About this course

Referred to as  The #1 Health-Booster in 2015 by Parade Magazine, meditation is making its presence known to even the most skeptical. Scientists, politicians, celebrities, and children, anyone with a consistent practice, are marveling at the benefits resulting from meditation. People now realize that this practice can be done without crossing any religious boundaries. 

Meditation is not for the stereotypical hippie, but is totally appropriate and worthwhile for the mainstream. It is a simple strategy that helps you learn to live in the moment. Over 30 years ago Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn brought mindfulness meditation to the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Since then, hospitals, corporations, the military, and the sports’ world have seen the benefits. Research shows that meditation improves focus and attention, cognitive flexibility, memory, and concentration. At the same time, there are decreases in anxiety and stress, even for individuals who have established patterns of recurring depression. It also helps develop greater empathy for self and others, and opens the doors to positively impact the growing numbers of people who feel alone, apart, and unimportant in their worlds.

The implications for how this can improve the realities of people in diverse areas are limitless: teachers, students, and parents; those living from paycheck to paycheck; those overwhelmed by what they feel is essential to their success. Does meditation take any of those issues away? Not at all. It just allows one to live in the now, rather than imagining extra situations or conversations to worry about.

In this class, participants will learn about the more recent history of what we call mindfulness meditation, the scientifically proven changes, and the practices of mindful listening and breathing, as well as basic brain science. All together, this course will enable you to start a practice that will change your life.