The Centre for Mindfulness Teacher Sandy Sousa
Sandy Sousa Mindfulness Instructor and facilitator
“Over time, I have come to realize that my practice has been totally integrated into my life. I have embraced the teachings, theories and philosophies of my personal study. It is a way of being that has always supported me. My interest has become my passion and has led me to pursue a path that will allow me the opportunity to bring my learning to others so that they may benefit from it as I have.”
After leaving a management training position with the CIBC, Sandy’s formal meditation practice began while studying design in Kingston, Ontario. After training in Sivananda and Hatha yoga, Sandy began studying Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction through the University of Massachusetts, before undertaking training in Mindfulness-Based Self-Compassion with Kristen Neff and Chris Germer, through the University of Southern California, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Pain with Jackie Gardner-Nix, through Telemedicine, Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, On.
Her training also includes basic and intermediate courses in Jin Shin Mind-Body Acupressure, and several MBSR courses with founders Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli. She has trained at the Centre for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts, as well as privately in Kingston, Toronto, New York City, San Francisco, Big Sur, Fort Lauderdale, Hawaii, Mexico, Ireland, and Switzerland. Sandy is a qualified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction teacher through the Oasis Institute at the University Of Massachusetts Medical Department. As well as a Mindfulness Self Compassion teacher through the University of Southern California, San Diego School of Medicine, with Kristen Neff, Chris Germer, Michelle Becker, Steve Hickman, and Beth Mulligan.
Sandy currently teaches mindfulness and meditation practices privately and in groups at Full Circle Health Network in Kingston, Ontario, as well as in business and academic settings. She also works with the Limestone District School Board, where she trains and counsels students from kindergarten through high school in stress-reduction techniques to help them relieve pain, reduce stress, and live healthy, balanced lives.
Sandy maintains a daily practice of mindfulness, yoga, and meditation, embodying her belief that mindfulness is more than just
a practice or a skill set: it is a way of living and being in the world.
Sandy Sousa (forefront) as featured in Time Magazine,
Training with Founder of the Stress Reduction Program Jon Kabat- Zinn,
Omega Institute, Rhinebeck NY 201
EDUCATION in Mindfulness and Meditation
- Off the Mat, Into the World, Yoga, Purpose & Action Leadership,
2009 Intensive with Seane Corn, Hala Khouri & Suzanne Sterling, Rhinebeck, New York - Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training, Sept 2010 – June 2011
200 hour training with Swami Nitya Muktananda, Kingston, Ontario - Jin Shin Do Mind Body Acupressure, Basic and Intermediate training
With Tolling Jenning and Kay Marchibald, Kingston, Ontario
- M.B.S.R. Mind Body Medicine, June 2013
With Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, New York
- M.B.S.R. training, Sept 2013
8 week course with Roy Hinsta, Toronto, Ontario - M.B.S.R. For Chronic Pain for Health Care Professionals, Oct – Dec 2014
With Jackie Gardner-Nix, Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto & Kingston
- Hatha Yoga Teacher Training, Jan 2015
200 hour training with Deborah Koehn, The Big Island, Hawaii
- M.B.S.R. Mind Body Medicine, Jun 2015
With Jon Kabat-Zinn and Saki Santorelli, Nottwil, Switzerland
- Mindfulness in Education, July 2015
Teacher Training Intensive with Daniel Rechtchaffen, Rhinebeck, New York - Mindfulness and Education Conference, July 2015
With Daniel Rechtschaffen, Daniel Siegel, Linda Lantieri, Nimrod Sheinman, Daniella Labrador, Jessica Morey, Bidyut Bose, Mina Srinivasan, Elizabeth Lesser, JG Larochette, JusTme
- Practicum with Carolyn West, Feb 2016
Ann Twohig, Wicklow, Ireland
- Yoga Nidra Training, Mar 2016
Richard Miller - Practice Teaching Intensive, University of Massachusetts Sept.2016
- Qualified MBSR teacher, University of Massachesetts
- Mindfulness Based Self Compassion Teaching Intensive USC, San Diego School of Medicine. Kristen Neff and Chris Germer, Big Sur California, Dec. 2017
- Mindfulness Based Self Compassion Teacher Training, University of Southern California, San Diego School Of Medicine Chris Germer, Steve Hickman, Michelle Becker, Beth Mulligan. Joshua Tree Cal. Jan 13-19, 2019
RETREATS
- Conscious Classrooms Yoga for Schools workshops
With Tamika Shilbe and Carolyn Jyoti Burke, Toronto, Ontario
- Yoga and Recovery 12 Step Yoga for Addiction workshop
With Les Leventhal, San Francisco, California
- Neuroscience, The Brain, Yoga and Meditation workshops
With Kelly McGonigal & Bo Forbes, Toronto, New York & San Francisco, California - Yoga Retreats, 2005 to present
- 7 Day Silent Meditation Retreat, Feb 2015
Insight Meditation Society with Sharon Saltzberg, Barre, Massachusetts
- 5 Day Silent Retreat, Feb 2016
Beth Mulligan, Fort Lauderdale, Florida - 5 Day Meditation Retreat, May 2017 Jon Kabat-Zinn and Will Kabat-Zinn
- 7 Day Silent Retreat, Oct. 2017 Rhinebeck N.Y. Saki Santorelli, Bob Stahl, and Florence Meleo- Meyer
