Bernadette's work is characterized by how she combines her ability to see auras with her knowledge in energy transformation and insight into psychodynamic and transformational processes. When asked about her work she says, "My life is a twenty-four hour commitment to this holistic and dynamic process;to people,to nature, to home, to animals. In my work with people I am dealing with the effects that life is imposing on us. Confronted with the effects of dualism and its paradoxes, illness and mental imbalance, I look for a natural design, deeper rest and inner peace. It is always found through the lightness of consciousness, naturalness, humor and compassion."

Bert studied clinical psychology in Amsterdam and is a trained psycho-therapist. He spent time at the Esalen Institute studying Gestalt practice with Dick Price and sensory awareness with Charlotte Selver.

When asked about his work Bert says, "In 1976 as a junior psychologist I participated in a program organized by Stan Grof on Buddhism where I met Trungpa Rinpoche, Jack Kornfield and Joseph Campbell. This decisively formed my interest in integrating Western psychology and Eastern approaches to the understanding of mind. Currently I am influenced by Dzogchen teachings as taught by Sogyal Rinpoche and the latest neuropsychological developments.

Bert Schmitz and Bernadette van Boxel's practice of bodymindfulness is based on the teachings of Bob Moore, with whom they studied for over 20 years. Bob's compassion and wisdom provided deep personal and high professional support and insight to their practice. Other teachers who have been of major inspiration to them are Krishnamurti and the Tibetan teacher Sogyal Rinpoche. Bert and Bernadette have both been trained in rolfing. They have a private practice in Grassina near Florence and in Zürich. They co-lead workshops and training programs in Italy, Switzerland, Holland and in the United States.