Perhaps you searching for a sense of balance, meaning and connection in your precious life ~
A way to unplug from distraction, feel grounded, and find clarity of mind.
It's not hard to find yourself pulled off centre and feeling like you want to locate a sense of steadiness and ease in this world - A longing to reconnect with your basic goodness and love for life.
You are not alone in your search. Life is precious. Let's not miss it.
ABOUT
I am a Buddhist Chaplain at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and intern with Third Space Charity at UBCO and Interior Health Physicians Groups. I am a clinical counsellor, spritual care practitioner, meditation teacher, yoga & somatic movement educator.
Based in Kelowna, I also lead retreats and workshops far and wide.
Check out some of the amazing people and organizations I love working along side. Curious about collaborating? Please do send a note.
MEDITATION & Resurrecting Goodness in the Body, Heart & Mind
Explore how alignment, breathing, balancing, stretching and strengthening provide the ideal opportunity to apply Buddhist meditation techniques to experience your mind, bring awareness to habits, and open your heart. My teaching guides both movement and stillness, contemplative practices, dharma and poetry readings. Each encourages gentleness of breath, attention to alignment, creativity, relationship to the ground and the process of gravity.
I have just finished leading a meditation retreat on Salt Spring Island and am taking a little pause to settle into study with my Upaya Zen Centre Sangha. Who knows what creative spark this little pause might offer! For those in Kelowna, I will continue fall & spring meditation practice periods at the Domestic Monastery Studio in person.
I offer a variety of ways to enter practice by teaching workshops and practice series by invitation. I am also an education chaplain in residence with Third Space Charity, The University of British Columbia Okanagan and visiting education chaplain at Kelowna General Hospital.
Currently my work is shifting in creative and exciting ways. Most notably in the direction of clinical counselling at UBCO and with Interior Health physicians.
Stay tuned this fall when you can schedule private chaplaincy/spiritual care & formation sessions on-line & in person.
Supporting Physician Program
An 8 week program generously funded by Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.
Cultivating compassion, responding to burnout, moral despair, and working with systems under enormous pressure.
with Melissa & Dr. Alysha MacKenzie-Feder
Fall Meditation Series
Domestic Monastery
Meditation & Tea
Sept - Nov 2024
Wed 7-8 a.m.
Meditation & Zen Buddhist Study 1st Wed of each month
6:30 - 8 pm
register at melissaberryappleton@gmail.com
*by donation
ALINDA MICHAEL
Brian and Melissa role model presence and respect in their language, in their way of being. I’m a nurse and I’ve worked with people my whole life; I consider myself someone who’s very respectful of people. So to meet two people who are on whole other level, I really appreciate it a lot. That’s where I want to be.
DR. DAVID KATES
"I’m looking forward to taking what I learned here and continuing on. I feel inspired to make some changes with my work schedule and my self-care. I’d like to do more yoga, meditation, reading. Those changes will have an impact on my practice, and will make me more human to my patients."
LINA TURESKI
I learn a lot on retreat, both from the planned program and the people who attend. Some retreats are about rest, some are more about being in community. They’re always about taking a break from daily life to build skills, rest, and work on things in an intentional way without distraction.