Reinhart Nell: Meditation Teacher, Wellbeing Coach and Founder of Levitate London
Meet Reinhart
Reinhart (known by many as Ryan) is a huge believer in the power of community. His mantra “let’s lift each other up” informs everything he does. He teaches mindfulness not as a philosophy, or a tool for achieving balance, but as a call to action. He believes that compassionate action (helping others once we’ve helped ourselves) is the greatest source happiness, and will naturally follow once you are able to find stillness. Reinhart also loves to keep abreast of the latest neuroscience and mindfulness research. As a former “fidgety sceptic” with crippling anxiety and a suspicion of anything remotely woo woo, Reinhart wanted the rigorous research to confirm and support his subjective experience of mindfulness.
Since Reinhart starting meditating, his life has dramatically improved. He is healthier, happier, and more productive, and he sleeps better at night. Of course life throws him its fair share of ups and downs, but his mindfulness practice better enables him to ride those waves. Things that would have previously been a crisis are now a minor irritation. He knows he is conscious and connected, and not a victim to his thoughts. His teaching style combines science and spirituality, with an irreverent sense of humour, making the esoteric practical and accessible for all. Sharing this teaching with others is an honour, and he can’t wait to share it with you.
Reinhart’s Background
Before founding Levitate in 2018, Reinhart spent over 12 years working at some of the world's top advertising agencies (including Ogilvy & Mather, M&C Saatchi, WCRS, AMV BBDO), where he learnt his trade creating campaigns for everything from chocolate to cars. While he was at it, Reinhart also learnt quite a lot about stress and anxiety... In a 'work hard play hard' industry where pulling all-nighters was a badge of honour, he saw too many people (himself included!) suffering under the pressures of the job, without the right tools or support to manage their mental health. He spent much of that time trying to escape, by quitting jobs, partying hard, changing agencies, travelling through Latin America, getting a Masters degree in Documentary Photography, co-founding JustGiving Crowdfunding and simultaneously studying social enterprise leadership. But always found himself coming back to advertising to pay the bills. The escapes didn’t work. They just prolonged the reckoning. Until he discovered meditation, and the realisation that the best way around is often through.
Very recently (2022) Reinhart was formally diagnosed with ADHD, which had been misdiagnosed as anxiety for several decades, and yet meditation has been instrumental in managing that anxiety… which goes to show that even those (or perhaps especially those) with ADHD can benefit massively from this practice.
Reinhart’s Offering
Group Meditation Classes and Events:
Reinhart teaches Mindfulness Meditation, Metta (Compassion) Meditation, Vedic (Mantra) Meditation and Guided Visualisations. He also has performed mass meditations with ambient electronic DJs in partnership with Wilderness Festival, We Out Here (Gilles Peterson’s festival), Standon Calling, and at Printworks London.
Private Meditation Coaching:
!:1 and Couple’s Private Meditation and Mindfulness Coaching Sessions
Corporate Mindfulness Coaching, Classes and Events:
4-Week and 8-Week Mindfulness Courses, 1-Hour Masterclass, Weekly Guided Meditations, Workshops on Stress, Anxiety and Mental Health, Wellbeing Consultancy
Reinhart’s Qualifications
In a former life Reinhart gained a degree in Chinese Studies from Leeds University, a scholarship to National Taiwan Normal University and a Masters in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from University of Arts London. Since then Reinhart undertook an inspiring 200-hour Meditation Teacher Training Certificate from Unplug Meditation in LA, achieved in 2018 led by meditation master, stress expert and author Davidji. After that, Reinhart also won a scholarship place to attend the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SYLI). Having now guided thousands of people and taught thousands of hours, Reinhart is a big believer in continuous growth, self-improvement and really enjoying life, alongside formal education.
Reinhart in the Press
Reinhart has been featured in Thrive Global, the Londonist, A Way to Live Well Podcast, De-Stress Digital, South East 15, and other media outlets as well as being interviewed for the book “How Do You Meditate”. He has partnered with organisations like Google, Space NK, ClearScore, Tate, Elemis and many more to speak and lead training on mindfulness and employee wellbeing. Reinhart also brings his mindful listening skills to his conversations with world-changers in his How To Levitate podcast.