Cheryl lives in Doncaster and is a graduate of the Meditation Centre Teaching Training Programme and became a Trustee in 2021 to further support the aims of the Centre. Cheryl worked as a Social Worker for many years before changing career course and now teaches meditation to adults and children along side running her own Complementary Therapy business.
Gary lives in Dent village and became a Trustee for the Centre in 2022. He very much enjoyed our Learn to Meditate day and is keen to support the centre as a community asset and in its charitable objectives of teaching meditation to all and promoting mental wellbeing. Before retiring, Gary was involved in the Fire Sector for over 40 years including working for West Yorkshire Fire Service, the Anchor Trust and was the Fire Safety Officer at Lancaster University.
Gary is involved in the local community and serves on Dent Parish council. He also Chairs the Policy and Resources Committee. His hobbies include keeping fit, walking, cycling, skiing and motor homing.
Lindsay joined the board of Trustees in 2021 and is also a graduate of our Meditation Teacher Training Programme. People often talk about ‘journeys’ and, even though that word has become somewhat of a cliché, a journey is how she describes her time at the centre studying this ancient and spiritual practice. The Centre has since become her spiritual home and holds a very special place in her heart.
As Coach Lindsay, she provides unique mindfulness and wellbeing services to schools within Lancashire, Yorkshire and remotely. This includes mindfulness coaching and delivering bespoke sessions to schools and also the young person and/or family.
Lindsay is very keen to promote the scientific research that demonstrates mindfulness and meditation to be effective transformational practices for young people, in which real changes can and do happen. And to make meditation more accessible to all young people. This is where Lindsay’s passion lies and motivates her to work incredibly hard in the prevention of poor mental health in children and young adults.
Bel Charlesworth has worked in the natural health field since qualifying as a Medical Herbalist in 2003. She has worked with both students and clients to improve all aspects of their wellbeing. This includes prescribing herbal medicines, lifestyle and nutritional advice, and also yoga and meditation as a Yoga Therapist.
Her first real motivation to meditate regularly came while on a Yoga retreat in India. Bel loved the physical asana work but was still struggling somewhat with the stillness of Meditation. On the final day, Bel therefore asked her Yoga Master for 3 key yoga practices she could take home to help with her own stress levels. To this, his slightly frustrating answer at the time was: Meditation, Meditation and Meditation!
Six years of intensive yoga training and self-study followed, culminating in a two-year Diploma in Yoga Therapy. Bel is a qualified Dru Yoga teacher as well as Vinyasa flow (200RYT). She has further training in Yin Yoga, Backcare, Yoga for Kids and with the Teen Yoga Foundation. She is also a graduate of the Dent Meditation Teaching Training Programme. Bel fell in love with the Centre during this time and it is now a privilege to be able to serve as its Director.
Bel has a passion for teaching and the outdoors. It is therefore a delight to be able to combine these offerings at the Meditation Centre. She loves introducing others to the power and healing potential of Nature and also helping them to find the Joy and Stillness that resides within. Bel leads many of our Learn to Meditate days along with our Teacher Training Programme, plus Herb,Yoga and Meditation days and other special events and retreats throughout the year.
Bel has been a Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists since 2003. She is also the Senior Herbal Advisor for Twinings as well as a learning tutor at RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate.
Find out more about Bel Charlesworth at her website: www.yorkshireherbalist.co.uk
Having started his career as a Professional Town Planner in London, Tony later, of necessity came upon TCM, incorporating Tai Chi and Qigong. He was searching for ways to help himself deal with a chronic health condition. He has now been teaching Tai Chi Qigong and Stress Management, initially through Adult Learning for North Yorkshire County Council, and then privately, for over 20 years. He also worked until recently for Growing with Grace, an organic farm, and learnt the link between health in the soil and health in human beings. Tony is a registered instructor with the Tai Chi Union of Great Britain and has a Diploma in Stress Management Training. He has trained in counselling skills and is an EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner. He has an understanding of and deep appreciation of the Human Givens approach to Mental and Emotional Health.
Tony’s purpose in teaching is to introduce people to the benefits of deep relaxation and more considered energy use through stillness and movement. His approach is to empower people, encouraging them to adopt new ways of thinking and living their lives as they put this learning into practice.
Diane lives in Garsdale on the border of Cumbria and North Yorkshire. She has a keen interest in the natural world and feels spiritually inspired and guided by it. Having been involved with The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers ) for many years, she came to know the deep spiritual connection and healing that being in silence can facilitate. This led to a natural interest in and desire to share the benefits of meditation practice with others and Diane graduated as a meditation teacher in 2019. Having a background in creative arts, design and visual display and a keen interest in personal growth, Diane explores accessing creativity through meditation practice in her work and is a key facilitator for this on various courses at The Meditation Centre.
Diane enjoys making art, creative journalling and walking in nature with her two rescued Korean Jindo dogs. She is a qualified Reiki practitioner and has developed keen interest in walking the Earth path and Shamanic journeying. Diane’s mission is “To guide and inspire others to empower themselves”.
As well as teaching at the Centre, Diane also offers other Meditation and Reiki healing courses and sessions locally and online. For more info, you are welcome to visit her website here: https://www.facebook.com/whitedogreikihealing/
Jacqui graduated from our Teacher Training course in 2017 further to training as a Yoga teacher. She lives and teaches in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire where she runs yoga and wellbeing studio Cocoon. She says: ‘I am a Cornish lass at heart but have lived in Yorkshire for over 30 years. I moved here after college to teach in a tough inner Sheffield primary school, where I stayed for 25 years. Now I am a Yoga teacher and an Aromatherapist, working in a small holistic well-being oasis in Holmfirth called ‘Cocoon’. We see our role at Cocoon as helping people to make positive changes in their lives, to become the people they were always meant to be, uncovering their true inner Self.
My Meditation Teacher Training at the Dent Meditation Centre provided the perfect complement to the other treasures we offer our clients, and of course, I’m looking forward to teaching at The Meditation Centre in Dent too. I look forward to seeing you there one day.’
Television and film producer, fashion photographer, scriptwriter, artist, and environmentalist (and Highland gardener) – gifted generalist. Born and brought up in the north of Scotland, and has survived 40 years in an industry euphemistically called “Show Business” – assistant to Stanley Kubrick on Barry Lyndon and The Shining, fashion photography for many British publications, moving into magazine editing and art direction; part of the creative team that published Deluxe and finally Boulevard – the first of the truly independent monthly style publications. Then Don’t Flex, collaboration with Punk Design Team Rocking Russian – photography, directing pop promos and designing record sleeves. Since Channel 4 started he has been producing all manner of arts, lifestyle, investigative documentaries and youth programmes for them, notably the ground breaking gardening series Dig, and the invention of Video Diaries. Currently developing a number of film and television projects through his production company on the Ardnamurchan peninsula.