Candace – A Bridal Wear and Accessories Designer

Tell us about yourself Candace?

I’m a bridal wear and accessories designer from North London.

How’s life Candace?

Life now is great despite the current pandemic and events of the past year; it has been a real period of personal growth for me. I account part of that to my daily meditation and yoga practice, which I find helps to keep me balanced and grounded and has helped me to gain a much more positive perspective on this past year! I’m very grateful that many things have changed for the better both in my personal and work life.

How many years have you been meditating? 

I learnt Transcendental Meditation in April 2008 and have now been meditating for 13 years.

What drew you to Meditation in the first place? 

I was in my first graduate job at the time; while things overall were going well in my life I had an underlying and gradual building level of stress leading to anxiety within my new role. My mum had read about Transcendental Meditation and suggested it as a good option to potentially manage my stress, so I booked onto the course with no expectations and an open mind. My mum and sister ended up learning the technique a year later, and we often do group meditations together which are wonderful. I can honestly say while the benefits initially seemed very subtle within myself it has been life changing for me, as it’s one of my greatest tools to manage stress and maintain life balance!

What first 3 words come to mind when describing the benefits of your Meditation Practise? 

Calming, Release, Recharge

How has it affected you in the workplace? 

I run my own business, and my hours can be unpredictable (I often work late evenings). I stop at 6 when I’m in my studio; whatever I’m doing I take a break to meditate and currently I tend to join the online group meditations. I find they’re great for refreshing both my body and mind as I’m usually flagging by that time! My morning meditations help me to focus and give me a more positive mindset with which to start my day, which in turn helps to get my workday off to a productive start.

Outside of work has there been many changes? 

Overall I can manage my stress levels better; I also enjoy being present and taking in the moment more – previously (and something I’m still working on) I would always be thinking about the next thing and not practicing mindfulness, which is something I now like to integrate into my everyday life.

Why would you recommend Meditation to Colleagues and Friends?

It’s a great way to manage your stress, have some time to yourself without distractions to recharge and can really help with sustaining a better work/life balance. Plus, I find the actual meditations very relaxing and enjoyable!

Finally, anything you would like to add?

I’ve met some of the nicest people and made some friends for life from the lovely community of people I know that practice Transcendental Meditation; something which I didn’t expect at all and a bonus of learning the practice! I also love attending Andre’s Retreats and Rounding Saturdays, as they are all incredibly restful and give me such a boost of energy – especially meditating with so many people at once. I’d highly recommend them!

For more information on upcoming events including courses on Transcendental Meditation please contact me directly at hello@andreberrymeditation.co.uk

 

 

 

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Stuart – A Managing Director

Tell us about yourself Stuart?
At work, I head up a very busy, fast growing software company called Clear Review, and at home I have a family with two young children and a rescue dog with issues, all of whom need a lot of my attention! So it’s a very hectic, but rewarding life I lead.
How’s life?  
Life is great right now. After founding my own software startup in 2015 and spending the last few years overseeing its very fast growth, I sold it at the end of 2020. So I’m looking forward to a well earned bit of rest after a non-stop 5 years and a rollercoaster ride of emotions! Not that I’ll probably get too much rest, as we’re just about to move our family out of London down to Somerset.
How many years have you been meditating?
I’ve been meditating for about 2 years now.
What drew you to Meditation in the first place?
As Clear Review become bigger and more successful, the workload and the stress increased along with it, and I was getting increasingly tired out from it all. In a previous company that I had started, I eventually burned out from over-work, so I was worried about the same thing happening again. My wife had been doing Transcendental Meditation (TM) for several years and suggested (i.e. forced me!) to try it out.

I’ll be honest, I was pretty cynical about the idea at first, but I’m open minded and I’ll try almost anything once. When I took the course, I expected it to be full of hippy types wearing tie dye, but was really surprised to find a group of like minded, equally busy professionals, who were also looking for a way to handle their hectic jobs. I remember that there were a couple of guys working in stressful city jobs and a doctor working long hours.

What first 3 words come to mind when describing the benefits of your Meditation Practise?  
Energising, blissful, creativity.

How has it affected you in the workplace?
It’s been a total game changer for me as it’s massively boosted my energy levels. Previously, by early afternoon I’d be starting to flag, but now, after my second 20 minute meditation of the day, I feel just as energised as first thing in the morning and it gives me a second wind to power on for another few hours. But it’s more than just energy. I feel a lot calmer. Growing and selling a company is one of the most stressful things you can ever do, but through it all, I managed to keep pretty calm and level headed. That was great for both my work colleagues and my family. The other thing I noticed is that the answers to problems would just come to me. Sometimes during a meditation, and sometimes a few hours later. I no longer pore over decisions for hours – the right course of action always seems to come to me without any effort. It’s almost like magic!

Outside of work has there been many changes?
It’s been just as beneficial for my family too. When I finish work, I’ve still got enough mental energy to be ‘present’ for my wife and children, and because I don’t feel much stress anymore, I’m just a lot more fun to be around. And the kids have fully embraced my meditations. If my wife and I have to fit in a meditation when they are at home, we let them have some screen time, which they are more than happy with!

Why would you recommend Meditation to Colleagues and Friends?
I really believe it’s transformed my life for the better. I’ve had to navigate some very tricky situations over the last couple of years and make some tough decisions, and I genuinely think that TM has helped me to get that right and has led me to a successful outcome. And on top of that, for me, the actual meditation itself feels physically wonderful – like a blissful energy running through my entire body. I look forward to it every day.
Finally, anything you would like to add?
I just wanted to say that some of the things I’ve said might sound a bit too good to be true. But as I mentioned before, I’m pretty cynical as a person and I expected nothing to happen when I learned TM. I kind of did it to appease my wife who was hassling me to try it! And after only a week or two of doing it, it blew my mind. I know that everyone experiences TM differently and for some people it takes longer to feel the benefits, but this is the honest truth of my personal experience. Just give it a go and see for yourself.For more information on upcoming events including courses on Transcendental Meditation please contact me directly at hello@andreberrymeditation.co.uk

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