General

5 Years ago I suffered from depression. Beginning MBSR set me on the road to manage that depression. I am now free of medication and enjoy clarity of thought. I make better decisions.  –Jan

I understand that by caring for myself, I can deal with situations better.—Judy

Recent hospitalization of my brother was intense. I felt I was more grounded having practiced the breathing techniques.—Allison

It (the course, added) helped me cope better with the suffering of seeing my aging mom suffering in the hospital.— Ignacio

Diagnosed with autoimmune disease about 5 years ago with a prognosis of medication to possible life in a wheel chair as my options. After class 6, this course has given me a hope that I am on the right path to help my body heal through mindfulness, something medical team failed to tell me. —Nicki J.

The program enlightened me what stresses are in my daily life and a kinder gentler way to react to the stresses.—Janet S.

I have found this mindfulness course very helpful in refreshing my mindfulness practice and in reminding me of techniques/tools I can use to help manage through my grief after losing my husband. I am very grateful for this course. Thank you.—Nicole L.

I have noticed that I am letting daily things, e.g. mt children’s father’s issues not affect me as much-becoming more solution oriented rather than feeling defeated.—Jamie S.

I will definitely recommend this course to family and friends. I was somewhat skeptical @ first about meditation, but I have personally felt the benefits & hope to continue this practice. The food was always great!—Meaghan P.

Great training ground to begin customizing a personal practice routine.—Kathy C.

The Intro to Mindfulness Practice has helped me on every level. I began to be able to relax when I needed to. I was able to sleep again. I have taken this course three times and each time it has taught me new skills,…given me a deeper personal insight and awareness. I would highly recommend it to anyone inspired to self-discovery and stress reduction.—Claire V.

Giving you the tools to feel confident in the practice of mindful meditation.—John E.

Anxiety has become much less.—Peter D.

I am triggered often my siblings and it emotionally helped me to put space between my immediate reaction, made time to pause before getting angry or lashing out. Thank you also for generous helping of food.—Sharon

Thank you Parmjit: I appreciate the balance between practical techniques and evidence.—(Name Withheld on Request)

Waiting at the Dr.’s office for an important check-up, I felt my heart racing. I started to count and breathe. It brought me back and I was almost immediately more clam. Thank you so much.—(Name Withheld on Request)

My chronic pain has reduced a bit. Thank you so much Dr. Singh. The class was really helpful and I have recommended it to some colleagues. Thanks also to your wife for all the delicious food.—A Police Officer

Thank you for the program. I find it very helpful indeed.—Name Withheld upon request

Through awareness/mindfulness, I was able to to observe my habits/reactions and through this observation was able to QUIT SMOKING. I was a smoker for 25 years. This was the 1^st time I had ever tried to quit. It worked.—Name Withheld upon request

The three quotes 1) pay attention, 2) Do not React, 3) It’s only temporary – has me stopping and thinking instead of reacting which has helped me immensely.—Kathleen

Thank you so much for a life changing experience. – Patti

This practice is helping me to overcome these issues (PTSD & Depression). This is a part of my motivation to keep up the practice. Thanks so much for what you do.—Laura

I had a conversation with a colleague at a Weight Watchers meeting and she shared that being mindful at meal times has helped tremendously on her weight loss journey.  I acknowledge this and it has helped in my journey as well.—Donna

I have used mindfulness practice in the “here and now” both for quiet self-management during a recent meeting with extreme “stress potential”, allowing me to alter my responses in the immediate situation.– Lorri

This introduction to Mindfulness has been life changing.  It has given me the tools I need to bring calmness into my life.  Just remembering to place awareness on breathing has been so helpful in stressful situations specifically follow up oncology appoints after the cancer journey. 

I’m grateful to have learned about mindfulness and I will continue to practice and spread the word to my family and friends.  Thank you Parmjit for your guidance and sharing of your knowledge as well as the delicious meals after class. -Jenn

I am working through some relationship questions and I am finding that meditation is helping me begin to see the components of relationships in a way that I had not been able to see before. I feel more confident that I will make the most appropriate decisions.- Steve

Thank you ! I very much enjoyed my time in this course. All the best.-Sarah

Stress no longer feels like “a sticky blanket” that I can’t get off of me.  I am able to take it off and move away from it.- Steve

Helping my son sleep at night-really works!- Eric

Participation in this program using mindful breathing at work realizing stressful situations and being present in my reactions.- Maurita

Loved the program. You have a wonderful way of explaining things.—Tara

Have dealt with depression in my youth and adult life, but between my positive mental attitude practice, gratitude practice, meditation, self-care, quality of life has improved immediately.-Prasheel

Dealing with Toronto traffic. Dealing with my daughter and wife.- Dan

Everyday I try to be present to with each person, thought, and actions. It helps me stay positive and compassionate.-Dina

A scalp rash that has plagued me for two and half years went away during the practice duration. Even if it not for ever, it is amazing. -Stuart

I truly enjoyed this day and I know this is life-changing for me. Thank you so very much.—Heidi (corporate retreat)

Releasing thoughts without judgement helped to improve my sense of self and body. Thank you for sharing this important skill!—Cathy (corporate retreat)

Given me mechanisms to be mindful of myself and recognize the thoughts and let them pass.—A participant in a Corporate retreat who requested anonymity

To stop immediate response, think, process, be kind.–Ksnija (corporate retreat)

This course has improved the quality of my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.—Anne-Marie

I used to think that any worrisome or stressful situation was catastrophe. I’m on my way now to learning to use my breath during these hard time and know that it will pass.—Amy

The six week course, Mindful Practice and being kind to myself has enabled me to reduce my dosage of anti-depressants. I have stopped self-medicating. My constant neck and shoulder tension has been reduced when I practice your techniques.-Diane

Overall, after participating in this program, I have learned to be less critical of myself which has led to much calmer mind. It has definitely helped with my anxiety and overthinking and I will be sure to continue to work on my practice into the future. Thank you.—Jen

Helped me still my mind (after body scan) and fall asleep quickly after doing it.—Anonymous

Today my 12 year old began to get very emotional and I noticed myself getting caught in it. I went to the breath exercise and just listened to her while focusing on my breath and was able to support her without reacting. Thank you.—Kristen

I think you run a great program Parmjit. The calming it brings in my mind and daily life with time and practice it will be changing. To come together with strangers and make the connection to these people has been fantastic!!!—Beverly

Helped me immensely in dealing with an estrangement initiated by someone very close to me. Thank you.—Gail

I used mindfulness to prepare myself for surgery.—Marliena

Mindfulness practice has eased my anxiety caused by serious illness (heart attack). I now tell myself to calm down, and breathe when I sense anxiety and avoid an escalation. Thank you Parmjit. Your classes have given me confidence to practice confidently.—Cathy

Hi Dr.  Singh,

It has been  half  dozen  a teachers  since  I attended your program ‘The Healing Voyage’  but  the  manual  we  were  given  is  still  one  of  my  most  valued  resources  and it has  helped  me  in  helping  others now.

The  close  to  40  years  of  hard  core  extreme  training  continued  to  eventually put me  on  disability. However, yoga and meditation  has  made  me  a  better  person  as  well  as  worked  part  of  my  disability (double  crush  syndrome)  so  well  that I  didn’t  need critical  neck  surgery  for  a  disc  replacement  in  my  neck, that  I  was  on  a waiting  list. My  circulation  has  probably  worked  back  to  90%  of  what  it   was  and  this  was  done  using  inverted  modifications  along  with  at  least  90  minutes  of  asanas, meditation and pranayama.

My  reason  for  this  message  was  to  let  you  know  you  still  are  impacting  me  years  later  and  on  top  of  the  physical  healing  from  just  the  introductory  course, I  also  no  longer  am  taking  antidepressants  after over  25  years  of  treatment  for depression.  I am at peace, contented and love myself. Now  I  am  asking  if  you  could  sell  me  a second  copy  of  “Towards  A Healthy  and  Successful  Living ”  manual  or  give  me permission to  have  it  copied  to  give  free  to  an old  friend  who  is  not a  Hamiltonian , thus  on  top  of  a  management  job  very  little time  but  he  is suffering from  depression  and  I  have  shown  him or  read  bits  to  him  and  he  understood  it  well  because  your layman’s  way  of  de-mystifying meditation .

Just  like  your  humble  way  of  teaching where  you  would  only  say  “you  are a catalyst ”  in  passing  on  these  ancient  arts , I  pattern  myself  the  same way.

Thank you and have a great day,

Paul C.

Reproduced here with permission from Paul. Thank you.

Often found anxiety around work, life would interfere with sleep. Using breathing techniques have helped me resolve/reduce the sleepless periods.—Jane

Dealing with my spouse when he is stressed. You can kind of stand back.—Avril

I was having dinner with my brother and I asked him to do something for me. He appeared upset with me so I said its okay. Never mind. He replied why? I said you seem upset that I asked you to do something for me. He explained he was not upset and glad I told him he shared his feelings about the dynamics between us and I finally could put myself in his shoes and I totally got what he meant. We communicate a lot better with understanding. Thank you for your teachings.—(chose to be anonymous)

Thank you for your kind, gentleness.—Lisa.

When my 3 years has a tantrum, I am much more patient and calm. I remind myself that its temporary and my calmness helps her to eventually soothe herself and me to be very patient with her as emotions rise and fall. Thank you.—Serena

I am more happy and loving within myself. After 5 years of my marriage breakdown and meeting others, I no longer need to be validated by a partner, just to culturally fit in. I like the person I am and continue to become.—Josie

I am much aware of the tension I carry in my body, as well as what my body was feeling overall. I suppose in a way I have been thinking of my body as merely the way I transport my brain around. I habitually ignored things like hunger or discomfort if it wasn’t convenient to deal with them at the time. This program has helped me feel much more the connection between my mind and body. Finally I am actually listening for what my body is trying to say. –Deb (name changed on request)

I think you offer a wonderful program, Parmjit. This course and yoga enhances my mind, body experience. It is a beautiful combination.—Lisa

After working full-time and looking after a family, you forget to be kind to yourself, sometimes we are our harshest critic.—Eileen

I often played your CD while driving (to and from Hamilton). Most helpful to stay aware of when surrounded by aggressive drivers. PS: thank you to your wife (Manjit, added) for fantastic food. –Janet

I was recently been treated in a disrespectful and unkind way by a superior at work. I felt that I have no recourse but to take what was happening to me. Through mindful practices, I was able to deal with the person and situation in a professional, respectful yet proactive manner. Although the situation is still unresolved, I feel happy and content with the process.—Linda

The program is excellent.—E.

For a very long time (2 years) I have struggled at work in the afternoons. I could not focus. If I had to do something important I needed to get done I know I had to do it in the morning. Now I am able to focus all day. PS: Thank you Mrs Parmjit (Manjit, added) for yummy food.—Laura

I had a very stressful meeting. In the past I would have replayed and worried about my responses, awkward moments afterwards for days. During the meeting I thought about meditation practices and wished for relief, but it didn’t happen. I got in my car after meeting and began to think about how it has gone…within 15 minutes I had completely let it go! It barely crossed my mind in the days following and when it did I had no feeling of stress or anxiety, regret about it! This is when I knew the meditation was beginning to show.—Allison.

I had a complete emotional breakdown recently. I practiced the body scan and was able to recover quickly from my upset. It is re-assuring to know I have the tool of meditation to help me handle current challenges in my life.—Anonymous.

Stopping/minimizing worry/ rumination by focusing on breath and ability to relax has improved.—Carmel.

The concept of ‘Disciplined Gentleness’ helped a lot.—Anonymous.

Body Scan and breathing techniques worked at school, and during stressful situations.—Cheryl.

I had to upgrade my cell phone contract and from experience knew it would be difficult. The mindfulness program helped diffuse the stress.—David

Sleep improved and found happiness in mundane tasks.—Stella.

I’m a brain injury survivor. My brain is re-wired and life does not work they way it used to be. Being mindful is teaching me to explore the changes that exist & live in a way that is beneficial to my life now. It is an ongoing journey but I believe now I have a very strong foundation to overcome the effects of brain injury. The course is very rewarding. Thank you for what this has and will bring to my life.—Ashleigh

Today, I was running behind at work. I would normally be very stressed & upset about being late to come here but I was able to let that go, have an attitude of “I’ll get here when I get here” and even feel happy about getting here rather than frustrated. I am starting to be more self-compassionate and relate to others in more compassionate way.—Mary Ann

I often have a ‘hot button’ response to certain forms of criticism at work and yesterday for the first time I was able to catch myself and delay responding until I had time to cool off.—Kartikaya

I noticed that I live my life on automatic pilot. My mind is always somewhere that I am not. The practice has taught me to stop and think about what I am doing and being present.-Chris

My wife was very stressed at her work at a hospital. After practicing mindfulness, she is not as stressed as she used to be and change is obvious.—Len

I remember asking Manjit on the first evening if she thought I would sleep better taking this course, & indeed she thought I would. I have to say that this has been one of the gifts from this course—much much better sleep!- Grace

I sometimes have difficulty sleeping because I have so many things on my mind so the breathing and counting exercises have helped. I also like learning about self-compassion and non-judgment. I think I am more aware of how important it is.—Melissa

I play highly competitive video-games, and with the help of meditation, [ I] have been able to become aware of my mistakes and accept them instead of placing blame on others.—Stephen

I usually talk and never listen and being mindful has made me realize the ways things can happen when you lose control.—Ryan

The increase in awareness of nature/surroundings as well as kind thoughts for others—being less annoyed with others.—Richard

The feeling of calmness or peace lasts in home ways throughout the day like the chime which keep on ringing.—James

I am trying not to hurry as much, i.e., if I am late for something, I won’t let it bother me, i.e., drive fast. —Name withheld on request.