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?

• Mindfulness for Life

• Train to Teach “Introducing Mindfulness”

• For Trained MBSR & MBCT Teachers: Train to Teach “Mindfulness for Life”

• Multi-course Mindfulness Teacher Training: A One Year Intensive

What drew you to mindfulness?

Honestly? Survival. Chronic workplace stress and burnout - the kind of exhaustion that seeps into your bones - eventually spiraled into anxiety and depression. I was free-falling into a mental and physical rock bottom and desperate for relief. I didn’t come to mindfulness because I was particularly “zen” or seeking enlightenment. I came because I was drowning.

I started practicing every day and saw a fairly immediate change in my health and wellbeing. What kept me hooked was the evidence base - the science behind mindfulness, especially its impact on stress, emotional regulation, and mental health. This wasn’t feel-good fluff; it was grounded, researched, and it worked. Mindfulness helped me stop spiraling, find my footing, and lead from a steadier place. It’s not about perfection; it’s about presence. And that changed everything.

What would you like potential students to know about you?

I’m not here to fix you. I’m not up on a pedestal. I’m right here in the trenches with you. Mindfulness is a lifelong practice, and although I may be a little further along in my journey, I’m still learning, stumbling, and growing. What I am is committed, real, and deeply passionate about holding safe, smart spaces where we can explore, experiment, and maybe even laugh a little. I believe in mindfulness that makes sense for real people with real lives.

What do you enjoy about teaching Mindfulness for Life?

I enjoy sharing a practice and way of living that I truly believe in. I’ve seen the benefits in my own life, and I know it can help people move through their days with more ease, present-moment focus, and calm. The course strikes a good balance - it’s a mix of insight, practical tools, and gentle mindset shifts that make the learning feel integrated and sustainable. I feel genuinely privileged to offer something that can make a practical difference in people’s day-to-day lives.

What makes Mindfulness for Life especially impactful for participants?

How accessible it is. There’s no need for fancy equipment or a perfect space - just a willingness to try and an open mind. That simplicity makes it easy for people to connect with the practice and bring it into their everyday lives.

When participants have their own 'a-ha!' or lightbulb moments- when something truly clicks for them in their own life or practice - that's powerful. They feel empowered to apply the teachings in simple ways that make a meaningful difference - in their relationships, work, and own self-awareness. Supporting that journey is a real privilege, and I bring my whole heart to it.

In what ways does Mindfulness for Life uniquely support someone's practice?

It gives people both structure and flexibility. The way the course is designed - building gently from week to week - helps participants develop their own personal practice in a steady, manageable way. It supports real-life application, not just theory. It’s not about chasing perfection - it’s about creating something real and useful that fits their life and can grow with them.

Is there a fun fact about yourself you’d like to share?

Here’s one: I once traveled to Ohio by myself just to see my favourite French alt-rock band perform. No regrets—best. experience. ever!

What is your favorite…

….color? Easy—purple. It’s the perfect mix of calm and pizzazz—stands out without trying too hard.

….food? I’m from Trinidad and Tobago, so that’s basically impossible to narrow down. But if I had to choose? A proper pelau with coleslaw and stewed chicken. Game over.

….TV show? It’s a toss-up between Breaking Bad and Seinfeld. Two totally different moods—one’s high-stakes moral chaos, the other’s a show about nothing that somehow nails life’s absurdities. But both are brilliantly written, weirdly philosophical, and endlessly rewatchable.

If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?

I always say I’d be a giraffe – one of my nephews even calls me Aunty G! Aside from the physical similarities (I’m very tall!), I love how giraffes always seem to be minding their business, calmly surveying the scene, usually with their child close by. Graceful, unbothered, nurturing, and just quietly doing their thing - that’s the energy I’m going for.

How have the tools, resources, or practices from Mindfulness for Life influenced your own life?

The formal meditation practices have been a real game changer for me. They’ve helped me stay steady, calm, and focused - especially in the tougher moments. The course has also helped me recognise and soften some of my old striving habits. It’s offered a more grounded, self-compassionate way of holding ambition. 

I’ve also learned to slow down and really notice and appreciate all the good - big and small - that often gets overlooked in the busyness of life. That's been a major one for me. Overall, it’s given me a much healthier way to approach challenges and goals.  

What do you enjoy about training others to be able to teach Mindfulness for Life or Introducing Mindfulness?

I love helping future mindfulness teachers find their own authentic voice. It means mindfulness doesn’t come across in just one style or from one kind of person - it becomes more relatable and accessible to a wider range of people. Knowing how far-reaching and inclusive this work can be, how many people it can touch, is what truly excites me and keeps me going.