Breaking Open: Testimonials

And details for signing up for the summer course

Last week we wrapped our first Breaking Open course, which is an introduction to mindfulness practice and how to apply it in our increasingly complex and ever-changing lives.

I asked the participants from this first group what they would want to share with someone who was considering the course, and here is what they said:

I began the class feeling stagnant and without direction. I ended with deep understanding and reconnection with aspects of myself I’d been suppressing so long I forgot I was doing so. Through this class I feel a deeper connection to self, my world, and people in general. Grateful for the experience!

Kristen beautifully and naturally created a space where diverse people joining via video felt connected, and she offered a ton of knowledge and wisdom about mindfulness practices.  What I appreciate most is how Kristen integrates these practices and philosophies into our way of showing up in the world, both for ourselves and for others.

Learning to practice mindfulness has had many direct and important applications in both my work and personal life.  Probably the biggest impact is that I am now much more aware of my inner dialogue and I can and do notice my "worry tendency" and "inner critic." Both of these parts of me still exist, but in being more aware, I can create separation from those thoughts and choose to act from a more empowered stance. It’s an insight I wish I had known many years ago but am grateful to have now!

Breaking Open set a great foundation for my experience with mindfulness and my biggest takeaway was that I can work this practice into my life in formal AND informal ways and that it can be flexible and forgiving.

I learned that I am capable of both doing the practice of mindfulness and being less hard on myself for not doing it “perfectly.”

It was just what I had hoped—calming, welcoming, non-judgmental and provided me with much needed tools and permission to hit the “pause” button. The written resources were great.

Kristen made these concepts very accessible and was a very welcoming and supportive guide throughout the whole course; I'd happily sign up for another course like this one and I plan to continue listening to Kristen's guided sessions on Insight Timer.

Practical and easy methods to learn how to pause from a situation/emotion/thought and embrace the current moment; granting space to process and return with clarity.

Kristen has a style that allows her to teach practices that go very deep, all the while keeping a light touch - no judgment, no pressure and even some humor.  I am a big fan and recommend anyone curious about mindfulness to engage with this very special teacher.

Breaking Open is a great way to get into mindfulness meditation. Kristen's thoughtful lessons and meditations slowly bring you deeper into the pool of mindfulness. This is not a cookie cutter approach, but a broad stroke that allows you to find what resonates and dig deeper. As with all meditation practices, you get out of it what you put in.

Another round of Breaking Open #1: The Space to Choose will launch July 6 and run through August 10—6 weeks of Tuesday nights at 8:30-10 p.m. ET / 5:30-7 p.m. PT.

Registration is now open! Registration fees are on a sliding scale and all proceeds will be donated to the Loveland Foundation and the AAPI Community Fund. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.