ABOUT US
We are experts in delivering authentic and life changing Mindfulness courses to the public, private and third sectors. We have hosted mindfulness sessions to thousands of people on behalf of local authorities, housing associations, health care organisations, charities and social enterprises as well as private companies.
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Community is central to everything we do. We have worked tirelessly to become an integral part of your community and have brought the benefits of mindfulness to the heart of your area in schools, libraries and prisons.
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We are proud and grateful to read the lovely things our clients say about the difference we have made.
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Ten for Zen combines the extensive mindfulness experience of Martin Stepek, the business skills of Morna Laird, and our belief that we can use our talents to do good.
WHO WE ARE
MARTIN STEPEK
Mindfulness Teacher and Author
Martin Stepek is one of Scotland's most authentic and respected teachers in mindfulness & a published author in the field.
Martin began practising the simple, scientifically proven techniques of mindfulness over 25 years ago and found that they gave him great benefits. To nurture and cultivate his skills, he began attending a weekend residential programme every month for the next five years with a Tibetan Buddhist order, investigating the nature of the mind and how to nurture and cultivate it in great depth.
During this period Martin participated in three events led by the legendary Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh in Edinburgh, Scotland, and also attended lectures in Glasgow by the pioneering mindfulness researcher Jon Kabat-Zinn at the university of Glasgow.
In the Spring of 2004 the head of the Tibetan Buddhist order asked Martin if he would be interested in becoming a teacher of Buddhism and its practices. In order to become a teacher in this tradition Martin had to leave his home for a month. He spent fourteen days in a row practising mindfulness and other meditative techniques all day long except when sleeping and taking toilet and meal breaks. At the end of this period he immediately went to a retreat centre in a remote forest area where he spent the next two weeks in solitary silence. He was not allowed any books, pen, paper, music or any form of communication. At the end of this month-long experience, in April 2004 he qualified as a teacher of mindfulness.
Martin's wide-ranging studies include East Asian Poetry, and the neuroscience of happiness and peace of mind. He serves on the Choose Life group, the pan-Lanarkshire suicide prevention body.
MORNA LAIRD
Co-Founder
Morna Laird has over 25 years experience in Marketing and Management since graduating from Glasgow University, then the Strathclyde Graduate Business School.Â
She has had a keen interest in health and well-being for much of her career and after managing the Marketing for Nairn's Oat Cakes for a number of years, started to explore the real effect food has not only on your physical health but your mental well-being too.
With many years experience in a variety of medium to large companies under her belt, Morna took the plunge and branched out on her own, setting up a small business selling food that was nutritious and beneficial for your body and your mind.Â
Morna has worked with Martin on various successful projects for over 20 years and was excited by the challenge of taking his vast experience in mindfulness to help as many people as possible.
CLIENTS
We've delivered mindfulness to many organisations across the public and third sectors, including local authorities, housing associations, health care organisations, charities and social enterprises. We have also worked in many community organisations including schools, colleges, universities, libraries and prisons and many private sector businesses too.
See below for a sample of our extensive client list:
HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS
Almond * Caledonia * Cassiltoun * Clyde Valley * Cube * EVH * Glasgow * Horizon * Irvine * Knowes * Loretto * Link * Oak Tree * Pineview * Scottish Federation of Housing Associations * Thenue * TPASS * West Lothian * West of Scotland * Wheatley Group * Yorkhill * Your Place Ltd
NHS BODIES
Central Health Centre, Cumbernauld *Â Hairmyres Hospital *Â The Haven, Wishaw *Â Healthy Working Lives, Ayrshire *Â Healthy Working Lives, Lanarkshire * NHS Lanarkshire GP Appraisers * NHS Lanarkshire Health Improvement Tobacco Team *Â Palliative Care Nurses:Â Kilbryde Hospice, Monklands Hospital & St Andrew's Hospice *Â NHS Spiritual Care *Â
Udston Hospital
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Aberdeen * Aberdeenshire * East Lothian * Fife * North Ayrshire ​* North Lanarkshire: Music Teachers, Social Workers in Criminal Justice, Cumbernauld Social Work, North Lanarkshire Health - Safety And Wellbeing Team * South Lanarkshire: 70 Senior Managers / Directors, Adopting and Fostering Services, Carers Conference, Child Protection Team, Family Placement Team, Seniors Together, Youth Employability * Stirling
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Schools:
Calderwood Primary * Chatelherault Primary * Ellon Academy * Gartcosh Primary * Hamilton College * Hamilton Grammar School * Holycross High School * Maxwelton Primary School, East Kilbride * Milton Primary School * Our Lady High School * Southpark Primary School * St Aidan's Secondary, Wishaw * St. Anthony's School, Rutherglen * Strathaven Academy, Strathaven * Victoria Park School
Colleges:
​City of Glasgow * Forth Valley, Falkirk Campus * New College, Lanarkshire * South Lanarkshire, East Kilbride.
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Universities:
​Edinburgh * Glasgow * ​Heriot-Watt * Highlands and Islands * Queen Margaret * St Andrew’s * Stirling * Strathclyde * Warsaw * West of Scotland
PRIVATE SECTOR
Antibody Analytics *Â Ashurst Solicitors *Â Badenoch and Clarke *Â Booth Welsh *Â CIMA *Â Eden Legal *Â Envirocentre * Essential Edinburgh *Â Faculty of Advocates *Â Hastings Legal *Â Heineken *Â Inverhouse Distillers * L&H Dental Care *Â Legal Services Agency *Â Lewis Consultants *Â Lindum Group *Â McKenzie Construction *Â Mind and Matters London *Â Newsquest *Â Oran Consulting *Â Pets 'n' Vets *Â PWC *Â Sainsbury *Â Spa in the City *Â Tag Digital *Â Thompsons Solicitors *Â Turcan Connell *Â Velux *Â Weber Shadwick *Â Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP
THIRD SECTOR: CHARITIES / SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Conversation Cafe, EK - Addiction Recovery *Â Covey Befriending *Â Crohns and Colitis Network *Â Fair Deal *Â Fibromyalgia UK *Â Finn's Place, Langside *Â Health and Social Care Alliance *Â Health Valleys *Â Hope Cafe * Illeostomy Association *Â Imprint Literary Festival, Kilmarnock *Â Koestler Trust *Â LAMH *Â Lanarkshire Carers *Â Lanarkshire Links *Â MacMillan Cancer Care *Â Musical Memories * Prince Trust *Â Routes to Work *Â Scottish Recovery Network *Â Scottish Scouts *Â SCVO *Â Substance Misuse, Rutherglen *Â Social Firms Scotland *Â SSE * The Richmond Fellowship Scotland *Â The Wise Group *Â University of the Third Age, Lanark *Â YAMS *Â Zero Waste Scotland
OTHERS INCLUDING ARTS AND LITERATURE
Libraries:
Aberdeen Central, Airdrie, Barrhead, Bellshill, Carluke, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Dumbarton, East Kilbride, Ellon, Fairhill, Greenhills, Giffnock, Inverurie, Lanark, Larkhall, Hamilton, Motherwell, Port Glasgow, Rutherglen, St Leonards, Strathaven, Uddingston, Stonehaven, Wishaw.
Chartered Institute of Librarians & Information Professionals Scotland * East Dunbartonshire Festival * Edinburgh Fringe * Forrestry Commission * Glasgow Museums: Scotland Street * Her Majesty’s Passport Office * Imprint Literary Festival, Kilmarnock * Prisons: Addiewell, Barlinnie, Dumfries, Greenock, Shotts * Scottish Court Service * ​Scottish Government * Wigtown Book Festival
TESTIMONIALS
We are always delighted to receive messages from happy clients and have a growing number who have now been guided by Martin Stepek...