How I came into teaching mindfulness

I found MBSR when I had three young children and our farm was busy. I was always curious about how we respond to life, to challenges, how we create extra suffering for ourselves, how we learn and grow and how we feel satisfied and fulfilled. The 8-week course sparked so much insight and I could see that I could do it again and again and find more and more insights. This motivated me to do the teacher training and here I am, ten years later, still impressed with this course and still learning as a student and a teacher of MBSR. 

Every time I teach the course, I am pleasantly surprised by how much people enjoy the course especially because it is a time commitment in our busy, over-filled, everything-delivered-in-small-quick-bites world. But I am no longer surprised by how much people discover or rediscover about themselves and their capacity for resilience, clarity, and connection. It also really moves me to see how the connections made during the 8 weeks are so meaningful and supportive for everyone- something about the course creates a safe space for people to share their experiences honestly and gives them permission to just be imperfectly human.

Background

• Bachelor’s degree in International Business
• Farmer
• Dru Yoga and Meditation teacher
• Somatic psychotherapist

Specialisation

Danette’s teaching is grounded, practical, and body-based. A core foundation of her work is the understanding that meaningful change begins with self-awareness - when we learn to notice what’s happening in our bodies, emotions, and habits, new choices naturally emerge. She supports people to recognise stress as it shows up in lived experience and develop greater steadiness and responsiveness in daily life. Informed by mindfulness, somatic psychotherapy, and nervous system regulation, her work helps participants find what feels “safe enough” and adapt their attention to life’s demands. Living on a family farm near Young, she leads three-day silent retreats at home, teaches in nature, and guides international yoga and meditation journeys.

Teaching Philosophy

Mindfulness is not something to achieve, but a way of meeting life with honesty and compassion. In my classes, everyone is welcome exactly as they are, and we learn through direct experience — practising, noticing, reflecting, and beginning again. I aim to create warm, down-to-earth spaces where humour is welcome and people build confidence to meet stress, emotions, and relationships with greater awareness and kindness, leaving with practices that fit real life.