The People Who Support This Work
This work is supported by a small group of people who help hold the practice space within the Online Sitting Meditation Group, as well as supporting the wider work that grows around it.
I feel deeply grateful to each of them. Their care, generosity, and presence shape the welcoming space that so many people value, and I’m happy to introduce them to you here.
Ian
Practice Leader
Ian has been part of the group for many years and has remained connected to the practice through different phases of his life.
How did your journey into this role begin, and what continues to matter about it to you?
I first found Susann in 2012 during a difficult period in my life, and the practice helped me stay present when things felt chaotic. I drifted away for a time, then found my way back during the COVID lockdowns — another challenging period.
By then the group had moved online and Susann to the Isle of Wight, but the warmth of the space was exactly as I remembered.
Leading practice meetings was Susann’s idea rather than mine, and I’m grateful she had more confidence in me than I initially did. What keeps me here is simple: being part of something unambiguously positive, and the quiet satisfaction of both, serving a community and belonging to it.
What do you notice when practicing in a group rather than on your own?
In everyday life mindfulness shows up for me in small ways — noticing when my mind is racing or recognising moments of contentment as they arise.
What the group offers, and what I couldn’t recreate alone, is structure and community. There is something special about twenty-five minutes of shared silence, even over Zoom. It feels warm, caring, and surprisingly intimate.
Susann often describes the role as “holding the space.” While I help do that, I still receive the full benefit myself — feeling supported by, and contributing to, something larger than my own individual practice.
What helps you stay grounded and inspired in your life outside the group?
I’m a software engineer, and my working days can be intense, so I value anything that helps create balance. I exercise with mixed consistency, and I’m deeply grounded by my two daughters, now in their twenties — wickedly funny, close to each other, and thoroughly decent humans.
More than anything, connection keeps me grounded: showing up for the people I care about, staying curious, and trying, in small ways, to live my life with kindness and care.
Maria
Practice Leader
Maria brings care and sensitivity to the group, and supports the space in a way shaped by her own experience of the practice.
How did your journey into this role begin, and what continues to matter about it to you?
I felt honoured to be invited to support the group as a practice leader. Stepping into this role required courage and compassion, as I genuinely felt the weight of the responsibility.
I’m very grateful for the support offered by Susann and the other practice leaders. This experience has taught me a great deal about myself — both as a person and as a practice leader — and, more importantly, it has been a meaningful way to give something back to the community.
What do you notice when practicing in a group rather than on your own?
At first, I underestimated the impact that sitting in a group would have on my life and even on my own personal practice.
The warm atmosphere of the group and the way the space is held feel truly special to me. There are opportunities to share, learn, sit in silence, connect, and practice in a safe and grounding environment.
The regular group sittings provide a sense of structure and community that I find deeply valuable.
What helps you stay grounded and inspired in your life outside the group?
Simple moments bring me back to myself. Spending time in nature — away from technology — allows me to notice colours, textures, and the freshness of the air.
My cats also offer quiet moments of connection, and being truly present with them brings calm and joy. I also enjoy exploring authors and books that deepen my connection with the practice.
Nicky
Practice Leader
Nicky’s path into this role grew from a wish to deepen her own practice within a community setting.
How did your journey into this role begin, and what continues to matter about it to you?
My solo practice had reached something of a plateau. Meditating alone helped me build consistency and gain some insight, but I felt something was missing.
I was curious to return to practicing in community after attending an MBCT course with Susann some years ago. I valued receiving guidance from people who had walked the path longer than I had and discovering insights together.
Over time I stepped into leadership — not out of expertise, but through recognising that I wanted a deeper connection with my practice and with the people I practice alongside.
What continues to matter to me is the shared commitment in the space we hold together, and the humility of practicing alongside others.
What do you notice when practicing in a group rather than on your own?
When I sit alone, meditation feels personal and somewhat limited. In our group, the silence feels wider.
There is a subtle sense of being held by the collective intention. I notice a responsibility to others as well as to myself — as if the presence of others gently anchors me.
There is a shared stillness, a deeper accountability and a quiet connection that is difficult to describe.
What helps you stay grounded and inspired in your life outside the group?
Simple routines help me stay mindful — washing dishes, taking a shower, or moving through everyday tasks.
Walking outdoors with my beloved whippet, especially in nature, is wonderful: feeling the breeze, listening to birds, and watching her explore the world.
I’m also an artist. Creating in a mindful and non-judging way allows me to experiment, play, and take creative risks.
Nikita
Practice Leader
Nikita connects deeply with the rhythm and structure of the practice, including chanting and sounding the bells.
How did your journey into this role begin, and what continues to matter about it to you?
I had meditated alone for many years but felt a wish to deepen my practice. After joining the group, I was invited to become a practice leader.
The role allows me to give something back to the community and strengthens my own commitment to the practice. I also value the opportunity to embody the practice through chanting and sounding the bells.
What do you notice when practicing in a group rather than on your own?
For me the group creates a container that supports going deeper — exploring both the practice and my life more closely.
The rhythm of sitting helps embed the practice into daily life. Beyond that, Susann’s teachings are a guiding light for me.
The dedication, vulnerability, and care within the group create a powerful collective energy that I find deeply moving. Insights from the sittings often stay with me long after the practice meeting ends.
What helps you stay grounded and inspired in your life outside the group?
Every morning my cat asks me to open the balcony doors. We sniff the morning air together and listen to the waves or the birds — and I’m reminded that life is beautiful.
Tracey
Practice Leader
Tracey brings honesty and courage to the group, and her journey within the practice reflects a deep commitment to personal healing and supporting others.
How did your journey into this role begin, and what continues to matter about it to you?
Anxiety and depression have been part of my life since my early teenage years. For a long time, it felt as if I were locked in a cage, weighed down by heavy chains and sinking deeper into anxiety, depression, and hopelessness.
It was isolating and exhausting to hide my inner experience behind a mask — until eventually I couldn’t anymore.
Mindfulness entered my life in my mid-thirties when a therapist suggested it. I completed an eight-week MBSR course and then practiced alone for many years using a CD.
When COVID arrived, my long-term therapy was coming to an end, which terrified me. I felt I needed extra support during that transition — and that is when I found this community.
Susann’s guidance and her sincere interest in how I am gave me the opportunity to share when I felt ready. Each guided meditation brings something new and fresh, which feels very different from practicing alone with recordings. Over time, I’ve noticed a real difference in how I feel, both mentally and emotionally.
Now I’m part of the practice leader team. It’s still outside my comfort zone, but I value the learning and encouragement I receive. One day I hope to support others through mindfulness and share my story in a way that might help someone feel less alone.
What do you notice when practicing in a group rather than on your own?
Practicing together helps me stay committed to the practice, even when motivation is low.
The group offers a supportive environment where I can be as I am — whether anxious, happy, low, or emotional. We speak from our own experience and respect the confidentiality of others, which creates a space that feels safe and genuine.
Being part of the group has helped me gradually allow my true self to emerge and feel more grounded.
Katalin
Communication, Web Design & Outreach
Katalin cares for the digital home of this work and helps make the website clear, welcoming, and accessible for those who may be looking for support or a place to begin.
What drew you to this project?
I came for the project and stayed for the mission. Translating a meaningful practice into a thoughtful digital presence is exactly the kind of work I enjoy and truly matters to me at Digitally Spruced.
What impact do you hope to create?
I want people to feel welcomed the moment they arrive. If someone who truly needs this work finds it — and thoughtful design helped make that possible — that already feels meaningful.
What helps you stay grounded and inspired in your life?
I recharge in gardens, by the water, and around a table with people I care about.
Good food, good company, and a Jane Austen soundtrack in the background.
Each of us arrived here through our own life path.
What we share is a commitment to practicing with sincerity and offering a welcoming space for those who feel drawn to join.
If you would like to explore the group or connect more individually, you’re warmly welcome to do so here: