Meet Dan Conneely, a certified meditation and breathwork instructor and founder of– a Leeds-based meditation teaching organisation Gen Zen Meditation.
In this open conversation, Dan shares how a single meditation course helped him overcome years of sleepless nights, sparking his mission to teach the gift of meditation to others. For Dan, wellbeing is not simply a “thing you do”—it’s a deep awareness of what makes us tick. Through Gen Zen, he’s building a community to raise the collective consciousness, one meditator at a time, inspiring people to take small, imperfect steps to prioritise their wellbeing, without striving for perfection.
Introduce yourself! Share a little bit about who you are and what you do.
Hi! I’m Dan, a certified meditation and breathwork instructor and founder of Leeds-based meditation teaching organisation Gen Zen Meditation. Together with my colleague, Sarah, we teach meditation courses, run wellbeing events and retreats and work with organisations to offer workplace wellness.
Tell us about your journey! What led you to this point?
I can’t say I was a great advocate for holistic wellness in my teens and twenties – music, partying, late nights, unhealthy habits, unhappy relationships… then something shifted in my thirties, and having paid little attention to any previous hint of karmic correction, some self-analysis sessions revealed a great deal of ‘samskara’ that kickstarted an exploration of inner work and led to a fascination with ancient Vedic and Indian culture. I have experience of working in the area of mentoring and coaching for over a decade, working with thousands of people across the world in a self-development capacity. Becoming a qualified teacher has matched my passion for meditation with my love of helping people with their own personal journeys.
What does “wellbeing” mean to you?
Wellbeing is our awareness and ability to tune into our own body to understand what our bodies are telling us we need in order for us to progressively flow with nature. Our bodies know what we require to function effectively far better than our intellect does, yet in today’s modern world we are often too preoccupied with external stimulants to really take the time to dig down and connect with our core being. Wellbeing isn’t a ‘thing’ you do. It’s an awareness of what makes us tick.
Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that inspired you to start Gen Zen Meditation?
I didn’t sleep for 6 years. Maybe 2 or 3 hours a night if I was lucky. Looking back, it was probably a mix of mental health struggles that I was struggling to identify with. I was high functioning, but it wasn’t sustainable, and it took its toll on me. A friend recommended meditation, so I casually dipped my toe into mindfulness but didn’t really connect with it. Later I came across some Vedic Meditation teachers (similar to transcendental meditation) in London. I booked a train and hotel and took a 3-day course. On the second night of the course I slept for 8 hours and I have done ever since. My sleep issue disappeared overnight. Literally. I knew instantly I was going to become a meditation teacher to share this amazing gift with people.
Can you tell us a little bit about Gen Zen Meditation?
We teach Vedic Mantra Meditation. A simple, natural, effortless, silent, eyes closed practice that transcends our thoughts entirely. It’s from the same Vedic tradition that gave us yoga, pranayama, Ayurveda, and Eastern philosophy which was a precursor to Buddhism and Hinduism among others.
Ultimately, Gen Zen Meditation is a community builder. One of my teachers, Deepak Chopra, always says it will require “a billion meditators on earth” to raise the collective consciousness and bring about world peace. Who doesn’t want to share that ambition? I want Gen Zen Meditation to inspire a new generation of meditators, both young and old, to enable people to live happier more fulfilled lives and raise the collective consciousness by creating better people, better homes, better communities, and a better society as a whole.
What lessons have you learned when it comes to your wellbeing?
Start small. Be easy. Don’t aim for perfection. Don’t compare yourself to others. Enjoy rest days and cheat meals. Find wellbeing practices that you enjoy and connect with. Connect with others, find good teachers and find community. And most importantly, listen to your body.
How do you prioritise your own wellbeing?
The biggest impact was giving up alcohol. I now have time and space to integrate consistent and strong foundational habits that are non-negotiables – just as important as sleeping, showering, brushing teeth and drinking water. I wake up early, I meditate twice daily, I practice yoga daily… I don’t consume news or watch TV, instead I constantly learn to expand my own knowledge. Once you read the benefits of living a sattvic life rather than a rajasic or tamasic life, prioritising wellbeing becomes a little easier.
How can people stay connected with you?
Instagram @danielconneelymeditation or via www.genzenmeditation.com
We’re Gen Zen – a meditation community-builder, and our mission is simple. We teach people to meditate. All people. All ages. We want to build and inspire a community of self-sufficient meditators and enable as many people as possible to experience the many mental and physical benefits that a daily meditation practice will bring to your life, and to those around you.
Our Learn to Meditate course runs online and in-person, and we offer free lifetime support for everyone who learns with us. That’s our commitment to supporting people to integrate this powerful ancient tool into their daily modern lives to empower our growing community to be the very best version of themselves.