This is a blog about my experience teaching and modifying the Mindful Self-Compassion program (Kristin Neff and Chris Germer) to teens at a facility that takes qualified teens out of the prison system and provides structure and support that will increase their futures, a second chance. This is a story about my journey reveling my strengths and struggles as a new meditation teacher in a unique and challenging situation. I need to be smart about race, prison, trauma and creating something new in the midst of a set of changing challenges.
My Story
I complete teacher training for MSC in the fall of 2016. I was interested in teaching the adult program but had several hindrances in the way of teaching this program. For example, I was not finding a fit with a co-teacher, I had an offer to teach at a Pilates studio with a strange ambiance and scheduling something for 8 weeks in a row was not fitting in. An opportunity to teach MSC to teens at this facility compelled me. I pursued it with interest. Due to the security processes (background checks and fingerprinting) to be considered a sanctioned volunteer, I spent less time considering what I was getting into and more preparing extensively for teaching. I started teaching MSC in the fall of 2017. My final class was just upon returning from taking the Making Friends With Myself teacher training in Amsterdam, November 11th.
This is a confidential blog to share my experience, learnings and results that took place.
Next Steps…
“Live your life as an experiment.” Chogyam Trungpa