I started Mindful Pause in 2022 with a simple intention:
to create a heart space where people could just be.
I began this because I was longing for a dedicated place and time where I could feel safe enough to feel it all… to welcome every part of ourselves…the soft, the messy, the doubts, the fears, the uncertainties, no matter what was happening in life.

There was no marketing campaign, no social push, no hashtags. I went old school! Printing a few posters each month and pinning them in local parks and coffee shops. I quite liked the romantic idea of trusting that this will be found by the people who might just need it too. And slowly, people did show up. It began with a handful of beautiful faces, some familiar, many new, and then, little by little, it grew, and now it’s up to sometimes as many as 30+ people in a single session. I’m so grateful that familiar and new faces continue to join. Every co-created gathering felt powerful, and there were no expectations. I knew that even if it was just me and one other person breathing together, it was enough to keep showing up, because connecting through presence felt so alive for me. I knew it also kept me grounded in my own practice, deepening my connection to the heart.

I never knew who would come, and that mystery became something sacred and exciting. Over time, this simple practice grew into a community of collective hearts showing up as they were, and allowing ourselves to feel. How often do we truly allow ourselves to feel?

I trust that these one-hour sessions, although brief, can have a lasting influence far beyond the room, subtly shaping the way we relate to our world, our work, and our relationships with family, friends, partners, children, strangers, and most importantly, with ourselves. Every time we come together, I feel we’re strengthening a quiet muscle in our hearts, of kindness, compassion and unconditional love, and that, to me, feels like a mighty movement in motion!

TunedInHeart was born from my own journey through burnout, grief, heartbreak, and all the in-between spaces of simply being a human in this world. My mother’s cancer has taught me that suppressing our feelings is truly detrimental to our health and well-being. I’ve learned that returning to the heart, like returning to the breath, again and again, brings a sense of safety. Even if it’s only for a glimpse, the power of presence is enough to remind us to come back to it. 

All sessions have always been offered freely, with any donations going directly to Oxford House, whose community, arts, and social projects have made this practice possible. My wish is that this work continues to grow and reach more hearts, that each of us can tune into the heart and, in doing so, gently influence the world around us with a little more joy, kindness, and light!

I’m still learning to show up fully, and everyone who is a part of Mindful Pause has helped me open more of my gifts and presence to offer to the world. I feel that’s the real practice, showing up as we are, consistently, letting the heart lead, and seeing what unfolds from there - no expectations, as our presence is always enough.

If this feels aligned for you, or if you’re curious, I’d love to invite you to join us.