What Students Say
Here are testimonials from students who completed mindfulness courses at Cambridge University from 2015 onwards.
“Learning mindfulness and meditation at Cambridge University has undoubtedly been one of the best and most valuable things I’ve done during my time here. Mindfulness and meditation have now become a part of me, and I will be forever grateful for being given the opportunity to learn with and be taught by the most fantastic teachers and group of people who have now become good friends of mine. It has given me a new outlook on life – has helped me remain steadfast through the difficult times and appreciate the subtle day-to-day smiles that life has to offer.”
“I am a fourth year undergraduate student and I suffered from depression last term, mainly because I struggled with the transition back to Cambridge University after my year abroad. I began taking anti-depressants over Christmas, which helped quite a lot, but I found the mindfulness course has really complimented this other treatment to help me manage my depression this term.”
“The course has really helped me to have a much more positive experience of Cambridge University this term and just generally become a happier, more peaceful and more positive person. I have tried to practise mindfulness myself before, using mindfulness books, but I found doing it in a class much more beneficial. I also preferred your style of leading meditations, because you encourage a more independent, personal style, e.g. rather than telling us what to do you give different options such as choosing whether to listen to sounds, follow the breath or explore sensations.”
“Your advice on how to be a better leader, quoting the example of your grandma, has been so useful. I find myself asking my team members in the European Society, ‘what would you like to achieve this year?’, ‘how can I help you to achieve this?’, ‘why did you join the committee?’. I find myself much closer to them, in mediating between their needs and the society.”
“Thank you so much for your inspiring and enlightening class this term. I have certainly gained a lot…”
“My partner was telling me yesterday how she wishes us to be a mindful couple, what a great project for our lives! We are about to move in together … and being a mindful couple is definitely top on our own to-do list.”
“Perhaps the single best thing about the course is its ability to equips you with the tools to stop beating yourself over little failures, hence allowing you to deal better with the bigger picture. You manage to do this by creating an amazing environment, and without touching the familiar religious or exaggerated connotations that one usually hears about with such practices that may usually put people off. What you taught me positively changed the entire way I’ve approached my final year.”
“I really enjoyed sharing the experience of learning mindfulness meditation techniques as a group and learning from the experience of others. I thought the course was very valuable, well-taught and fun and I intend to continue to expand on the techniques I learned through the course. I would certainly recommend it to other students.”
“I attended the mindfulness course in the final year of my PhD. It was incredibly helpful, enabling me to cope with stress more effectively and [to] create a deeper understanding of myself. Thanks, for all the guidance you provided throughout the course. I tried [your meditation track], which is wonderfully soothing. Thanks very much again for all your guidance and support last year.”
“Like many twenty-one year old women, I often struggle with body image issues. … Becoming aware of myself [today], I noticed my mood drastically drop as a result of my internal body-bashing, and questioned whether it was really that productive to start the day off with this sort of focus. … I [then] realised that my inner monologue probably thinks that this kind of inner monologue will drive me to watch what I eat more, when, in fact, self contemplation and internal kindness are the way forward.”
“I started doing mindfulness sessions in my third year and I really wish I’d taken it up sooner. It was a great way to destress myself throughout the year and I also used it to relax before each of my final exams. It’s easy to feel like you don’t have time to look after yourself when you’re busy with other things, but mindfulness practice teaches you how important that is, and what a practical difference it can make to your attainment. And it’s a skill for life! My summer job after third year was even more stressful than my final exams had been and mindfulness practice has been invaluable, so thank you very much for that!”
“I wanted to let you know that Mindfulness and the philosophy behind it were crucial to staying calm in the increasingly stressful time leading up to my MPhil thesis deadline, and have remained large parts of my life since the course. I often re-enact the group activities, such as mindful movement and the chocolate meditation, with fondness and joy. Moreover, your warm-hearted pedagogical style inspires me to be more compassionate and patient in my own teaching practice and everyday life.”
“I know that for me personally this experience has changed my life for the better. I hope that many more students in the future are able to benefit from it as well.”
“Thank you for these eight weeks of mindfulness and meditation! It’s been a wonderful experience and I can already see it coming in useful in everyday life.”
“Learning more about mindfulness has certainly given me many new ideas and perspectives in terms of life and career.”
“Mindfulness has helped me hugely during times of real anxiety, but has also been a wonderful way of savouring everyday moments that I would never have noticed before, and bringing a little holiday time into my everyday life!”
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for teaching me how to bring this calm, spacious time into my routine – I had never even heard of mindfulness before you arrived at C- University, and now I can’t imagine my life without it.”
“You probably won’t remember me, but I did a mindfulness course with you in Summer 20—. I just wanted to let you know how transformative it has been. Two and a half years later, I am still meditating every day.”
“Today I was craving for my meditation for the first time. Craving like I wanted cake. (And I love cake. Especially the chocolate ones.) This feeling made me feel happy and grateful. I want to thank you because without your guidance and support that I wouldn’t have been able to feel this way about mindfulness. Also, your ceaseless effort to make people share their mindfulness experience has been amazing. Hearing and sharing each others perspective was definitely one of the best part of the course. I will fill in the official feedback form, but I wanted to thank you in a more personal way. Grazie!”
“I want to tell you so much having the weekly meditation class has meant to me. [This] was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had at Cambridge University this term, having just moved here from the States to start my PhD. The meditation practice has really helped me through the tough transition being away from home, as well as giving me the tools to deal with some personal health issues that arose this term. I’ve also met friends through the classes as well! I am so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to attend your classes and I hope to take the practice with me for the rest of my career at Cambridge University and beyond. I will definitely recommend my friends to attend next term.”
“Thanks to this course I’ve been able to turn an interest in meditation into a regular practice that I can enjoy with confidence. The weekly sessions were an anchor throughout my term, a chance to forget about everything and invest in me. Every time I’d come out refreshed and reenergised. To anyone with even the slightest interest I’d urge you to give it a try – its a professional, easily accessible introduction to mindfulness skills you’ll never lose. It was the highlight of my term and I’m so happy to have made the decision to commit.”
“Perhaps the single best thing about the course is its ability to equips you with the tools to stop beating yourself over little failures, hence allowing you to deal better with the bigger picture. Elizabeth manages to do this by creating an amazing environment, and without touching the familiar religious or exaggerated connotations that one usually hears about with such practices that may usually put people off. It positively changed the entire way I’ve approached my final year.”
“Ever since the course ended I have been continuing with meditation practice of various kinds and have found them to be an enormous help in my daily life. The Cambridge mindfulness course was the start of what has become a very interesting journey into this territory for me. So I wanted to say thank you for your teaching and guidance!”
“Thank you for all your help in helping me develop my spiritual and emotional intelligence, you have really influenced my perspective on elements of my own thoughts and feelings. I have been searching for a way to get into mindful practice and I would not have achieved it without your warm guidance – honestly a life-saver!”
“I cannot begin to say how happy I am to have signed up for the 8 week course. It’s really been a transformational journey, and I’d never realised how supported mindfulness could make me feel. A huge THANK YOU to you and everyone who made this possible – it really has been wonderful.”
“I wanted to let you know that the meditation workshop has helped me a great deal this term. I’ve struggled a lot with mental health and pandemic fatigue over the past few months and these workshops have been incredibly beneficial to my emotional & mental wellbeing.”
“The course really has made a huge impact on me and I can’t thank you enough for that. I would recommend it to any and everyone and feel sad that my friends and loved ones who don’t go to C- University can’t do it, because it is so important to have such training, especially for times like this!”
“In times of self-isolation and increasing concerns for many, I believe Mindfulness Meditation is very useful and important to keep calm and still enjoy the spring and the coming months. Thanks for giving such an awesome course, I’m sure I’m speaking for everyone in your class when I say we really enjoyed it.”
“I’ve been doing mindfulness for a month now and since the very first session, the whole experience with my own existence has changed for the better! I can only thank you and every single person involved in making mindfulness at Cambridge University possible.”
“…one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had at Cambridge University. The meditation practice has really helped me through the tough transition being away from home, as well as gave me the tools to deal with some personal health issues that arose this term; I’ve also met friends through the classes as well.”
“I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the sessions. They were really helpful in changing my perspective which was much needed! Thank you so much.”
“This Mindfulness course has certainly been one of the best things I have done in my time in C- University and the UK over the last years.”
“The mindfulness course also helped me to improve my ability to handle the stresses of daily life.”
“I really enjoyed sharing the experience of learning mindfulness meditation techniques as a group and learning from the experience of others.”
“I hope to take the practice with me for the rest of my career at Cambridge University and beyond.”
“The mindfulness course has really made me aware of the bountiful little moments of wonder in my everyday life.”
“This journey has completely changed my attitude and perspective towards life. When I started the Mindfulness course I was burnout and even low-mood. Now, even if life still presents strong waves, I know it is possible to sail through them and this can make the difference.”
“Overall the experience has been very soothing and I loved it. The mindfulness course also helped me to improve my ability to handle the stresses of daily life. I also enjoyed your excellent mentoring [on the committee]!”
“I signed up for this course to seek for peace and a more systematic understanding of mindfulness. The course was relaxing and the teacher was absolutely loving and capable of making you feel valued and included.”
“You’ll be pleased to know that we have both been awarded firsts in our finals. I am definitely convinced that our results are testimonies of the importance of having a healthy and balanced life-style to thrive at Cambridge University. In this regard, I cannot emphasise how grateful I am that your inspiring teaching opened my eyes to mindfulness.”
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for this lovely course which has helped so much… I have to confess that now I’m a little bit “anxious” about not seeing you every week But I’m sure I will be able to apply everything you have taught us. Thank you very much once again.”
“Thank you! It was a really really lovely experience, such a pleasure to be part of a joint endeavour to be mindful – such gentle, kindly, shared space in a place of expectation and drive. And you were a wonderful teacher. I hope I will carry it with me. I even enjoyed the walk along the backs and through the gardens every week, as if in preparation.”
“The Mindfulness course with Elizabeth is one of the most memorable and life-changing experiences I’ve had during my time in Cambridge University. It has helped me to get through some tricky times, and to better appreciate many happy times too!”
“I just wanted to thank you so much one more time for the energy, warmth, joy, care and love which you infused us all with over these past eight weeks. I am so grateful to have crossed your path …”
“Mindfulness has provided me with all the support and tools that I’ve needed to balance my inner being and feel back on track to continue working towards the achievement of my goals but with a healthy mental and emotional state.”
“It’s definitely one of the highlights of my time here at Cambridge University. The meditations that you offered will travel with me through space and time now. Thank you so much for this.”