Peaceful Roots Counseling - Tampa, Florida

Jordan Whiting

I took a 4-week mindfulness meditation group series via Zoom with Christie, and cannot recommend it enough! Christie did a wonderful job creating an open and inviting environment for the class, making all feel comfortable and at ease regardless of past experiences (or lack thereof) with mindfulness meditation. In addition to being a mindfulness meditation teacher, Christie is a trained yoga teacher and psychotherapist and applies her wealth of specialties and knowledge to her mindfulness teaching practices, I enjoyed that Christie incorporated a yoga portion in our weekly classes.

I walked away from the 4-week series with newfound appreciation and understanding for mindfulness meditation and practical ways to apply the practice into my daily life! I look forward to continuing on my journey to deepen my mindfulness practice!

Gina Mervis

Hi,

I just completed a four-week mindfulness course led by Christie. If I could rate this more than five stars I would! She creates an inviting atmosphere, is personable, knowledgeable and has her credentials as a licensed social worker/yoga instructor. I know I was intimidated the first time I went to a class and never went back for many years. This was the opposite experience…so if you are contemplating starting or deepening your mindfulness practice, you have arrived at the right place.

I meditate daily and have been for the past year and a half. I started off with guided meditations and then switched to transcendental. What I learned in Christie's class was much deeper than all of my previous meditation attempts. In this short time, I learned how to connect to my body, specifically my emotions. My natural tendency in meditation is to shy away from strong feelings, go back to my mantra, avoid going deep into my thoughts… Being given permission to embrace and accept all of the feelings/sensations was a refreshingly new perspective. This is the first time anyone has taught me to feel and embrace without judgment. I loved this method and will continue to utilize it in my own practice.

This is one small example of what I learned during her course. I look forward to continuing to deepen my own mindfulness practice and hope to take more classes in the future! The information was easily digestible for beginners and there’s always more to learn for those with experience.

Goodluck on your mindfulness journey! xo

Wendy Herndon

Christie Leonard is an absolute Rockstar! 🤩

This was my first time around participating in a month long "mindful meditation" experience. I honestly really didn't know what to expect.

I work in a highly charged, high touch, professional services occupation and finding a way to effectively "pull the plug" at the end of the day, to relax and unwind and achieve a more positive work/life balance - overall - is tricky to say the least.

I was looking for a way to "empower" myself to achieve that lofty goal in a healthy, natural way - instead of reaching for a glass of wine, etc.

I found it!!! 💥

The strategies and techniques that I learned during Christie's month long "Awakened Mindfulness Meditation" course are simple to follow, easy to use - wherever you are - and surprisingly to me... super effective! Any place... anytime... I can use the tools that Christie shared with me.

Christie created a space that was non-judgemental, peaceful, welcoming, and non intimidating for newcomers like me. Christie is amazing at what she does. Her voice alone is soothing and encouraging. She combines practices to "calm the mind" with yoga like stretching exercises... to soothe the body, as well.

Christie was careful to pause throughout each 1 hour session at different intervals to answer questions or receive feedback from our meditation group members.

At the beginning of each meditation session, Christie was genuinely delighted to hear experiences from members of our group - about how the past week's session had helped them in their daily lives.

If you have not tried this type of self help - meditation - I would encourage you to explore the possibility that you're a lot like me... and reach out to get the tools and techniques you need to build a better quality of life for yourself. There is no better investment for your future!

Amari Hertzog