Celebrating 10 Years of Circles of Practice: Honoring Our Volunteer Teachers
By Mary Marcdante, CMSC Communications Director, MSC Teacher
As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Month, we are also excited to mark a significant milestone—the 10th anniversary of our Circles of Practice program! For a decade, MSC Teacher volunteers have generously shared their time, wisdom, and compassion, helping to create a safe, supportive space for individuals to explore the transformative power of self-compassion. Over the past ten years, 58 Circles of Practice Teachers have provided free self-compassion sessions to more than 20,000 individuals, making a profound impact on the well-being of countless people worldwide. This special anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the incredible contributions of our teachers and honor their dedication to this life-changing program.
Our Circles of Practice program has always been at the heart of CMSC's mission to bring mindful self-compassion to the global community. This program offers free daily, weekly, and monthly sessions to the General Public, MSC Graduates, and affinity groups including LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Men's, and Healthcare communities since its beginning in 2015. This is an extraordinary achievement, one that wouldn’t be possible without the passion and commitment of our Circles of Practice Teachers.
Offering their time, energy, and expertise, these teachers create a welcoming and safe space where anyone interested can learn and practice self-compassion for free while strengthening their inner wisdom, courage, and resilience in community. Together, they offer over 100 free sessions per month, ensuring that self-compassion remains accessible to all.
The Heart of the Circles
Our Circles of Practice Teachers are not just facilitators; they are community builders, offering support, understanding, and gentle guidance. The strength of the program lies in their ability to hold space for people to engage deeply with their emotions, offer loving, connected presence and help participants learn to care for themselves in the face of life’s challenges. Teachers guide participants through meditation practices from the evidence-based Mindful Self-Compassion program, allowing each individual to experience the transformative power of self-compassion in a supportive, non-judgmental environment.
The impact of teachers and the practices they share:
- My heart is so heavy today, and this has helped so much. Thanks all. Sending care to all.💙
- That was a great meditation. Released a lot. Thank you. ❤️❤️
- Yes, recognizing what is my stuff and what is not, powerful MSC skills.
- Easier for me to practice in community and it seems different, and gives me different things.
- Let’s do this one again!
As we celebrate this 10-year milestone, we want to express our deepest gratitude to all of these teachers. Their unwavering generosity and dedication have made Circles of Practice the transformative program it is today. We honor their contributions to CMSC and to the many individuals whose lives they’ve touched with the power of self-compassion.
Deep bow to these teachers who have served Circles of Practice throughout the past ten years. Whether for a year, five years, or since the very beginning, we are so grateful for your presence:
Dina Abou Aish, Leanne Barnes, Carolina Bautista-Velez, Markus Bohlmann, Victoria Brattini, Marcia Burton, Melanie Cohn-Hopwood, Claire Costello, Catherine Crisp, Betsy Dahms, Angelike Dexter, Catherine Duffy, Mara Elwood, Cecilia Fernandez-Hall, Anna Friis, Shari Geller, Tina Gibson, Joel Grow, Cassondra Graff, Carolin Grampp, Luis Gregoris de la Fuente, Paulette Grotrian, Noriko Harth, Caroline Hoffman, Lesley Huff, Rochelle Jaffe, Patricia Isis, John Julian, Elizabeth Lin, Kathryn Lovewell, Mirjam Luthe, Denette Mann, Christine McMulkin, Rose Mina Munjee, Meera Murthi, Laila Narsi, Amy Noelle, Wiebke Pausch, Cynthia Phelps, Colette Power, Deborah Rana, James Rosser, Heather Shaughnessy-Cato, Zoe Shobbrook-Fisher, Kimberly Sogge, Sydney Spears, Adele Steward, Julia Sweetman, David Teitelman, Jon Walker, Ben Weinstein, Ruth Williamson, Emma Willoughby, Jenny Wilson, Meg Winterbotham, Alfie Wishart, Shad Woolgrove, and Armel Wraight.
Ways to Acknowledge and Appreciate Your Circles of Practice Teachers
We invite you to take a moment to reflect on the impact our Circles of Practice Teachers have had in your life or in the lives of those you care about. Their dedication deserves recognition, and we want to give you the opportunity to express your gratitude.
There are many ways you can show your appreciation and support for Circles of Practice Teachers:
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Take a Moment to Recognize These Generous Teachers Right Now: If you’ve been in one of their sessions, now is a great time to visualize their presence and mentally send them a message, perhaps, “May you be safe, may you be healthy, may you be happy, may you live with ease.” As you reflect on these positive intentions, remember that this Circles of Practice program itself is rooted in this very idea—creating connection, support, and healing through shared presence, compassion, and practicing in community, no matter where we are.
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Send a Thank-You Message: If you’ve attended a session, consider reaching out to a teacher directly to express your gratitude. A simple note of thanks or something you’ve learned from them, or a word or quote that reflects their presence, can go a long way in letting our teachers know their work is valued. Email us at circlesofpracticepublic@centerformsc.org with your teacher’s name and your message and we will forward it to them.
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Join a Circle: If you haven’t already experienced a Circles of Practice session yet, consider joining one. Instead of doom-scrolling, try self-compassion sitting. Your participation not only supports your own well-being and others in community, but also shows teachers that their work is deeply appreciated. You can sign up for free here.
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Spread the Word: Share the Circles of Practice program with your MSC students, friends, family, and colleagues. Let others know about the life-changing impact of self-compassion, and encourage them to join a session with you.
- Donate to CMSC in Your Teacher’s Honor: Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Circles of Practice and Volunteer Appreciation Month by donating $10—one dollar for each year of Circles of Practice in honor of these generous teachers. You can include a tribute in their name in your donation that we will share with them. Your gift helps sustain the Circles of Practice program, keeping it free and accessible for all. You can donate here.
A Grateful Heart
As we take time this month to celebrate and honor our Circles of Practice Teachers, we are reminded of the immense generosity, wisdom, and kindness that resides within our community. These volunteers offer a gift that cannot be measured—an invitation to connect with our own hearts, to embrace our imperfections, and to show up for ourselves and others with compassion and understanding.
Thank you to every Circles of Practice Teacher for the work you do, the heart you share, and the transformation you create. Your efforts are changing lives and the world—and we are deeply grateful for you.
“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day.
A string of such moments can change the course of your life.”
- Chris Germer, CMSC Co-Founder
