Thomas Stenzel
Bozeman, MT, USA
Certified UM Trainer/Teacher
M.Ed., DTM
I believe there’s a quiet thread of intrinsic awareness in all of us — a subtle resonance that connects us to life. My own contemplative journey began decades ago in the Christian Centering Prayer tradition, drawn by a longing for the transcendent. The writings of Thomas Merton and other contemplatives eventually opened the door to Eastern traditions, where I explored Zen, Dzogchen, and Advaita Tantra.
For a time, I considered a monastic life. Instead, I made a 180° turn: I married, raised two children, and ran a hotel for over 30 years — a venture as unpredictable as it was rewarding. Along the way, I taught and practiced Aikido for four decades, and became a public speaking coach, helping everyone from business leaders to TEDx speakers refine their message.
Years of self-guided meditation practice sustained me through the intense pace of hospitality, teaching, and coaching. Then I encountered Shinzen Young’s Unified Mindfulness system. As an MBTI INTP, I was drawn to the system’s clarity and elegance — it distilled much of what I had studied, while adding new dimensions that deepened my ongoing practice.
I’ve come to see mindfulness and public speaking as parallel disciplines of reduction. In speaking, we strip away anything that obscures the message; in mindfulness, we quiet the noise that hides the transcendent in everyday life.
Whether in the dojo, the office, or a hotel lobby at 2 a.m., my practice has been about returning to what’s essential — in myself and in others. As a teacher and coach, my aim is to help people uncover who they’ve always been, questioning beliefs that no longer serve them, and discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary.
If you’re seeking a practice that integrates clarity, compassion, and real-world application, I invite you to explore mindfulness with me — not as an escape from life, but as a direct way into it.