About me

PASSIONATE. CALM. CARING. CREATIVE. IDEALISTIC.

My quest started when I was very young, as a teenager, although I didn’t even know what I was looking for exactly. Happiness perhaps, freedom, or inner peace. After my studies Germanic languages and Anthropology I encountered mindfulness, in the fall of 2006. I was 23 years old at the time. It has been a big part of my life ever since.

Besides my passion for mindfulness and meditation, I enjoy music and dance a lot and I’m deeply inspired by Non-Violent Communication and theology. Writing is also one of my passions and once in a while I publish a piece on my blog. Feel free to have a look.

My meditation journey

After my first mindfulness training in 2006, I have had the opportunity to practice in different traditions, such as Vipassana (with Frits Koster) and Zen (with Thich Nhat Hanh and Frank de Waele). I have been mostly influenced by the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and I spent a lot of time in Plum Village, his monastery in France, over the years.


I did a Postgraduate program in Mindfulness (Arteveldehogeschool Ghent, 2010) and I have been teaching mindfulness since 2011 for Itam (Institute for the Training of Attention and Mindfulness). I also work for Vormingplus and the University Parish in Leuven. The past few years, the American teacher and author Tara Brach has been a great source of inspiration for me. I am doing an additional training with her and Jack Kornfield, the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (2017-2019).

It is my deep aspiration to share the fruits of mindfulness with others, so that we may touch more happiness, wisdom, love and peace in ourselves and in the people we meet.

Testimonials

* Even though I doubted a bit to register because you are still young (can I say that?), I think you and your way of teaching are simply fantastic! Very eye-opening, inspiring, hopeful, down-to-earth, helpful, … Thank you!” (mindfulness training 2018)

“Leni is friendly, knows what she is talking about, is not afraid to show her own searching process, and gives everyone the space to share.” (mindfulness training 2015)

“Leni is a very talented teacher! She has a patient and warm personality, which creates trust and ease. She knew how to give the course very professionally and yet with warmth, passion and humour. It was beautiful to see how she offered participants the space to talk about their (sometimes intense) emotions, and how she could calm them down without offering solutions but by listening mindfully.” (mindfulness training 2015)

* “I listen more to my body and my true desires. I have become kinder to myself. It is a slow but lasting process. No more pressure to achieve, not having to do anything, just being.” (mindfulness training 2011)