Mindfulness Practitioner - Joanna Li

Explain your line of work for someone who might not know much about it.

What is mindfulness exactly? Essentially, mindfulness is a mental state or attitude. If we can bring this state of mind to ourselves, we have the ability to feel our bodies and be aware of our external environment.

When I lead sessions, the participants may be in a grassy area or by the beach, and we'll do different exercises. These exercises are based on everyday things, like sitting and feeling the breath, or lying down and sensing the body, or doing some simple stretching movements to reconnect with our physical needs. There are also more eternal aspects, where we use a mindful approach to reflect infinitely.

Each practice is really about bringing us back to the present moment. Often our minds wander to the future or the past, but when we can bring our hearts and minds back to the here and now, we naturally feel more relaxed and at ease. When our bodies are more relaxed, we can gain a sense of wellbeing and happiness, because in our daily lives, we don't often get to experience that.

I understand, our work lives can be very busy and hectic, with so many things to handle. In the midst of all those mundane tasks, when we finally get a chance to come back to ourselves, we can reconnect with the beauty of nature and the living world around us. Recognizing this can make us feel truly alive.

However, there's also another side to this - when we're deeply immersed in the busy-ness, we may start to notice unpleasant physical sensations or internal emotional turmoil, like swelling in our limbs or anxiety. These are signals that we need to pay attention to. By understanding the root of our suffering, we can work to address the difficulties and choose to respond with love and compassion, rather than getting trapped in negative thought patterns.

That's why a lot of adults, especially those who are very busy with work, are drawn to participate in these positive, mindfulness-based activities. They provide a much-needed space for people to slow down, get in touch with themselves, and find some relief from the constant demands and stresses of daily life. Through these practices, people can reconnect with a sense of inner peace and clarity, which they may struggle to access amidst the chaos of their normal routines. It's a way for them to recharge, reset, and approach life with a renewed sense of purpose and wellbeing.

The mindfulness activities allow the participants to bring their minds back to their bodies, to feel themselves from within, and to reconnect with their inner passions. At this point, they can learn to reflect on themselves.

Describe a normal work week for yourself

Typically, the majority of my work time is on weekends, as that's when more professionals and members are available, usually returning around 1pm. So the weekend work is more. On the relatively free weeknights, there are also events. My main work focus is on leading positive group practice activities in the evenings, usually from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. After everyone has settled into the indoor space, I will guide them through the activities.

I also have a small amount of outdoor work, such as going to places like Tai O on Saturdays or Sundays, to be in nature. For indoor vs outdoor, it depends on the season - in colder or rainy weather, we may go to places like the mangrove forest or Tai Hang areas; in nicer seasons, I'll take the group into the forest or Tai Hang. This outdoor work is about 1-2 times per month, depending on the weather.

In addition to the activity leading, I also have some promotional work and client liaising as part of the job with the company I work for. But the activity leading is the part I enjoy the most. Typically I'd organize an evening session once a week, around 3 hours long.

The mindfulness practice activities also involve full-day sessions on Saturdays and Sundays.

What do you love about your work?

The reason I enjoy this work is that it allows me to be in frequent contact with nature, which I have a deep affinity for. Leading these group sessions is also very fulfilling, as it enables me to participate in and practice the activities alongside the participants.

When I'm doing this work, I feel that I'm not just guiding the participants, but also nourishing my own mind and spirit. Compared to my previous jobs, this work is vastly more energizing and uplifting. Witnessing the participants' sharing and insights after the sessions is deeply moving for me. I'm able to closely connect with and reflect their inner experiences.

This work allows me to not only be a facilitator, but also to positively impact people's lives through our shared wisdom and exploration. It's deeply rewarding.

That said, there can be some challenges in this line of work, especially when conducting activities in natural outdoor settings. The environment can be less controlled, and factors like noise or distractions can sometimes interfere with the need for stillness and calm that the practices require. But overall, the benefits of being immersed in nature greatly outweigh these occasional difficulties.

What are some of the negative aspects of your work?

The outdoor nature activities I lead can sometimes face uncontrollable factors, such as hikers passing through and making noise, or small animals like monkeys or frogs moving about and potentially disturbing the participants. When participants become anxious or distracted by these natural occurrences, I need to employ calming techniques to reassure them.

The weather also plays a major role in the feasibility of these activities. Inclement weather like rain, strong winds, extreme temperatures, etc. may force us to cancel sessions altogether. There are quite a few logistical limitations and constraints involved.

What training or experience do you need to get into this type of work?

As for the qualifications needed to lead mindfulness-based practices, the basic requirement is typically an 8-week mindfulness course from a local provider. Personally, I've gone beyond that by taking a more extensive 1-year mindfulness leadership training program, which involved a rigorous accreditation process.

However, I've learned that the most important aspect is not just the credentials, but one's personal practice and embodiment of the principles. The ability to be fully present and harmonize with the participants is crucial, beyond any specific skills or techniques learned through training courses.

Ultimately, the effectiveness comes down to the facilitator's own depth of experience and integration of the mindfulness teachings, rather than just possessing certain certifications. The personal journey and ongoing self-development are what enable one to truly guide others in these transformative practices.

What advice do you have for people looking to start a career on this line of work?

I feel that Hong Kong people don't really need to take time to rest and connect with nature. I don't think nature can truly help us improve our physical and mental well-being.

Instead, we can achieve good rest through traditional Chinese medicine and practices. Nature's energy and sensations may feel limited, but these practices can quickly guide us into a peaceful state of mind in the present moment.

Nowadays, there are more and more activities focused on the integration of body, mind, and spirit. I think Hong Kong people really need these kinds of programs, and I hope more people will participate to nourish their whole being.

Through these practices, we can learn to better care for our bodies, to truly love ourselves. And we can realize that in every moment, we have the choice to live more virtuously and find greater happiness, even amidst the inevitable pains and sufferings of life like sickness, aging, and loss.

We don't need to endure these changes so dramatically. In fact, there are many unnecessary things we can let go of, just by tapping into the resources within ourselves - our bodies, minds, and spirits. This is the path to finding true peace and fulfillment.