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Mindfulness
Two Ongoing Mindfulness Programs with Sharon Allen:
Meditation for Daily Life
Wednesday evenings: 7:00-8:00 PM
Being present in the moment with what we are experiencing without resistance or clinging is a skill we can develop through meditation. That skill gives us a stable framework from which to meet our lives with greater mental and physical calm and balance. Meditation methods will be presented and practiced such as being with the breath, working with body sensations, including pain, emotions, and thoughts.
Prior meditation experience is not required. Two meditation sittings will be given with a short break in the middle. People can come for one sitting or do both to deepen their practice. There will be time for comments and questions. A regular meditation practice is a way to bring balance to busy lives and provide a refreshing break in the day and week.
Suggested donation: $5, no one turned away due to lack of funds
Mindfulness Meditation for Wellness and Stress Reduction
Once-a-month on Sundays:
Mindfulness Meditation is a practical tool to help us respond rather than react to our day-to-day circumstances. The essence of Mindfulness Meditation practice is to live more fully in the moment with awareness of the flow of the breath, body sensations, emotional feeling tones, and thoughts. Recognizing the relationship between the mind and body is vital to our health and well-being. Research shows that being able to settle the body and mind on a regular basis improves the immune system, normalizes blood pressure, sleep patterns, and helps us deal with pain and anxiety more skillfully.
Each month a different aspect of Mindfulness Meditation practice will be presented. Some of the practice themes include: Mindfulness and the breath, Body awareness, The thinking mind, The motion apparent in emotions, Working with pain, Mindfulness walking, and Loving Kindness.
Suggested donation: $15
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. See Sharon’s website, Be Mindful Now.
