Mindfulness and Health Institute Notebook
Mindful Monday: Meet Victoria Fontana
Victoria Fontana
Certified MBSR Instructor & MBCT instructor
Certified Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) instructor
Adjunct professor with the IE University Center for Health, Wellbeing & Happiness
What course do you teach at Mindfulness and Health Institute?
What drew you to mindfulness?
I, like many, was searching for something to make my life better. I knew that I was suffering a lot and always felt like that was a huge mystery to solve, …
Mindful Monday: Meet Mary Beth Stern
Mary Beth Stern
Certified MBSR Instructor
Certified addictions counselor & mindfulness-based relapse prevention training
Qualified behavior change community facilitator
What course do you teach at Mindfulness and Health Institute?
What drew you to mindfulness?
I think of my adult life in chapters:
I worked in finance on a trading desk with the noise, the chaos and the stress and all the substances that made that life bearable… and at times even fun.
The market crashed…
The Sanctuary Within: Why Retreating at Home Can Be Surprisingly Transformative
In a world that constantly pushes us outward toward achievement, productivity, and connection, retreating often feels like the only path back to ourselves. And while the word “retreat” might conjure images of remote forests, mountain temples, or oceanside centers, an increasingly popular and powerful alternative is emerging: retreating at home.
Yes, at home. Among your plants, your dishes, your family, and possibly even a few distractions. And yet, this intimate setting holds unique potential for…
Mindful Monday: Meet Makeda McKenzie
Makeda McKenzie
Qualified MBSR Instructor
Founder and principal consultant of the Caribbean Mindfulness Institute
Teacher-Trainer for Mindfulness for Life, Mindfulness Teaching in the Workplace, and Introducing Mindfulness
What courses do you teach at Mindfulness and Health Institute?
For Trained MBSR & MBCT Teachers: Train to Teach “Mindfulness for Life”
Multi-course Mindfulness Teacher Training: A One Year Intensive
What drew you to mindfuln…
Mindful Monday Recap: The 9 Foundational Attitudes of Mindfulness
Over the past nine weeks, our Mindful Monday email series has offered a space to slow down and explore the foundational attitudes of mindfulness, one gentle reminder at a time. Each week, we turned our attention to a particular quality that supports mindfulness practice, not as a skill to master but as a way of relating more kindly and curiously to our experience. Whether you read them first thing in the morning or returned to them later in the week, these reflections were meant to offer a stead…
Spring Awakening: The Awe of Mother Nature
A Mindful Celebration of Earth, Community, and Renewal
On Wednesday, April 23, a warm and heartful group gathered for “Spring Awakening: The Awe of Mother Nature”, a special virtual community event hosted by mindfulness instructor Sarah Gouveia at the Mindfulness and Health Institute (MHI). Held just after Earth Day and deep into the bloom of Spring, the evening was a celebration of the natural world, of new beginnings, and of the quiet, steady rhythms that connect us all.
The gathering began with…
From Surviving to Thriving: Flourish with Mindfulness
What is Flourishing?
In a fast-paced and chaotic world, many of us long for a deeper sense of well-being, purpose, and connection.
Flourishing is a term used to describe a life rich in meaning, positive emotions, strong relationships, and personal growth. It is more than just feeling good—it involves cultivating strengths, engaging deeply with life, and finding purpose.
Flourishing is not about achieving a perfect, stress-free life. It’s about developing the inner resources to navigate life’s ups…