Yasmin Zaman B.H. (Hons.) PGCE
I am accredited as a teacher and supervisor of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Development, Paws.b and Mindful Schools by the British Association of Mindfulness-based Approaches and adhere to the Good Practice Guidelines. As a supervisor, I provide professional supervision and mentoring to teachers of mindfulness and yoga.
I am registered as a Senior Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance Professionals and as a yoga therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists and Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (regulated by the GMC).
I hold Enhanced DBS allowing me to work with vulnerable adults and young people.
My professional experience has been gathered in the following spheres:
- 2002 to present: Teacher of mindfulness-based courses, yoga therapy, yoga classes, courses, workshops and a leader of retreats in Dorset, Hampshire and overseas – offering both one-to-one and group sessions for organisations and in a private capacity.
- 2021 to present: NHS – Social Prescriber for Southampton Central Primary Care Network.
- 2016 to present: Priory Hospital Group & Wellbeing Centre – Mindfulness Therapist within Therapy Services team supporting patients with variety of mental health issues – eating disorders, acute adult and adolescent wards.
- 2014 to 2017: Solent Health/Solent University – Project Development Manager of a pioneering Big Lottery funded programme called HeadStart training teachers to deliver mindfulness to young people in Southampton and the New Forest to develop mental health and resilience in schools.
- 2011 – 2016: Solent Health/Solent University – Health Promotion Officer working in the health promotion unit, Solent Health, designing bespoke well-being services for staff, students and external organisations’ staff resiliency programmes, resulting in winning the prestigious UK FLAME Award for Workplace Well-being in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
- 2013 to present: Teaching MBSR courses and other mindfulness-based approeaches, workshops and retreats for organisations and the public.
- 2009: Yoga Professionals – Course Director training yoga teachers for a Level 3 CYQ/REPs qualification in Hatha yoga.
- 2005 – 2007: Stress Busters/Active Options Southampton City Council – Manager of Active Options GP referral programme for stress, anxiety, depression. The innovative programme combined gym-based exercise, yoga , meditation and relaxation.
- 1989 – 1991: Yoga for Health Foundation – assistant/apprentice at this pioneering residential centre supporting visitors and residents with a variety of conditions: M.S., cancer, disabilities, Parkinsons, arthritis, pregnancy and other conditions.
Publications & Papers
Webber, L., Bailey, L., Doyle, M., Zaman, Y., & Dunn, C. (2016). Southampton HeadStart Pilot of Mindfulness in Schools Project: The effect of Paws b on behaviour and resiliency in children. CMRP Conference 2016: Mindfulness supporting all aspects of family life. Bangor, Wales, 8th-11th July, 2016.
Webber, L., Scott, H., Zaman, Y., & Dunn, C. (2016). Understanding the role of mindfulness practices in fostering student wellbeing. Learning and Teaching Community Conference 2016. Southampton, England, 24th June, 2016.
Webber, L., Tijou, I., Zaman, Y., & Dunn, C. (2016). HeadStart Pilot of Mindfulness in Schools Project: The effect of MBSR on stress and wellbeing in teachers. MiSP Conference 2016: Mindfulness and Education Well-being and resilience for young people. London, 22nd January, 2016.
Article on Yoga Therapy written for Amrita magazine (issue 4 November 2018)
Career Prior to Working in Mental Health & Wellbeing
My professional life before my current work provided a rich and thorough grounding in life experience, for which I’m grateful as it brings a real world perspective and understanding of people I work with today.
It was largely gathered in Public Relations, press and communications where I held various positions and senior roles working for some of the world’s leading organisations: 15 years with UNICEF, including at UN Headquarters in New York and all over the world, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, BBC Comic Relief and other organisations.
01/02 – 11/10Communications Consultancy
UNICEF: Communications Consultant, Colombo, Sri Lanka (06/10 – 11/10)
- Researched, wrote and edited first Donor Fundraising Report since the end of the country’s civil war.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Senior Media Consultant,
International Secretariat, UK (01/05 – 03/05)
- Devised strategy for the Stop Violence Against Women Campaign at the UN Commission on Status of Women
UNICEF: Chief of Communications, New Delhi, India (01/03- 10/03)
- Responsible for interim management of organisation’s largest country office communications team: strategic direction of donor fundraising (British Airways Change for Good), media relations; management and provision of communication support to ten state offices and teams.
UNICEF: Communications Consultant, Geneva, Switzerland (01/02 to 12/02)
- Editor, responsible for producing global fundraising and advocacy materials on HIV/AIDS, immunisation, early childhood development and child protection.
10/00 – 09/01: UNICEF: Communications Officer, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), UN HQ, New York, USA
- Managed and strengthened GAVI’s global reputation by developing a broad-based communication strategy for the alliance’s diverse partners (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the pharmaceutical industry, WHO, developing country governments, NGOs).
09/98 – 09/00: UNICEF: Communications Officer, New York, USA
- Managed UNICEF’s global reputation & core campaign team, devising international multi-media campaigns for high profile brands e.g. The State of the World’s Children and The Progress of Nations reports and managed relationship with Special Representatives: Susan Sarandon, Mia Farrow and others.
06/96 – 09/98: UNICEF: Emergency Press Officer, London, UK
- Developed UNICEF-UK’s communication strategy on children in conflict and posted to North Korea as organisation’s first Information Officer.
08/95 – 06/96: London City Ballet – PR and Marketing Manager, London, UK
06/94 – 07/95: BBC Comic Relief – Corporate Fundraising Publicist, London, UK
06/91 – 04/94: The Body Shop International PLC – Public Relations Officer, London, UK and Australia
09/84 – 12/90: Inner London Education Authority – Junior School Teacher & Europe – TEFL Teacher
Summary of Training & Qualifications
BH (Hons.) History & Education – University of London< Institute of Education
Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) – University of London, Goldsmiths College
2002 – Yoga Therapy/Remedial Yoga – The Yoga for Health Foundation
2002- Yoga Teacher – International Sivananda Centre, India
2005 – Fitness Coach – National Academy of Sports Medicine
2005 – GP Referral Exercise Specialist – The Wright Foundation
2007 – Advanced Yoga Teacher – International Sivananda Centre, India
2013 – MBSR Teacher – Bangor University
2013 – Mindful Movement – Oxford University
2014 – Paws.b mindfulness for children – Mindfulness in Schools Project
2015 – Supervision Training – Bangor University
2015 – Enquiry in Mindfulness – Bangor University
2018 – MBCT Teacher – Oxford University
2020 – Counselling Studies – Sweet Track Counselling
2020 – Distance Healing – Michele Grace Lessirard
2021 – Compassionate Sprit Release – Michele Grace Lessirard
2021 – Motivational Interviewing – Association of Psychological Therapies
2022 – Buddhist Meditation & Self Therapy Through Yin Yoga & IFS – Sarah Powers
2022 – Intro to Compassion Focused Therapy – The Compassionate Mind Foundation
2022 – Foundation course Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga, JRI – Alex Cat
2022 – Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness – David Treleaven
2022 – Somatic Embodiment & Regulation Strategies – Linda Thai
2022 – Shamanic Journeying & Healing in Community – Sandra Ingerman
