Yasemin Yamodo-Isler

FOUNDER

Hello there!

Thanks for stopping by. It is very nice to meet you. 

I came to USA from Turkey in 1980, and since then have been living in Cambridge, MA. I was trained in Northeastern University with computer science and economics degrees. This put me on a path of a successful career in IT as an engineer and architect for 25+ years. Working in stressful / high pressure work environments, parenting while working, desire to be perfect at home as a mother and wife, and at work, were all too normal, as some of you may relate to. I was also an athlete in my own right, pushing the limits of my body and being proud of vibrant youthfulness. My husband and I ran along Charles River 365 days of the year, or close enough. Rain, snow, shine did not matter. We met along the Charles River, while running. He was born in Central African Republic and raised in France. 

Like many of you, I experienced life’s ups and downs, surprises and joys all along the way and kept on plugging. I did have a personal practice of mindfulness since I was a teenager. It was quite helpful in getting me to be present, manage stress, and approach work and life situations with patience, most of the time. In fact, the many benefits of mindfulness at work which are being researched and published now, had been at work for me supporting clients, culminating relations, being present, designing solutions that addressed the real problems.

In 2014, a family crisis brought me face to face with the most elemental things in life which we take for granted and yet can change almost overnight. My vibrant and energetic husband became ill with a very rare illness and died within 6 weeks of diagnosis. As a grieving parent, parenting a young grieving child, my personal practices took a life of their own, in supportive ways. My employer was very understanding to give me time to heal through this major life event, for which I am grateful. While I planned to return to my job, which I did, I also felt more connected with training the mind and how to approach life from a new point of view, both to help myself, my son, and others who would be interested in learning to be present to life and thriving during normal days and in the midst of adversities. 

Shortly after my husband’s passing, while also working, I decided to return to Lesley University, in Cambridge, MA, blocks away from our home, to get my masters in Mindfulness Studies, the only one in the country. My intention was to learn the impact of these practices from academic and research points of view. (By now, there are close to 9,000 research studies on mindfulness and 1,500 more on compassion.) 

I continued my practices that were developing since a teenager, and decided it was most pertinent to be a teacher, guide and a coach, in service of supporting anyone who is suffering, struggling, whether in personal life or in relation with others, including how we work together. I have certifications for teaching mindfulness and compassion in different programs including stress reduction, self-compassion, mindful education, workplace and leadership mindfulness, in addition to my own program which I created for grief. I continue to curate programs to meet the needs of individuals and organizations, including caregivers, educators and parents.  

I live in Cambridge, MA, with my 12-year-old son, who attends a Cambridge public school. 

You can find out about the full services I provide at www.TunedMinds.com and www.GriefCircles.com

Drop me a line and let’s connect. 

If you think your group/organization may benefit from learning mind training, I’d love to hear from you.

If you wish to attend our weekly practice groups, please visit HERE. Give it a try.  

Yasemin Isler