Ian has been studying and practicing mindfulness since 2004 under the guidance of Rob Nairn and has participated in a number of week long and month long retreats on an annual basis with a variety of teachers in the U.K., South Africa and India. In 2010, Ian enrolled on the first cohort of the Studies in Mindfulness MSc and graduated from this programme with an MSc in 2013. Ian has been teaching mindfulness since 2012 and is currently employed by the NHS to design, deliver and research mindfulness based interventions for staff as well as being a lead tutor for the Mindfulness Association. Ian also teaches TaeKwon-Do and Budokon Yoga and martial arts and has a particular interest in mindful movement and mindful ecology.
Angie has studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism at Kagyu Samye Ling in the Scottish Borders for over 30 years. Within that time she has learnt Tibetan Buddhist practices including that of Mindfulness. She also trained for over 20 years in a comprehensive therapeutic process entitled ‘Tara Rokpa Therapy’. Initially developed at Samye Ling, this combines the wisdom and integrity from both East and Western psychological traditions. Self-reflective writing, painting, relaxation, bodywork and an exploration of the 5 Tibetan Elements to help promote health and well-being are key components within this discipline. In addition to being an experienced Tara Rokpa workshop facilitator, Angie holds a teaching certificate, she is a trained counsellor in Transpersonal Psychology and N.L.P (Neuro Linguistic Programming), and a qualified massage therapist (ITEC). She has been teaching and running workshops since the 80’s in both the private and public sector, throughout the UK and Europe.
Angie has completed a two year Mindfulness and Compassion teacher training programme with Rob Nairn and is currently undertaking an MSc in Mindfulness with Aberdeen University. She runs weekend workshops and 8 week sessions in the practise of mindfulness.
Tina has been practicing meditation for over 12 years, of which 5 years have been in the secular mindfulness tradition. Tina started teaching mindfulness after completing the 3 year training with Rob Nairn and the Mindfulness Association. Shortly after, she became a tutor with the team. Tina teaches on the one year mindfulness training at Samye Ling Buddhist Monastery and in Edinburgh. She also runs 8 week mindfulness programs throughout Scotland.
Along with teaching mindfulness, Tina qualified in 2005 as a Hatha Yoga teacher and is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Cancer Care & Chemotherapy. She has been nursing for 30yrs. In the last 3 years, Tina has combined her love of mindfulness meditation with yoga and nursing and runs specialist yoga and mindfulness programs for people living with cancer in Lothian. She has seen enormous life changing benefits to many people through embracing a mindful way of life and Tina believes that everyone could benefit from trying it.
Heather has a PostGraduate Diploma in Studies in Mindfulness and is currently studying for a PhD in Education with the University of Aberdeen, sponsored by the Mindfulness Association. Her work focuses on the role (if any) for mindfulness and self-compassion in Scottish secondary schools, and as part of her PhD she has created the Mindfulness Based Living Course for Young Adults (MBLC-YA).
Heather has 6 years’ experience of teaching mindfulness and compassion to children and adolescents in schools as well as in her private practice as a children’s meditation teacher, and she is a published author on the subject.
Rosina teaches the MBLC course locally and also tutors with the Mindfulness Association on the one-year Mindfulness and Compassion courses.
She completed the Diploma of Studies in Mindfulness with the University of Aberdeen in 2013. She has worked as a humanistic counsellor, and offered training and supervision in related fields, for over 25 years.
Alan Hughes became interested in Buddhism, and started meditating, in his late teens. In the 1990s, he started practicing within the Tibetan tradition, and eventually started attending courses and retreats with Rob Nairn, whenever he was in the UK. This naturally led him to become involved with the Mindfulness Association, and to do the MSc course at Aberdeen University.
In 2011, Alan gave up his job as a marine biologist to deepen his interest in Buddhism and meditation, and worked as a full-time volunteer at Kagyu Samye Dzong London for five years. He now focuses on teaching mindfulness and works for the Mindfulness Association.
Vin Harris has studied and practiced under the guidance of many great Tibetan teachers since he became a Buddhist in 1974. He has always aspired to follow the example of his teacher Akong Rinpoche by putting spiritual values into practical action and has been one of the team responsible for the construction of the Temple and College at Samye Ling.
Having practiced meditation for more than 40 years whilst establishing a successful business and managing a wide range of inspiring projects, Vin attributes many of his achievements to an ability to work skilfully with the inner environment: finding creative solutions to the many business and interpersonal challenges that inevitably arise.
When he was introduced to secular Mindfulness, Compassion and Insight by Rob Nairn, Vin became one of the founding Mindfulness Association Board members as he was inspired by it’s potential to help so many people. Vin has a BA in English & European Literature and a Masters degree in Business and a PG Diploma (with Distinction) in Mindfulness Studies with Aberdeen University.
Kristine Mackenzie-Janson – executive director and tutor
Kristine’s work is rooted in a lifelong fascination with the mind and the possibility of easing suffering through mind training.
At the age of nineteen, Kristine first came to Holy Isle where she encountered Tibetan Buddhism, which profoundly shaped her path and had a lasting influence on her life and work. She lived on the island for four years in her mid-twenties, including one year as a nun, undertaking intensive training in meditation under the guidance of Lama Yeshe Rinpoche and Rob Nairn.
Since 2010, Kristine has held a range of roles with the Mindfulness Association. She teaches on many of the core programmes, contributes to the teacher training and supervises other mindfulness teachers. She has also been an Honorary Fellow at the University of Aberdeen for the MSc in Mindfulness Studies since 2013. Kristine has additionally served for several years as a trustee of BAMBA, including a term as Chair.
Originally from the Netherlands, Kristine now lives in Edinburgh with her extended family. At the heart of her professional and personal life is the continued practice of compassion, which remains deeply transformative.
Fay Adams trained to teach mindfulness under the guidance of well-known teacher Rob Nairn, whilst living on the Holy Isle retreat island off the west coast of Scotland. She now teaches courses and retreats in mindfulness, compassion, insight, and mindfulness and poetry with the Mindfulness Association and she is a tutor on the University of Aberdeen’s Studies in Mindfulness MSc. Fay has been a dedicated meditation practitioner since 2006. Fay is a mindfulness supervisor and a teacher trainer. She is also a coach specialising in helping people to develop a mindfulness practice that is meaningful and enjoyable, as well as in relationships, life transitions, chronic pain and shadow work.
Fay was originally drawn to mindfulness in her twenties because of her chronic pain. Throughout her 6 years of living on Holy Isle in a small meditation hut, she immersed herself in discovering what the pain was all about. In the process she began to find a new way to inhabit mind, body and community. Ultimately, mindfulness has, as well as freeing her from the pain, become a deeply rich basis for living life fully.
Fay now lives in Herefordshire with her partner and son.