A Half Day Mindfulness Meditation Retreat
with Sharon Allen
Sunday, April 1, 2012
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Discount Pre-registration Drop-ins welcome. No one turned away due to lack of funds. For more information: Registration & Check-in
Fulfilling family and work obligations, maintaining a busy schedule, always on the go – these are the trends for many people in today’s western society. When does the mind get a break from planning, worrying, solving problems, accomplishing goals and deadlines, rushing to the next activity?
It’s up to us individually to have a time and place that provides respite for the mind that becomes weary with always doing, and the body that is often sleep deprived and exhausted. Having a regular time for being with ourselves quietly, reconnecting with how the body feels, giving the body and mind wholesome attention of mindful awareness and equanimity is restorative. To maintain optimal health, we must develop a healthy, balanced baseline of activity and quiet time that is free of stressful circumstances. This half day mindfulness meditation retreat provides such an opportunity.
The practices will include mindfulness of sitting with the breath and body, gently calming thoughts, walking meditation, tai chi or qi gong, a mindful eating practice at break, and appropriate teachings to support our intention to be aware, patient, and kind with ourselves. The retreat time will be in silence for participants. Please join us for this spring renewal and respite for your weary mind. Appropriate for all levels of meditation practice.
Participants are encouraged to attend the full retreat. However, partial attendance is possible from 9:30-11:30, or 11:30-1:30. Please bring a small snack to share at break time. Tea is provided.
Sharon Allen is a long time practitioner and teacher of mindfulness meditation and movement. She is a Health Educator, Stress Reduction Specialist and has taught classes at Stanford University , Kaiser, the YMCA, corporations, senior living centers, and many community centers. Sharon has a degree in Human Development, is Certified in Transpersonal Studies from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology , and trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, which she taught at Kaiser for fourteen years. Sharon leads several meditation groups that explore spiritual growth through meditation and inquiry. Sharon encourages the practical applications of mindfulness in dealing with life’s ever-changing events.
Suggested donation: $25. Your practice of generosity supports the teachers and this center and enables the teachings to continue.
See Sharon’s website: Be Mindful Now.
