OUR MISSION & VISION

To integrate care and wellbeing programmes into daily life, in order to build successful and healthy lives at home and in the office.

We work with both individuals and organisations, recognising that many of our clients are seeking to improve not only their own wellbeing but also that of those who work for them. We aim to help people draw strength from their natural resources and build successful and healthy lives.

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MEET THE TEAM

We are a team of wellbeing professionals coming from various backgrounds with unique skillsets. We are working across higher education, mental health, research and alternative medicine.

We seek to unearth the roots of mindfulness practice, and create an open and personal space for clients to engage with meditation, philosophy, spirituality, coaching, relaxing sounds and events from authentic teachers. Our live events provide community support to listen, to share stories, and to deepen your own practice.

KARUNA PRIYA

CO-FOUNDER AND BUDDHIST MEDITATION TEACHER

Karuna is the co-founder and lead teacher of Akanista Mindfulness. He had been a Buddhist monk for 15 years in Sri Lanka and Thailand and holds a Masters Degree in Buddhist Studies from SOAS, University of London. He serves as an university chaplain to Imperial College London and Royal College of Arts.

He is a RYT500 Yoga teacher and a certified EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Practitioner.

NITIMA PRIYA

CO-FOUNDER AND HOLISTIC COUNSELLOR

Nitima is an integrative counsellor, life coach and mindfulness teacher. She studied Hypnotherapy, Psychotherapy, NLP & Counselling Skills at the Contemporary College of Therapeutic Studies (CCTS ) and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She is also co-founder and head of education at Akanista Mindfulness and has facilitated many workshops at Imperial College, Royal College of arts, and leading corporate companies such as Soho House, Coats, BAT and Save the Children to name a few. She has facilitated residential and non residential retreats in the UK and in Portugal.

RHIANNON THOMPSON

WELLBEING RESEARCHER

Rhiannon is a PhD candidate at Imperial College London, researching the risk factors for poor mental health in adolescence. She practices yoga, mindfulness, and meditation in her personal life and has previously studied Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Oxford.

Dr Elisa Pineda

EXPERIENCED YOGA TEACHER AND

NUTRITION AND WELLBEING ADVISOR

Elisa Pineda is a certified yoga instructor with more than 10 years of teaching experience. She is also a doctor in epidemiology and public health and holds a PhD in spatial epidemiology and public health nutrition from UCL. She currently works at Imperial College London at the School of Public Health and the Centre for health Economics and Policy Innovation where she researches about food policies and their impact on health and sustainability.

HEIDI I. KOPPL

TIBETAN BUDDHIST WRITER

Heidi I. Köppl has translated for Tibetan Rinpoches and Lamas in Kathmandu and Europe for many years and has a degree in Tibetology from the University of Copenhagen. She is the author of Establishing Appearances as Divine: Rongzom Chözang on Reasoning, Madhyamaka, and Purity.

LARA COWAN

VOLUNTEER CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR

Lara advises corporate engagement at Akanista Mindfulness. Aside from being an entrepreneur, she is a keen mindfulness practitioner. Lara’s mission, which we can all work towards, is to develop a better world for everyone in which Biophilia (love of nature) is the leading language.