Hannah is a writer and mindfulness teacher. She has an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University, where she had the privilege to be a teaching fellow with eager Columbia undergraduates. Since 2016, she’s facilitated the evidence-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program with healthcare professionals, educators, and community groups across Canada. In 2018, drawing on her MBSR training and her experiences as a writer and meditator, she developed Mindfulness & Creativity. The success of this series of classes, along with her passion and curiosity to explore the conditions of human flourishing, led her to found The Art of Being Here. 

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Hannah is a Certified MBSR Facilitator, who has trained with leading mindfulness teachers in the US and Canada. In 2015, she completed MBSR in Mind-Body Medicine with Saki Santorelli and Florence Meleo-Meyer through the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School. In her MBSR certification with the Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto, she was mentored by Dr. Patricia Rockman. Most recently, in 2023, she completed teacher training with Dr. Mark Williams for the 8-week Deeper Mindfulness program. Her other mentors include Dr. Priscilla Koop with the Mindfulness Institute.ca, and Brea Johnson with Heart and Bones Yoga. To support her teaching and continued development of her mindfulness practice, she regularly sits silent retreats; her teachers include Kristina Baré, Howard Cohn, Heather Martin, Tempel Smith, and Ajahn Pavaro. She’s grateful to all her teachers – including her participants, who have taught her so much! – and she's excited to continue her learning.

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Hannah has a lifelong interest in meditation and contemplative practices. Growing up, she learned yoga from her mother, and began a yoga and meditation practice. During her BA at the University of Alberta, she studied and practiced with Zen Buddhists and stayed with Premonstratensian monks in Tarascon, France, where she was introduced to monastic silent practice.

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In 2010, she helped launch the Mindfulness Institute.ca under the leadership of Dr. Catherine Phillips. Working with the Institute, she helped organize mindfulness events, including the International Conference on Mindfulness with Youth in Banff, Alberta. This collaborative work with Dr. Phillips and the international community was transformative, furthering her understanding of mindfulness, and inspiring her to pursue teacher training.

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As an invited speaker, Hannah has presented to international audiences and specialized groups, including caregivers, first responder spouses, and artists. Recently, she co-developed Mindfulness for Men - a four-week, self-guided course - offered freely through the University of British Columbia’s program, HeadsUpGuys; she and Dr. Andrea Grabovac developed the course in collaboration with the HeadsUpGuys team. 

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Hannah is honoured and delighted to share mindfulness practice with our community. She teaches from a foundation of trauma-sensitive practice and mindful self-compassion. She’s known for her grounded presence, calming voice, and an approach that's playful, curious, kind, and accessible. Learn more about what her participants say here.

 

Hannah lives in Edmonton, Canada, in a 110-year-old house that she's slowly restoring with her husband. Currently, she's working on a memoir about mothers and daughters and healing intergenerational trauma. For creative fun, she writes songs and poetry, dances, and photographs the strange and beautiful things she sees.

 

You can contact her at hannah@beinghere.ca