About Linda Gradess

Linda Gradess, M.S., EdM. brings to the practice of mindfulness more than 30 years of experience in the helping profession as a teacher, school counselor, mental health practitioner, and health and wellness coach.

Since retiring as a high school counselor and moving to Florida, Linda actively expanded her coaching skills and learned how to bring mindfulness practices into her own life and the lives of others. Linda began her journey into mindfulness by taking the foundational 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) created by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

After establishing a daily mindfulness practice and attending weekly sessions with other mindfulness practitioners, Linda felt the calling to teach this powerful MBSR curriculum.

Linda began her teacher training with the University of California San Diego’s Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute. With the support of an MBSR mentorship, additional courses, silent mindfulness retreats, and co-leading classes with an experienced teacher, Linda continued on her path of sharing mindfulness with others.

Over the years, Linda has introduced mindfulness practices to several senior communities and to the School District of Palm Beach County’s Adult Community Education Program.

Linda’s desire to bring mindfulness practices to children and teens in a safe and developmentally appropriate way has led her to expand her training. She completed Dr. Amy Saltzman’s Still Quiet Place, a 10-week practicum for K-12 Educators and Allied Professionals; Gina Biegel’s 10-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Teens (MBSR-T) Certificate Training for Professionals; and Amy Edelstein’s The Inner Strength Teen Mindfulness Teacher Training.

Linda’s guiding intention is to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment for everyone who enters her classes. Connect with Linda Gradess to learn more about mindfulness and current offerings HERE.

Mindfulness in Linda’s Words

Through my years of practice, I have found mindfulness helps me recognize the physical cues of stress, manage stress, and get unstuck from cycles of rumination and worry. Bringing kindness, curiosity, and compassion into my practice and my everyday life has made an impact on my way of being with myself and the world around me. My intention is to bring mindful awareness into my everyday activities whether it’s driving, interacting with people, eating, exercising, or anything else. This is not always easy. Life has its own surprises and challenges, and I sometimes react out of old habitual patterns. However, with practice, I can more easily notice when I get hijacked by unhelpful thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and remember that I can pause, and then choose where I want to place my attention. It takes patience and a growing sense of self-compassion to respond to challenges, rather than react, but it is possible.

As an educator at heart, my wish is to share mindfulness practices to help others see how they can enhance their own sense of health, happiness and well-being.

Mindfulness Instructor Linda Gradess