UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

MEDITATION TUESDAYS
Beginning on Tuesday, March 1, we will learn and practice meditation on Tuesdays from 8:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. This 45-minute practice is offered at no additional cost. As with normal classes, please arrive on time and ready to begin at 8:15 sharp.

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is a contemplative practice, engaged in across various religious and spiritual traditions as a means of quieting, focussing and transforming the mind. Meditation cultivates self-awareness, and provides the optimum conditions for practicing the skill of mindfulness.

Generally, the goal of meditation is to intensify personal and spiritual growth, in addition to calming the mind and body. 

A common misconception of meditation is that its sole purpose is to empty the mind of thoughts. While some traditions such as Zen and Yoga do teach the no-mind state as an ultimate objective, it is widely acknowledged that the practice of meditation itself involves thoughts as the cornerstone. 

Each time the mind becomes distracted, the practitioner is encouraged to come back to an object of concentration, such as the breath, a sound, an image, or a philosophical or spiritual concept.

Benefits of Meditation

Meditation allows practitioners to observe patterns of the mind and to notice the interrupting thoughts, eventually leading to longer gaps between them over time. Regular practice enables deep concentration to occur naturally and more frequently. 

Training the mind in this way dramatically improves mental strength and focus. Additionally, a great deal of research has confirmed that physiological and psychological changes take place in the body during meditation. For example, Herbert Benson’s studies found that meditation counteracts the stress response, in turn improving any health conditions related to chronic stress.