz offered in 2016.  Since then, she has been a loyal and supportive member of Kind Mind Academy and the Kind Minders Graduate group. 

Carole was a professional speaker and group trainer prior to retirement and is blessed with a vast array of experience to hold a supportive and caring embrace for all participants.   She is a qualified meditation teacher, graduating from The Bodhi Yoga Thailand Meditation and Breathwork Teacher Training.  She is an ambassador for the organisation and mentors new students on their teacher training path.

After many years of volunteering with us, Carole is our trusted Self-Compassion Meditation Guardian.  Carole offers a warm (and rather jolly for 7am!) welcome to morning practitioners.  She ensures the smooth-running of the Graduate Morning Meditation Circle and holds the compassionate space, guides practices and supports other meditation volunteers throughout the year.

Carole can also be found answering questions and helping visitors at conferences and talks run by Kind Mind Academy.  She is a joyful asset to our Kind Mind Community.  We are very grateful to Carole for her continued, loyal service and for safeguarding our sacred Circle of Compassion Meditation Space.

MEDITATING MARCO

Kind Mind Custodian of all Sentient Beings

Carole is accompanied by her very handsome four-legged feline friend, Marco.  Meditating Marco is our official Kind Mind Academy Cat and can be found purring on Carole’s chest during morning practice.  If you haven’t experienced a purring meditation, we highly recommend listening to Meditating Marco sometime!

DR. BARBARA PAYMAN

Kind Mind Kindness Co-Ordinator

Barbara is a psychotherapist, ordained Interfaith Minister, qualified Mindfulness Teacher and Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher-in-training.  She is deeply committed to a spiritual path and 'service'.

She adores nature and living by the sea.  She often shares beautiful videos of dolphins dancing along the UK coastline near her home with the Kind Mind Community.  She has recently been sharing her latest adventure with a visiting albatross!  Her early background was academic, and her Ph.D. was in Zoology.

Barbara is passionate about bringing as much peace, kindness and compassion into the world and to individuals as she can.  She is currently training with the Centre for Mindful Self-Compassion to become a qualified MSC teacher.  She guides a beautiful meditation each week, on what has been affectionally coined as Tender Tuesdays. We look forward to her joining our teaching team.

We are so grateful for her support with World Kindness Day, which is where her title originated and her wonderful written contributions every Wednesday exploring how we can all grow our seeds of self-kindness.  We highly recommend you join the mailing list to enjoy Barbara’s reflections.

www.barbarapayman.co.uk

GABRIELLA ANGUS

Kind Mind Community Guardian

Gabriella was introduced to Mindful Self Compassion with Kind Mind Academy in 2020 and discovered it was the missing piece for her.  It has given her access to begin healing the deep inner trauma that has been left unresolved for decades.  She believes MSC has changed her life.

Gabriella trained as a Reflexologist in 1989 and did her first meditation course in the same year.  She went on to train in Reiki and became a teacher of Reiki in 2002.  Immediately it was as if a door was opened within her, and she felt as though she had come home. She has continued over the years to develop her natural ability for healing and blends many different modalities into her own unique style.

She also explored many different approaches to meditation and began to teach courses of her own. It was here she found her passion, that of teaching and supporting others, facilitating them to discover their own unique gifts and open to the love and joy within them.

With her usual passion for teaching, she shares the tools of MSC to anyone who is open to receive them.  We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Gabriella on our team.  She not only shares her heart and precious vulnerability, she also takes deep dives into the work with courage and commitment.  She is a great role model encouraging other Kind Minders to do the same.  Even though her workload is heavy, she finds time to head up a wonderful Kind Mind Community Meet up once a month, providing new opportunities to practice, laugh and celebrate together.

Currently Gabriella manages a Yoga, Meditation and Holistic Therapy Centre in the heart of Hertfordshire, UK.  We look forward to Gabriella becoming a trained MSC teacher one day, when she can carve out the time!