Please introduce yourself:
- This topic has 17 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 8 months, 1 week ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
-
Hi everyone! I am Allison Potter, but you can call me Alli (unless you’re mad at me :D).
I am very happy to be here. I found Susan via one of her books about a year ago now. I took the refuge vow with her a couple of months ago. I am a yoga teacher and very much looking forward to expanding my offerings and learning with all of you. I have a work from home corporate job and I live in Boca Raton, Florida with my 1 year old cavapoo Pip. -
-
Hi there. I’m Ginny from Cincinnati, Ohio. I’m very excited to be here in this training with all of you. I’ve been following Susan for years, but just recently joined the OHP, and am now in a wonderful Sangha Circle. My spirituality lineage is heavily Christian, though I moved away from practicing several years ago. Since then I’ve been seeking a spiritual home. I’m very curious about Buddhist practices and the dharma, which is why I decided to take the plunge and sign up for this training. Looking forward to this journey with all of you.
-
Hi! My name is Betsy Loeb. I live in Columbus, OH. I have been meditating for about 15 years. I’m part of our local Shambhala Sangha and joined OHP I think at the beginning of the pandemic. I have been retired for 10 years. I have 2 grown daughters and 3 grandsons: Ezra, 9 years and his brother Oliver 6.5 yrs and they live in Philadelphia, PA. My other grandson Sam, 6.5 years lives a few blocks away. I look forward to deepening my practice and potentially teaching if it seems like the right thing to do. I’m eager to meet all of you.
-
Hello there 🙂 My name is Jana and I’m really excited to be on this path with all of you. I’ve been following Susan for many years and I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to learn deeper aspects of Buddhism, work with my own practice, and to learn how to help others do the same. I live outside of Lisbon in Portugal and for work I am a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner and I teach pilates.
-
Hi from Bethesda, Maryland. I’m thrilled to be here and looking forward to expanding my practice, deepening my understanding of Buddhism and teaching others our practice. I’m a spiritual director who works with individuals with diverse beliefs. My OHP circle has inspired me greatly. I write and am an artist. I live with the lovely Miles, and our devoted bichon frise, Jet.
-
Hello, my name is David, I am 36 years old and I live in Spain. I am here because since I joined the OHP, six years ago, I knew that this was a training that sooner or later I wanted to experience. Susan’s teachings helped me improve my life, stabilize my meditation practice, and refocus my very existence. I work as a primary school teacher in a school with students from families in social exclusion, which really fulfills me, although I find myself receptive and open to expand my professional horizons. I have received training as a psychopedagogue, gestal therapist and yoga teacher, and I think that this training will provide me with very useful tools when working both with other people and with myself. Currently, I find myself in a situation of indecision in which I don’t know whether to go live abroad, start a family, buy a house, or go backpacking around the world, or all at once. Maybe this training also gives me answers on this matter through insight and personal investigation. Nice to meet you and to live this journey together.
-
Hello. I’m Kate. I live in Minneapolis. I have been a member of the OHP from the beginning. (How long Susan, 12 years?) I took refuge vows with Susan in 2016. Taking this class is already deepening my practice, as I am giving myself more complete inner instruction each time I sit. I’m looking forward to learning more and getting to know all of you. (PS – the flower is one of my watercolor paintings.)
-
Hi I’m Ann. I love in Southampton NY and NYC. I’m a yoga teacher, and through that I teach meditation. I joined open Heart Project last year after doing a workshop at kripalu with Susan. I had been following her for a couple of years doing the daily meditation and listening to the Monday talks. I very excited to do this and be a part of this group. I meditate every day for 10 to 30 minutes
-
Hi everyone, so nice to read you all! My name is Hélène, I am French-Canadian and I live in Montreal,Canada. For 30 years, I taught dance alongside my career as a performer for which I had a great passion, in dance companies and programs, at University of Quebec in Montreal and for Le Cirque du Soleil. Dance has taught me to practice listening and be in the present moment.
Meditation has also been a part of my life for 15+ years. It has evolved to become an integral and cherished part of it. Participating more and more in structured study programs with retreats and learning the fundamental teachings of the Buddha, I was impressed by their capacity to embrace suffering, my own and the suffering of others. I am so grateful for the impact this practice has had on my path! Secretly wishing one day to take part in a meditation teacher training course, I know today that this adventure is consistent with my life, with my background as a dance artist and teacher, and with the central place I have now given to meditation. I look forward to learning and sharing with all of you here ! -
Hello! My name is Anne and I am very happy to be exploring this training with all of you. I started meditating more systematically about five years ago, when I did a MBSR class and a few other classes and retreats through a group near me here in Rockville, MD. Filling out a survey after a retreat I found myself writing “I want more Buddhism.” Just after that I stumbled onto Susan and the Open Heart Project. I took the refuge vow with Susan in June. This exploration has been a mix of expansive discovery and recognition of what I’ve known or sensed my whole life.
I work as an ESOL teacher for our local community college, and love the students and the community we create. My husband and I live with our Portuguese water dog and super mutt, who I hope you will not hear much from during our class. See you soon! -
Hello! I’m Sanjida, also here in Rockville, MD! Susan’s book “The Wisdom of a Broken Heart” sparked my explorations of meditation and Buddhist philosophy over 10 years ago, and I’ve been following her since. I recently completed 5 years of Karuna Training, a program in contemplative psychology, and now serve on the faculty. I’m looking forward to fortifying my meditation practice and improving my facilitation skills.
I manage clinical trials, working fully remotely with my two cats. I spend much time deleting their “contributions” to my work after they lie on or walk across my keyboard. I also have part-time custody of my family’s Wheaton Terrier.
-
Hey everyone, I’m Kelly – a mama to 3 small kids, bonus mom to 3 young adults, self-care advisor, and American living in a tiny village in the South of France. I’ve known (and adored) Susan and her work for about 15 years, but only recently received a random download during meditation that “This year is the time to do a meditation training. With Susan.” Voila, here I am answering the call, happy to practice together and meet all of you.
-
I’m Jamie, originally from Liverpool, living in Chicago, teaching fourth grade in a Catholic school. I practice mindfulness at least once a (school) day with my students. I’m a regular practitioner of what used to be called Bikram yoga, excited and a little daunted by the prospect of deepening my meditation practice and developing my spiritual life. I came to this sangha after reading Susan’s book The Buddhist Enneagram, which I’ve been recommending to all and sundry since I first read it. Fantastic book. Useful, informative, accurate, touching and very funny.
-
Hello, everyone!
My name is Kimberly Hillebrand, and I’m from Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
For my work, I’ve been engaged in development and fundraising with non-profits for many years. I’m currently serving as a fundraising and communications consultant to a Buddhist community here in Michigan to raise the funds to build a Community Mindfulness Center.
I have been practicing Buddhism (and meditating) since the late 90s. I’m am an ordained Dharma Teacher, have committed to the Bodhisattva Vows, and am an ordained Teaching Monk.
I’m super excited (and grateful) to work with Susan and her team and be in community with all of you!
See you tomorrow!
-
I’m Karen from Evanston, Illinois, USA. I am co-author and illustrator of the children’s book entitled My Helpful Healing Touch: A Guide for Empowering Children, published by the Healing Touch Program. I’m also an artist and calligraphy teacher, and I call my classes “Contemplative Calligraphy.” I have a background in energy work and have been meditating for many years. I’m taking this training now for a few reasons: 1. to enhance my art and calligraphy, helping the movement of the pen to truly become a moving meditation 2. to enhance my own equanimity and reduce my tendencies towards workaholism, anxiety, and other human foibles, and 3. to be better at conveying these concepts and tools for peacefulness to my art students and those around me.
I’m 69 years old and married to George for 23 years. It’s the second marriage for both of us, and I have a stepson who is 40 years old and lives in Chicago. Throughout the years I’ve had my own calligraphy business, practiced energy work (Reiki and Healing Touch), worked with seniors as a Community Health Educator, and held various office/administrative jobs. I’ve been an editor in the publishing field (trade magazines), a licensed EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), and am now an art teacher and working artist.
-
Hi All!
I am so excited and a little relieved to be here. My name is Erin and I am from the west coast of Canada, on Vancouver Island, in a small city called Duncan. I am deeply in love with my family, which keeps me pretty busy as mom and grandma. I love my dogs, gardening, making art of all kinds, and studying the way (and the why) bodies move. I work as a yoga therapist, teaching yoga, yoga nidra, & meditation. I have been trained in yoga meditation and Buddhist meditation. Buddhist meditation is the heart of my personal practice.
I have been familiar with Susan’s work for a few years, and I realized that the timing of this program was perfect.
So far, I am feeling quite energized and appreciative of being part of this program with all of you!
Right now, It’s raining like crazy.
See you soon.
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.