A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME
Hello. My name is Leanne Hewlin and I am a Qualified Level 1 MBSR* Teacher through Brown University, a certified Mindfulness Teacher through The Mindfulness Center of Bethesda, Maryland, a certified Radical Remission Health Coach & Workshop Instructor, and a certified Associate Coach through Integral Coaching Canada**. I offer online coaching and meditation sessions on a one-on-one basis as well as in-person group mindfulness sessions and workshops within schools, workplaces and communities. I am based in Victoria and on one of the southern Gulf islands in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.
By way of background, I am also a California Board Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, Nationally Certified Practitioner of Chinese Medicine in the United States, and a Clinical Nutritionist and past owner of Root of Health Acupuncture & Wellness in San Jose, California. I started out my working life as a corporate/securities lawyer at McCarthy Tétrault in Toronto and as General Counsel of the public company, Draxis Health Inc.
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I was diagnosed with locally advanced (Stage 3) HER2+ breast cancer in 2019 and credit my deep dive into Radical Remission's ten healing factors for my shift from stuck in fear to operating from a place of empowerment and agency as I navigated my healing journey. Having experienced these benefits, I'm passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience with others on their cancer healing journey.
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Along this journey, the development of my mindfulness practice was particularly impactful. I realized that all the best food, medicine, and treatments could not be optimized in a body that was in a chronic stress response and I credit my meditation practice with my ability to more frequently access the present moment and my inner wisdom, to better regulate my nervous system, and to put me more in choice when dealing with the big and little stresses of life. I have continued my learning and practice by pursuing certification as a Mindfulness Teacher and as a Teacher of Mindful-Based Stress Reduction so that I may offer these profound teachings to others.
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My approach is evidence-based. Using research-backed practices, I guide my clients to increased awareness, greater self-compassion, and more stress resilience. I empower my clients - both on and off the “meditation cushion” - to approach life with interest, curiosity, and non-judgment and to live more fully and in the moment.
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I am a lifelong learner. Having begun my working life as a corporate attorney on Toronto's Bay Street, my natural curiosity leads me to teachings that will both continue my personal healing journey and add to my skill and knowledge base. It is for this reason, that I am also certified as a Clinical Nutritionist through Texas Chiropractic College, have obtained a certificate in Somatic Attachment Therapy*** and am currently engaged in further studies to become a Somatic Experiencing(TM) Practitioner****.
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*Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
**https://www.integralcoachingcanada.com/
***https://www.theembodylab.com/somatic-attachment-therapy-certificate
****a three year program available through Somatic Experiencing International ( https://traumahealing.org/)