A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME
Hello — my name is Leanne Hewlin. I am a Qualified Level 1 Teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through Brown University, a certified Mindfulness Teacher through The Mindfulness Center (Bethesda, MD), a certified Radical Remission Health Coach & Workshop Instructor, and a certified Associate Coach through Integral Coaching Canada. I am also trained to facilitate Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR).
I offer online coaching and meditation sessions one-on-one, as well as in-person and virtual group mindfulness programs 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.
Professional Background
Before transitioning fully into teaching and coaching, I practiced as a California Board Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, a Nationally Certified Practitioner of Chinese Medicine in the United States, and a Clinical Nutritionist. I previously owned and operated Root of Health Acupuncture & Wellness in San Jose, California.
My professional life began in a very different field — as a corporate/securities lawyer at a major law firm in Toronto, Canada and later as General Counsel of a Toronto-based public company.
This diverse background continues to inform my work: I bring analytical clarity, deep listening, embodied wisdom, and a whole-person perspective to the clients and groups I support.
My Healing & Radical Remission Story
In 2019, I was diagnosed with locally advanced (Stage 3) HER2+ breast cancer. My healing journey became a profound turning point in my life. A deep dive into Radical Remission’s ten healing factors helped me shift from fear and overwhelm into a place of empowerment, agency, and inner authority.
That experience has had such a profound impact personally, that I now share these principles with others navigating cancer — helping individuals cultivate clarity, connection, purpose, and resilience during one of the most vulnerable chapters of their lives.
Why Mindfulness Became Central to My Healing
Alongside the physical treatments and lifestyle changes, developing a consistent mindfulness practice became one of the most transformative elements of my healing. I realized that even the best food, medicine, and treatments cannot be fully optimized in a body locked in chronic stress. Mindfulness helped me regulate my nervous system, access intuition, listen to my body with compassion, and meet uncertainty with steadiness and choice.
How I Share This Work Today
My teaching and coaching now weave together:
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery
Somatic Experiencing and other trauma-informed learnings
Radical Remission Healing Factors
Coaching rooted in presence, compassion, and inquiry
I teach a condensed, accessible version of MBSR/MBCR called Mindfulness Resilience, which has been offered through both the Radical Remission Project and in community settings.
I also:
Lead a monthly mindfulness session for the Radical Remission Thriver community
Volunteer at Inspire Health, guiding a weekly gratitude meditation for those affected by cancer
Facilitate weekly Monday evening meditation sessions open to the public
Support clients one-on-one through coaching as they navigate cancer, transition, or personal transformation
My Approach
My work is evidence-informed, heart-centred, and grounded in the belief that healing is not just physical — it is emotional, relational, and deeply personal. I strive to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to live with greater clarity, compassion, and presence.