Vanessa Aitkin

Vanessa Aitkin

Practice Coordinator

Vanessa was drawn to Buddhism and meditation in her twenties as a way to address anxiety and panic, though admits her commitment was sporadic until a few years ago when something unexpected occurred. While waiting in a Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic she picked up The Joy of Living by Mingyur Rinpoche and started to read. The book felt like a reflection of her own experiences, and Mingyur’s  honest, tangible and amusing teaching style resonated with her on a profound level. It was at this moment that she felt she'd found the teacher she had been looking years for and decided to ​whole heartedly commit to meditation and Rinpoche's teachings. Wanting a deeper and wider community of practitioners to share the experience with and learn from, she searched the internet to see if there was an Australian group associated with Mingur Rinpoche and was thrilled to find Tergar Australia where she has been a member since 2023.

Outside of her practice, Vanessa enjoys swimming year-round in Port Phillip Bay, indulging in delicious meals (prepared by her husband), reading, and spending time with her two children.