By Dalida Turkovic, PCC
(MCS Alumna and founder of the Beijing Mindfulness Centre)

Some years ago, close to a decade now, I began learning from my coach and mentor Ann-Marie McKelvey. Through her coaching I learned how to use the present moment awareness to identify the next steps and actions. From Ann-Marie’s coaching I found out that anxiety, anger, sadness or fear present themselves as messengers on how to navigate with clarity the needs behind the emotions. Step by step I was moving forward into the realms that were unthinkable by my rational mind: publishing a book, opening a mindfulness center, becoming financially independent.

After seeing the value of mindfulness and coaching in my personal life I celebrated Ann-Marie’s decision to start the Mindfulness Coaching School which offers ICF accreditation and immediately started the process of becoming an accredited Mindfulness, Wellness and Somatic Coach.

In coaching we use powerful questions, metaphors, active listening, meta views and a variety of other coaching tools to enable clients to utilize their full potential. Mindfulness and coaching are two skills that have complimentary focus on using awareness as a stepping stone toward behavioral change.

At MCS, my curiosity to learn how to bridge mindfulness and coaching was satiated with each program: S-T-R-E-T-C-H, The Art of Engaged Mindfulness, Right Speech, Skillful Means, Mindful Eating-Mindful Life (to name a few), one after the other classes were adding pieces of the puzzle on how to coach mindfully and be a mindfulness and somatic coach.

Through the support of the community the process of becoming an accredited practitioner brought inspiration to be an ambassador of mindfulness coaching. I have since recommended the MCS program to many. I am still receiving their impressions on what MCS means to them and their growth as a coach:

I would like to say many times thank you – long due actually – for having suggested that I embark on a new career with coaching and take classes with the Mindfulness Coaching School. This has been a wonderful and inspiring journey for me.  ~ T.M., a student of MCS, now ICF accredited coach

[Dalida], I decided to sign up for Right Speech after Skillful Means, I need and want to make my dream come true and become who I might have been. And so one day, I can show […] how great and strong I am!  ~ C.K., a student of MCS, now ICF accredited coach

I am always inspired to hear from fellow mindfulness and somatic coaches and recommend the programs at MCS and coaching with Ann-Marie wholeheartedly to anybody who wants to take both mindfulness and coaching practice to the next level.