JIM STOTZKA | THE STEADY MIND

Attention is the foundation of everything

In a world of constant distraction, the quality of our lives at work and outside of it, our relationships, and our decisions depends first on the quality of our attention. The Steady Mind helps people to become more awake and aware of their thoughts, emotions, and habits.By cultivating attention through Zen meditation and mindfulness, participants in my programmes learn to be more fully present to themselves, to others and to the work in front of them. From these foundations emerge clearer thinking, wiser decisions,steadier leadership, and healthier ways of working.

Open Courses

CALM IS A SKILLFinding a steadier way to meet everyday life.
Explore Zen meditation and develop greater calm, clarity and presence through practical, accessible practice.

• for individuals

Programmes for Businesses

CLARITY BEGINS HEREHelping people stay focused, resilient and grounded at work.
Practical Zen-based programmes that develop attention, self-awareness and resilience, helping people respond more thoughtfully to pressure, navigate change and work with greater clarity.

• for Businesses

Courses for Charitable Organisations

ATTENTION CHANGES EXPERIENCECreating space to pause, reflect and stay resilient.
Practical meditation programmes for people working in demanding and purposeful environments, helping them meet challenges with greater clarity, presence and balance.

• for charities

Jim Stotzka

I believe that the ability to pay attention is one of the most valuable skills we can develop. Drawing on more than 25 years of leadership and coaching experience, together with over a decade of meditation practice and Zen training, I teach practical approaches that help people cultivate greater clarity, resilience and presence in work and everyday life.

Open Courses

This eight-session programme will teach you to develop a simple but effective meditation practice and to bring mindfulness into everyday life and interactions.You will learn practical approaches to attention,
resilience, communication and self-awareness that can be
applied immediately in both professional and personal life.The programme is based on Rinzai Zen principles but the content is practical and non-spiritual. It is suitable for complete beginners as well as those looking to deepen an existing practice.We will explore how open-awareness meditation can train your abilities to concentrate and focus, notice more about yourself and others, and how you can bring this skill of improved attention into everyday interactions and activities.Sessions will be held weekly, online using the Teams platform and will last for about an hour.In order to develop your skills to the fullest, you will practice the formal meditations as well as
mindfulness activities and skills in between sessions. Audio files and
handouts will be available to support you to practice at home.What you can expect- Greater focus and presence — develop your ability to pay attention and be fully present in everyday life.- Greater resilience — recognise stress and habitual reactions, and develop more choice in how you respond.- Greater clarity and self-awareness — see patterns more clearly and make more considered choices.- More ease in relationships — develop deeper listening, empathy and composure in challenging situations.

COST: £160 per person for the eight-week programmeUpcoming course dates:Monday 10th August - 5th October 2026
(no session August 31st)
19.00 - 20.00 GMT
FULLY BOOKEDMonday 19th October - 14th December 2026
(no session November 2nd)
19.00 - 20.00 GMT
OPEN FOR BOOKINGS

Business Programmes

Today’s workplaces demand sustained attention, sound judgment and resilience in the face of constant change, ambiguity, and pressure. Yet distraction, stress, and reactive decision-making have become the norm for many professionals.My four-session programme introduces practical meditation and mindfulness techniques that help participants cultivate greater focus, emotional resilience, and clarity in the way they work and lead.I also offer more tailored programmes for organisations with specific needs or objectives. Please get in touch to discuss what would be most appropriate for your team.Participants are equipped to develop a regular meditation routine, training the mind to become more relaxed, yet alert and attuned to thoughts and sensations. These formal practice sessions are combined with simple mindfulness techniques that can be applied immediately during meetings, difficult conversations, decision-making and everyday work.In this way, whilst improving employee wellbeing, the programme is designed to go beyond just offering meditation as relaxation.
Drawing on the principles of Rinzai Zen these practices support people to work with greater clarity, resilience and presence in demanding and complex environments.

Contact me to discuss your requirements[email protected]
(+44) 07863962040

Courses for Charitable Organisations

Working in the charitable sector brings with it much reward, but also a specific set of pressures, stressors and demands.Having worked for charities both as an employee and as a volunteer for over 20 years, I have a deep understanding of these particular challenges from a number of perspectives.My offer to charities will be tailored to the needs and particular circumstances of your organisation. First seeking to understand what specific pressures and issues you are facing, as well as exploring what makes your work rewarding and pleasurable, I will then develop a course proposal to meet your needs.The programme will teach practical meditation and mindfulness techniques that will allow participants to identify stresses and reactions and build emotional resilience. By building on a compassionate approach to the self as well as those that are supported by the charity, participants will learn to better manage their energy reserves.The programme draws on the principles of Rinzai Zen but the content is non-spiritual. Participants are equipped to develop a regular meditation routine, training the mind to become more relaxed, yet alert and attuned to thoughts and sensations. These formal practice sessions are combined with simple mindfulness techniques that can be applied immediately.

Contact me to discuss your requirements[email protected]
(+44) 07863962040

About Jim

I am a Zen practitioner, sustainability leader, and coach with over 25 years’ experience helping people develop focus, resilience and performance in demanding environments.In my professional life, I have worked in leadership, team management and mentoring roles across both small businesses and large corporate organisations. Most recently, my work as a sustainability lead has brought me face to face with the complexity, uncertainty, and the risk of burnout that many professionals experience today.Alongside my professional career, I have spent nearly three decades teaching dressage to riders of all levels, from complete beginners to international competitors, including both able-bodied and para-equestrian athletes. This long experience of sports coaching has given me a deep understanding of learning, performance, mindset and the relationship between attention, pressure, and results.My interest in Eastern philosophy began in my teenage years. In 2014 I established a regular meditation practice following a mindfulness programme based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, and since 2023 I have been studying Zen under the guidance of Julian Daizan Skinner.Drawing together my experience in coaching, leadership and Zen practice, I teach practical approaches to attention, resilience, communication and wellbeing that can be applied directly in everyday professional and personal life. My aim is to help people develop their capacity to pay attention, to achieve greater clarity, presence, and effectiveness while maintaining a sustainable and healthy relationship with work.