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Gifts from the Desert: Musings on the Gift of Graduating from the Mindfulness Coaching School

Dec 2, 2019

By Gretchen Larsen (Hochstatt, France), MCS Senior Student

I have graduated twice now, once from high school and again from college. Both times, I was handed a book, the same one each time: Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh (another A.M., hmmm). So, as I get ready to graduate a bit more by completing my training hours at the Mindfulness Coaching School in Santa Fe, NM, I wanted to share some thoughts on the gifts I have received from this school in the desert, much like Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her gifts from the sea.

For any of those who have lived or traveled in the Southwestern U.S., particularly N.M., you know that there is a special quality to the light there. I call it long light. Objects and mountains seem to be lit from far away by seemingly long, full, mature beams of light. It illumines trees and rocks, sand and adobe walls so you feel you can see them well from a distance. I feel like I have been given some of this long light, that illuminates my future as a coach out in front of me, keeping it warm and ready for me until arrive in it.

In this light so many worries and concerns seem to melt away, and I am left with “just this.” Another gift, in the form of a meditation, from Ann Marie. Just this: my knowledge, my skills, my enthusiasm and my curiosity, all bubbling together as I connects me, back to myself and back to the earth. It keeps me steady as I step start my business. This meditation, like a rock from the desert, grounds me, forward into my future.

Lastly, there is the cactus, with all its prickly bits, it wakes you up, brings you to the present, and can surprise you. I continue to be surprised by all the small bits I learned at the school, that similarly prick me into awareness: laughing meditation, “getting the wiggle out,” being called on to be lean and lasered, butterfly hugs and the flash technique. I used to think we had to go through everything, slowly plodding to unearth the past and that all the answers were in understanding ourselves up until now. Now with the prick of the cactus I awaken in a place where we can flash past it, leap frog over it, and act in the present to build our futures.

Thank you to Ann Marie, all my teachers at the school, and all my fellow students who were also my teachers – for shining the long light, reminding me of the rock of meditation and for all the surprising cactus pricks that continue to bring me awake and alive.

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Ann Marie is an inspiration who teaches with a great command of the material.
Jeffrey GoldwasserD.C.Sylva, NC
It was a different type of MCS class and yet one of the most powerful ones. All classes were filled with practice, real time coaching and wisdom that can be applied in everyday life. This class is for coaches and people who want to develop their communication skills, empathy, listen deeply and speak skilfully. It’s also a class to learn a compassionate approach towards yourself, others and life in general. Read more
Zsanett Czifrus, Mindfulness Student Coach, Former Business Consultant
This was an amazing instruction on EMDR. I highly recommend this class. [The Dynamic Trio]
D. Paul WilcoxStudent CoachFountain Valley, CA
I enjoyed The Dynamic Trio course immensely. Learning new and effective techniques that I can use in my practice is just what I was looking for in this course. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for new ways to expand their knowledge and life coaching practices.
Daniel MeyerStudent CoachNew Ulm, MN
I’m on a new path and wanted to thank you! I accepted your challenge of saying the loving kindness meditation 3 times per day on the ‘live on the air’ coaching January 21, 2016. It has helped reframe my perspective and pull up more of my hope and optimism.
Lee Craver, ICF Okanagan, British Columbia Chapter
[Right Speech] was incredibly valuable for my coaching skills, and for my life. There was so much applicable information presented in an embodied and pragmatic way. [Meg Hess, PCC, D. Min.] has an ability to evoke wisdom from everyone.
Jasmin BristowStudent CoachHawthorne, CA
Ann-Marie was so open and honest. She was extremely patient and I look forward to more classes with her. She embodies the true spirit of a coach as she pushes you towards your own personal goals, while managing to teach you to focus on the client’s goal as well. Kudos to her and her team!
Sparkle C. BuntyonStudent CoachHermitage, TN
Body Electric gave me more confidence in the mindfulness and somatic tools I was using in my coaching as well as added a whole new dimension of tools to my toolbox. Having access to effective somatic tools has deepened and enriched the coaching experience for me and my clients.
Victoria FontanaMCS Graduate (PCC, MWSC)Grand Island, NY
More than just a class to help us eat more mindfully, Mindful Eating, Mindful Life is a great class for anyone interested in the topic, anyone with a desire to practice mindfulness in a new way and for anyone wanting to dust off or deepen their meditation practice. The course and materials may seem small, but they are so expansive. Thanks to Brittany for bringing this topic alive and for the school for providing such an amazing course in mindfulness.
Gretchen LarsenMCS GraduateBirmingham, AL
If you want to know how to speak the truth and how to communicate much better, take this class [Right Speech]. You will be glad you did.
Lisa Matovich-BrookeStudent CoachBillings, MT