ABOUT VEE PANDEY

Hello!

Growing up raised by my grandparents,  I was fortunate to be surrounded by wealth of wisdom and love.  My grandparents embodied qualities of mindfulness and self-compassion in their daily lives,  and their influence shaped my own journey and profound ways.

From a young age,  I observed my grandparents approach life with a sense of presence and acceptance, whether they were tending to their garden or sitting quietly together in meditation.  They taught me the importance of being fully present in each moment,  embracing both joy and sorrow with an open heart.

As I navigated the ups and downs of adolescence and young adulthood their teachings became an anchor amidst life's storms.  Whenever I face challenges or setbacks,  I would return to the lessons of mindfulness  and self-compassion that they had instilled in me.

One particularly transformative moment occurred during a period of intense self-doubt and uncertainty. Feeling overwhelmed by academic pressures and social expectations, the loss of my father and our dog,  I found solace in the practice of mindfulness.  By tuning into my breath, connecting with my body through Hatha yoga, daily meditations and observing my thoughts without labels or judgment, I discovered a profound sense of inner peace, resilience and growth.

Growing up, I was fortunate to have someone in my life who was not just a sister, but a constant source of support, strength, and unwavering love. Through her example, I learned that true strength lies not in stocism or self-relance, but vulnerability, authenticity, and connection. I share this not just to celebrate the bond between sisters, but to underscore the profound impact that support, love, mindfulness, and self-compassion can have on our lives.

Through my own journey,  I've come to realize the transformative power of mindfulness and self-compassion in navigating life's complexities.  It's this deep-rooted belief in the healing potential of these practices that motivates me to share them with others.

My previous work as a teacher of young children, a respiratory therapist, and now as a mental health counselor,  I'm committed to creating a nurturing space where individuals can cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion. Just as my grandparents and current leaders in the field of mindfulness and self-compassion who are making significant contributions to the understanding and promotion of such practices, did for me. My hope is that through these workshops, others will discover the same sense of support, peace, clarity, and inner strength that I have found on my journey.

I invite you to experiment with mindfulness and self-compassion techniques and to explore how these practices can enhance our well-being and resilience in the face of life’s challenges and enhance our capacity to navigate with greater ease and equanimity. 

“The winds of grace are always blowing, but you have to raise the sail.” Sri Ramakrishna

About Nancy (Mind Body Mindfulness founder)

Nancy Boros has served the community as a health educator and mindfulness educator for 24 years, having worked with high risk maternity patients, parents and children in teaching lead poisoning prevention, and managed the delivery of online clinical and health education for a large health system. She has been teaching Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction since 2015. Now retired from teaching MBSR, Nancy still offers occasional mindfulness offerings and continue to practice in the traditions of Vipassana and the MBSR curriculum.

Trained through the MBSR Teacher Training, at Brown University Mindfulness Center and the Center for Mindfulness (CFM) with University of Massachusetts Medical School, she is a Brown University Certified MBSR Teacher offering the 8 week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, a secular and evidence-based stress reduction program developed by Jon Kabat Zinn, PhD. 

Additional Mindfulness teacher training

• Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute (MBPTI) 6-day MBSR teacher training program, University California San Diego Medical School  

• Wellness Coach Training, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN

• Mindful Self-Compassion Core Skills training with Kristin Neff, PhD and Chris Germer, PhD.

• Positive Neuroplasticity Training - Professional Course, with Rick Hanson, PhD

She began her meditation practice in 2002 and began Zen Buddhist study in 2006 with Zen Community of Oregon. She has completed numerous meditation intensives at Great Vow Zen Monastery and with Kagyu Changchub Chuling in Oregon, and the 10-Day Vipassana training under the teachings of S.N. Goenka in Washington state. She has attended trainings and retreat in the Vipassana Insight Meditation tradition with Tara Brach, Insight Retreat Center Santa Cruz CA, Twin Cities Vipassana Collective in MN, Cloud Mountain Retreat Center WA, and Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis MN with Mark Nunberg guiding teacher.

As a single parent for over 20 years, she has navigated many challenges and experienced great joy in raising two beautiful children, dogs, cats, birds, chinchillas and a frog. Having experienced personal transformation as a result of mindfulness practice, Nancy is devoted to educating our community about how Mindfulness Meditation can lead us to discover and tap the innate resources we all embody to bring about insight, transformation and healing in our lives.