Susann Herrmann and Rahasya (Albert Tobler)
London-Meditation
London Meditation in Primrose Hill is a centre founded by Susann Herrmann and Albert Tobler (Rahasya) which offers a wellbeing program consisting of non-religious meditations (Osho's meditation techniques are mostly used), meditative therapies, coaching based on introspection and meditative techniques and the MbM-Management by Meditation™ MasterClass.
Susann comes from the northern part of Germany – she was born in the harbour town called Kiel close to Denmark. After her professional banker training she gained her first degree in banking economy and worked for years as mortgage advisor. The banking institute she worked for awarded its young and talented employees with personal development opportunities and it was here that Susann encountered meditation and heard about Osho for the first time. She joined a Zen group and did therapy work (self experience) for many years. Albert was born in the very Christian-oriented Bavaria in southern Germany. His mother had originally wanted to become a nun and influenced her son to enter the Church and study to become a deacon. He remembers very well the smell of incense, the many lit candles, the orthodox monks intoning the liturgies with their deep full voices… At the time he was 19 years old and a student in silence in a retreat at the monastery in Nieder-Altaich (Germany). That was 33 years ago and was for him the initiation into meditation. Contemplation was all important in the Nieder-Altaich monastery and after a lot of Christian-related introspection and later experiences of pagan and shamanistic rituals and retreats Albert made his initial contact with Osho's Active Meditations™ in the early nineties – took sannyas and became Rahasya. Then followed a time of confusion – triggered no doubt from doing Dynamic, No-Dimensions and week-long Vipassana retreats – which affected his private and business life causing changes and breakdowns. Then Susann appeared from nowhere and together they went on a trip to India with Pune as the final destination. In 1999, for professional reasons, they went to London where Albert founded the company Human Communication Ltd (a coaching and training provider). He fell instantly in love with this vibrant city and stayed while Susann went back to Germany to finish her master degree – this time in Psychology. Albert moved to Luton and in 2001 started his international learning and development career as a contractor with one of the top ten European automotive brands. In 2003 they met again in the Meditation Resort in Pune (India) to spend their winter break there. For some time both of them had had the idea of combining meditation and occupational psychology, thus creating a unique approach for personal and corporate wellbeing. By the beautiful Resort pool the term "Management by Meditation" suddenly surfaced in Albert's mind and this phrase later became "MbM-Management by Meditation™," the official trade mark for Susann and Albert's work. When Susann successfully finished her academic studies in 2004, she returned to live in London with Albert and other friends at a house in Wood Green. Once settled they started to look for a place where they could practice Osho's Active Mediations™ regularly. They found a space in the local Community Centre called Shropshire Hall and invited neighbours and friends. After a while a Haringey outreach worker – thrilled by her own recent meditation experience – offered her support to get funding for the room hire. This happened and London Meditation was established. In 2006 Susann opened her own practice as a psychologist in Utopia Village's Studio One in Primrose Hill – a beautiful and peaceful area close to the centre of London yet with the charm of a small village. London Meditation also moved from the Shropshire Hall to the Primrose Hill Community Centre (now a Monday evening active meditation drop-in) conveniently located only 2 minutes walk from Susann's professional practice. It was inevitable that Susann's professional work as psychologist and Albert's more than 25 years of experience in adult education and with the Association for Coaching would combine with their passion for meditation. They created their own methods to support people in their efforts of looking for understanding and change. Accepting the fact that human beings are gifted with the natural ability to use mind (intellect and emotion) for introspection and no-mind (the state of meditation) for awareness without judging, Susann and Albert developed their unique approach: "coaching based on introspection and meditative techniques." London Meditation started as a private meditation group and has now developed into a personal and corporate wellbeing business providing professional services such as one2one sessions, workshops, lectures, trainings and courses. London Meditation has become the label and trading name of the company once founded by Albert (and now owned by Susann). The company's recently produced website – professionally and beautifully designed by punyaweb.net – details the broad portfolio of coaching, therapy and meditation services offered. The testimonials on the website demonstrate the impact that London Meditation and 'coaching based on introspection and meditative techniques' has had on peoples' private lives and on corporations as entities. More is planned for the future: fitness meditations, more intense meditative therapy treatments, bespoke wellbeing retreats, virtual coaching – based always on the concept of 'Meditation – the first and last resort'...London-Meditation
venue 1: Utopia Village, Studio One, 7 Chalcot Road, Primrose Hill, London NW1 8LH
venue 2: Primrose Hill Community Association, 29 Hopkinsons Place, off Fitzroy Road, London NW1 8TN
phone: 020 7449 2129
email: susann@london-meditation.co.uk
or albert@london-meditation.co.uk
www.london-meditation.co.uk
Veena – March 2008
