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Mindful Workshops

  • Mindful Workshops

Mindfulness of the Body Yoga and Meditation Class

Four Mondays - January 6, 13, 20, and 27 -
10-11:15am

Register Here

 

In one of the Buddha’s earliest teachings on the path for the realization of unbinding, he gives instructions on sustaining focus on the body, internally and externally. In Sanskrit, Yoga means to unite the body, mind and spirit through meditation and movement.

This class will bring together these practices through gentle, mindful movement to help unwind and unbind tension in the body, and will finish with meditation to allow space for relating to the breath, body,  thoughts and emotions.

The heart practices of loving kindness, compassion, joy and balanced states will be weaved into our time together.

  • Beginners and all levels are welcome!
  • Space is limited and registration is required.
  • Feel free to attend any or all four classes.
  • There is no fee for this class and dana will be accepted.
  • Bring a yoga mat and any props to support your practice. There are some blocks and cushions available at the center.
Mindfulness through movement is one of my life passions and when beginning yoga many years ago, I was instantly drawn to the connection to the moment through the breath and body. This is still true today and is what guides my meditation practice.

As we age and our bodies change, so do our limitations and abilities. I’ve had to adapt my practice over the years and as an instructor, do my best to offer gentle poses with options that are accessible to many. Releasing and manifesting energy is essential to our health and well-being as well as  checking in with how we’re feeling from the inside out.

Each class offers breathwork and a series of gentle poses to alleviate tightness in the shoulders, neck and hips, and increase muscular strength and overall flexibility. Guided movement along with invitations to feel into the moment through the breath and body help cultivate one’s awareness and bring it into every day life.

All levels are welcome! No prior experience is required.

Working with Difficult Emotions
Half Day Workshop

Crows End – 6430 Squire Court

Coming in 2025

While the holidays can be sprinkled with times of loving celebration, they can also intensify challenges in relationships. This can be a stressful time of year – the pace speeds up and much effort is spent on acquiring, consuming and preparing to be with family and friends. This intensity can heighten our emotional reactivity.

Taking the time to prepare our hearts can help us to embrace our experience, no matter how it is, and to also make space for joy and connection.

The importance of an open-hearted and kind approach to acknowledging and accepting all emotions, especially those that are unpleasant and challenging, has been emphasized by many well-respected mindfulness teachers including Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach, and John Makransky.

In this workshop we will begin with awareness practices to cultivate compassion and encourage our natural capacity to turn towards difficult emotions, which may not be our typical way of relating to them. With this foundation we will then engage in a gentle, curious inquiry of our somatic awareness rather than a journey into story. We will create space to nurture this embodied experience which is often a doorway to healing and liberation.

All are welcome – no previous meditation experience is necessary.