Monday December 17 * 7pm * $5

With the holiday season in full swing, we may find ourselves navigating a complicated maze of stress, emotions, and memories. So it's the perfect time of the year to take our seat in calmness and stillness, and practice mindfulness meditation.

If you're new to mindfulness meditation, fear not! It is an ancient practice (roughly 2,600 years old!) of gently paying attention to the present moment, without judgement. Lately, more and more of us in the West have been learning and disseminating it as a tool for reducing stress. It is definitely useful for that. But it is also about cultivating our innate qualities of concentration, kindness, resilience, and compassion.

Class format: The class will last an hour and will include an introduction and some instruction, followed by a guided, seated meditation for 20-30 minutes. We'll then wrap up with a debrief/discussion.

No prior meditation experience is necessary. Bring a pillow or cushion to sit on the floor. Or you can sit in a chair.

About the teacher: Eliza Barclay has trained in the Buddhist tradition of vipassana/insight meditation, and will be offering a secular class, open to all. She is currently a teacher-in-training with the Engaged Mindfulness Institute. She also works as a science and health journalist in Washington, DC.

Suggested donation: $5 for the use of the space