This month, we celebrate our wonderful register member Wilfred Gomez, externally accredited and registered meditation teacher based in London.
We asked Wilfred to share some information about his own meditation experience, and his teaching so that you can get to know him better.
Here is what Wilfred told us about his own meditation experience…
“My first experience was back in the mid-1990s while at university. I was searching for answers about myself when I came across the London School of Buddhism, which was offering free lunchtime meditation classes. That was enough to draw me in, and it's where I learned the Mindfulness of Breathing and Loving Kindness meditations. I'm not Buddhist, but the school laid strong foundations, and a week-long retreat in Cambridge turned out to be a profound experience — I really felt the power of group meditation and consistent practice.
I stopped practising soon after, as life got in the way: graduating, job hunting, and settling into a relationship. I later discovered Inner Light and Sound meditation through the Quan Yin method and returned to a regular practice for about three years, before moving home and changing jobs led me to abandon it again. Every time things seemed to be going well I did not think my practice mattered as much.
It wasn't until my 40s that I truly realised the benefit of meditating daily and building a consistent practice. There were breaks along the way, but by my late 40s I was meditating for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, returning to the Mindfulness of Breathing as it offered me the most benefit at the time. I now fully understand the cumulative power of regular practice, regardless of technique”.
Wilfred trained with BSoM to become an externally accredited meditation teacher because…
“The BSoM offered an externally accredited qualification, which mattered to me because I wanted any future teaching to be recognised within the sector. It gives me — and anyone considering working with me — confidence that I've undertaken proper academic and practical training to begin my professional meditation journey.
There are a plethora of “meditation teachers” out there and knowing I’ve been CRB checked and passed my course modules and practical sessions gives me the confidence to advertise under the BSoM’s umbrella which is particularly important in this day and age”.
What he loved about the training was…
“The training was intense, varied and challenging — at first, it even made me feel a little uncomfortable about meditation itself, though that uncertainty quickly gave way to genuine learning. Catherine made it easy to apply what we covered in the real world, and the class size was perfect for getting to know everyone and making friends. The mix of practical work and theory was excellent, and although there was a lot to cover on our in-person days, Catherine struck just the right balance between staying on track and leaving room for discussion - enough to keep us curious and wanting to learn more.”
About Wilfred’s business and classes…
My business is still very much in its infancy, as I work full-time. My first attempt at offering public classes didn't generate enough demand to continue, but I've found I'm most effective teaching within the corporate legal profession — offering law firms an hour-long session combining theory and practical guidance.
I also offer talks, guided meditation and breathwork to companies with Wellness Teams, who look to bring in an externally accredited practitioner to support their employees. My circumstances have changed since training with the BSoM, including losing a job and then starting a new one, and being part of the BSoM community has allowed me to keep offering classes and workshops. As this grows, launching a fuller business will become more feasible.
Wilfred’s favourite aspect of teaching is…
Knowing that everyone who attends will take something away about meditation. Helping busy professionals better manage their wellbeing has a lasting effect to those interested in self-care and personal development.
As an experienced meditator, being able to sit with a group and help them check in and experience the effects of being more present and tuning in is a really positive aspect of teaching.
How you can work with, or find out more about Georgina and her meditation sessions:
At the moment I’m still developing my business and it’s through reaching out to my network. At the moment, it’s not about the commercial aspect of training, moreover, helping others to benefit from some self-enquiry.
Social Media and Website Links
My website is currently under construction. In the meantime, I can be found via the BSoM register for corporate sessions. On Instagram at: @Wilfie_g and on Linked-In