INSIGHT TEACHERS
“I’m so impressed by and grateful for the quality of Shell’s teaching, and for the way she can so skillfully convey the dharma to students. Her intelligence, experienced understanding of mindfulness, and her capacity to articulate deep truths with honesty and humor are what make her an excellent teacher.” ~ Dr. Tara Brach, psychologist, founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, and author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge.
“Two qualities emerge when you start to slow down and pay attention through meditation: wisdom and compassion. Shell embodies both. Her caring presence and sense of humor make time with her a wonderful, engaging experience.” – Jonathan Foust, Guiding Teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, founder of the Meditation Teacher Training Institute of Washington, and former president of Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health
“Shell, through her lived example, brings to her teachings a depth of the dharma bathed in radiance and compassion. She holds the retreat body with care and tenderness, and she is a joy to teach with. When you are on retreat with Shell, be prepared to be inspired by her wise words as well as the bright light in her eyes.” ~ Ruth King, author of The Emotional Wisdom Cards, Healing Rage: Women Making Inner Peace Possible, and Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out. Ruth is on the Teachers Council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and teaches insight meditation retreats nationwide. She also teaches the Mindful of Race Training Program to teams and organizations, supporting an engaged exploration of our racial conditioning, its impact, and our potential through a mindfulness lens. www.RuthKing.net
“Shell is a wise skillful teacher with a heart of gold. Her depth of understanding, expert guidance, and authentic caring shine through to the great benefit of her students.” ~ Pat Coffey, MEd, founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville, co-founder of the Meditation Teacher Training Institute, and co-founder of the Blue Ridge Prison Project. Pat began his meditation practice over 30 years ago and has taught meditation since 1996. He studied with numerous Asian and Western teachers in the Theravada, Tibetan, and Zen traditions, and was selected and trained as a meditation teacher in the joint teacher training program of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center under the tutelage of Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein.
DAYLONG RETREATS:
As a newbie, I was unsure if I would be able to hang in … When it was over, I didn’t want it to end and was in deep, deep gratitude for the experience; I know it will marinate within me for a very long time, and the impact will be shared forward and outward. The cadence of the meditations was wonderful, and I surprised myself when tears flowed at various times – such a gift to sit quietly and emote naturally. I look forward to attending again, and again …
Shell, thank you for a beautiful and powerful day. This retreat was transformative for me, truly a day of awakening. Thank you for your loving and compassionate guidance.
As always, it was a pleasure to experience another one of your retreats; each one is a gem and I cherish them. I really feel blessed to have experienced so many hours of your excellent teaching, you really are an expert at what you do and I truly admire the way you hold the space for us as you lead class and retreats.
Thank you for leading such a beautiful retreat. I felt completely wrapped up in the comfort, safety and structure of the day. It was pitch perfect.
Yesterday was awesome! Seven hours of silence and meditation, just what I needed!! Great leader, great people, great view, great day!! I feel so refreshed! Looking forward to doing it again in the future! Thanks so much Shell.
Thank you again for the fabulous experience, and for your expertise that you are imparting to curious minds such as mine. I am grateful for the exposure, and realize I have much to learn about the art of meditation. Thank you for making my first experience pleasurable.
Residential Retreats:
I have been to a number of Shell’s retreats and they are wonderful. Shell has a calm and centered presence, light with humor, vulnerability, and loving kindness. She is dedicated to helping people get as much benefit from the retreat as possible (listen to her advice! :)) She is also extremely (astonishingly) knowledgeable about the Buddhist texts while being able to describe them in a way that is relatable and current for anyone regardless of whether they are new to meditation or have been practicing for years.
The five day retreat was life-changing! I feel like a hard crust has crumbled away from my heart and it’s fully open for the first time in my life. I literally feel different in my chest, it’s hard to explain. I feel like I “love myself” for the first time in my life. Thank you for what you do.
Every retreat I attend with you is as good as a year’s worth of therapy. Such a beautiful time.
Incredible experience! I loved everything about it; perfect!
I could not have asked for a better first experience at a silent meditation retreat. This was life-changing!
I loved everything! I had no idea what to expect, and for the first time in ages I was able to take a weekend completely for myself with zero guilt. I feel so relaxed right now.
I loved everything! The fantastic teacher, the beautiful house and grounds, and the healthy delicious meals. I wanted to weep several times as I took in and practiced loving-kindness, respect, and prioritizing well-being. I can’t think of anything I’d like to see improved.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, your personal examples, and your energy. Your guidance and encouragement was inspiring and helpful.
Well organized, beautiful setting, wonderful teacher.
Just thank you, thank you, thank you!!
The wonderful, thoughtful, balanced, considered answers to questions helped me, even though I’d not considered the questions!
The teachings were outstanding: insightful, humorous, and wonderfully gentle.
I feel so blessed by your teachings, your presence, and your willingness to share your own processes for “walking with” yourself.
Thank you for a wonderful weekend! I wasn’t sure how well I’d handle all the sitting, but I felt very comfortable and got so much out of the talks and guided meditation. I’m feeling very joyful today!
Thank you for the space and opportunity to just be and rediscover some lost parts of myself.
Shell, since I first met you in 2018 (MBSR classes), my life has been directly and positively changed by your teachings; mind, body and soul. My marriage, my place of work, my most personal relationships, my physical health, my head-space and my overall existence is far calmer, meaningful and exceptionally more satisfying for your mindfulness teachings. The teachings you gave on this 5 day retreat and the space you cultivated allowed me to practice confidently and fearlessly. The healing I experienced then, and continue to experience through my ongoing practice at home, pushes the realms of my comprehension. It’s hardly believable. If I didn’t understand the practice, I’d say “you’ve changed my life forever.” Knowing the little I know, I’ll say, “in this only moment I may have, ever, I’M FREE FROM IT ALL. Thank you.”
THE MBSR WORKSHOP
Shell, you created such a warm and loving atmosphere that made it a comfortable place to learn. It was like being in the living room of a friend. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and for your caring attitude. We continue our practice and look forward to more classes with you and retreats.
Some people enter your life with soft voice and quiet steps. Yet your soul knows that, if you listen, your life will be forever changed by their presence. My acquaintance with Shell Fischer began as a feeling, a knowing in my heart that her teachings and her beautiful energy would inspire and help me to transform my life.
Shell’s MBSR workshop has been a game changer for me. The course gave me valuable tools that I can use the rest of my life to manage stress, pain, illness or just about anything that comes my way. These mindfulness tools have enhanced the moment-to-moment experiences and perceptions of my everyday life. Also, Shell presents the class in a warm and caring environment that facilitates learning and deep exploration. I would highly recommend this course to anyone, regardless of your life situation.
My children have verbalized a huge change in me. My son said what I am practicing is bearing fruit, and my life has changed for the better!
As the Executive Director of a non-profit agency that provides services to people, I have found that the MBSR series is so beneficial that I have offered it to all of my employees and the teachings have made a vital impact on our team. The amount of mindfulness and kindness the staff bring to their environment is unmeasurable. We’ve had great success in course completion and the investment is worth every dollar spent. When employees are given the tools they need to manage stress and understand the causes and conditions that create suffering with in themselves, they are much better employees … and bosses are much better bosses.
Instead of traveling a lot in the motorhome this summer, we decided to stay put and explore a Mindful Based Stress Reduction 8-week program. What a gift we have given ourselves. Learning to meditate was a truly unexpected treat. All of us have taken away benefits that will help us throughout the rest of our lives. Between the meditation, the yoga, the mindful walking, and eating, the all day silent retreat … we look forward to developing our practice in different ways. Thank you to Shell Fischer for your kindness, encouragement, comforting voice, and manner.
Shell is a gifted and inspirational trainer. Giving myself this time has proven more beneficial than even I could have imagined. This morning I went for a physical, and was told that I was healthy and needed no medications. At 55 this year, I was ecstatic, considering my potential “stress” as a college professor teaching seven courses, working on a doctoral dissertation, as well as having dealt with several family crises in this past year that needed my support. Thank you, Shell, for giving me the tools to be mindful and self-aware, enabling me to take care of myself.”
Shell guides her MBSR courses with wisdom, knowledge, and compassion. I’ve learned so much in this course, in such a short amount of time. I wish I’d had the opportunity years ago to learn the coping techniques Shell offers to deal with life’s stressful situations. Through her course, I have gained the tools to truly make a difference in my life . . . tools for the past, present, and future; tools for bringing peace and health into my mind, body, and spirit. I urge all to participate in this life-changing course. It has greatly reduced my stress, and improved my health by illuminating my being with more compassion for myself and others.
I loved this course! I gained so much through the readings, exercises, Shell’s talks, and interactions with the other participants, including the life-changing lessons of acceptance of every moment and compassion for myself and others. Most of all, I gained the knowledge I need to implement my own daily practice, which will serve me for the rest of my life when faced with whatever may come. Shell is an amazing teacher!
I highly recommend taking this class if you are feeling overwhelmed in any part of your life. These techniques can add quality to your very existence on the planet, and Shell is a great teacher. Truth be told, I think that everyone needs this class. It should be part of P.E. in elementary school.
In a nurturing environment, Shell has offered MBSR as an excellent tool for coping with daily stressors. I have found both the book, tapes and classes to be incredibly helpful, easy to follow, and vital components for a daily dose of self help and relaxation. What a simple path for aligning mind and body as we contemplate life’s opportunities and challenges.
I loved the MBSR course! Shell is a wonderful teacher; she offers up so much knowledge and support. I feel as though this course and my time with Shell and the other participants was that next stepping stone that was supposed to take place in my journey.