A deadly pandemic… financial insecurity… isolation… family tensions… it’s no wonder many of us are feeling anxious, angry, agitated, or all of the above. It’s also understandable that we reach for external solutions and quick fixes – but sadly, these often bring no lasting relief and sometimes even leave us feeling worse than before.

Mindfulness promotes well-being from the inside out. Based in present-moment awareness, it empowers us to to fully feel our joys, soothe our pain, and ride the waves of change as they come. Neuroscientific studies found that just 8 weeks of mindfulness creates structural changes in the brain, shifting how it functions in significant and beneficial ways.

Over 40 years of research have shown mindfulness to be helpful to people struggling with depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, distraction, burnout, high sensitivity, and difficult life transitions. It has been used both as a stand-alone treatment for those who prefer a holistic, mind-body approach to emotional healing, and as a highly synergistic complement to more conventional forms of mental health treatment. Its contributions to reducing stress and enhancing well-being are beneficial for all populations.

This live course (held on Zoom) – offered on a fully sliding scale fee (pay whatever you can, or attend for free) – will provide practical support for developing a daily meditation practice that’s appropriate for you (or fine-tuning it, if you have one already); cultivating basic mindfulness skills; and applying those skills in meeting life’s challenges, to respond wisely instead of reacting impulsively.

Each class will include instruction, a guided practice exercise, and Q&A – all live and responsive to the challenges as well as possibilities inherent in living amid uncertain times.

The first four weeks will focus on building foundational skills that will serve you in any and every situation: finding your anchor to the present moment, establishing a regular practice, developing balanced awareness of thoughts & emotions, and calling upon self-compassion. In the second half, we’ll apply and deepen these skills in developing kindness and forgiveness toward ourselves and others, as well as clarity and creativity in our relationships with those closest to us, our co-workers, and our ever-changing world.

For ages 17 and up.

Guided and silent sitting meditation; indoor and outdoor walking meditation; mindful eating; practical teachings; small-group sharing.