Meditation and Mindfulness: A 6-Week Course For Women
Meditation & Mindfulness:
A 6-Week Online Course For Women
This course will be offered again Spring 2022* (March-April - exact dates tbd)
"Cindy’s meditation course was absolutely awesome! Everything about it was valuable - the book we used, the gathering of women, Cindy’s teachings, the inspiring quotes, and the lifetime meditation experiences. Through the course, I gained greater compassion for myself and others and found more joy in my life.
~ Elizabeth G., University Administrator
*A current 6-week class entitled Mindfulness Meditation: A Pathway to True Freedom & Happiness is being offered starting Aug. 16 through Sept. 20. This course is open to both men and women. Click here for more info.
Are you seeking greater peace? Deeper happiness? Less stress? More acceptance and compassion - of yourself and/or others? Improved relationships?
These things are always desirable. But today - as we face the concurrent challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, economic strife, and racial justice reckoning - finding inner balance and peace has never been more important.
Mindfulness meditation can bring you all these things—and more.
This series of classes has been carefully designed to help you develop and/or deepen your familiarity with personal meditation and mindfulness practices. Whether you are a brand new beginner, want to deepen an already established practice, or simply want to connect with other women as part of your practice, this class will offer you the support and guidance you need to find greater clarity, ease and lovingkindness in your life.
Registration for this class is currently closed. Please check back mid February for the next schedule class dates.
If you would like to be added to the priority contact list for future sessions, please contact me. It is also advisable to sign up for my newsletter (scroll to bottom of page) so that you will get notifications regarding this as well as other opportunities.
Photo by Jane Bodle (Borobudur, Java)
Course DESCRIPTION:
Meditation is the practice of learning how to be present. When we learn to do so, we can then respond in wiser, more peaceful ways to life’s challenges—and more deeply embrace its joys as well.
In this workaday and fast-paced world with a constant stream of information and news coming our way, it is easy for us to become distracted, anxious, and/or disconnected from ourselves, others and our purpose in the world.
Couple that with the very real economic, social and health challenges we are all facing - together and individually - and one realizes the absolutely critical need to find ways to foster inner wellbeing and balance.
Regular meditation practice teaches us to see things more clearly, freeing us from our usual patterns and habits. It helps us to respond—instead of react—to life and its challenges. And to do so in a way that is loving, kind, and compassionate—towards ourselves and others.
But it takes practice! Learning to meditate and/or deepening our practice in a supportive group environment with an experienced teacher can make all the difference.
During this six-week course, we will focus on learning to find an anchor for our practice (usually the breath); techniques for stabilizing the mind; becoming aware of and working with - not against - the body, feelings, emotions, and thoughts in a compassionate, wise manner; and offering ourselves and others lovingkindness.
Assisting you with establishing a regular practice that works for you will be a primary goal.
Course fee: $155-$195 (sliding scale)
The regular fee for this course is $195. If you are able to pay that rate, it is greatly appreciated. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic hardship for many, however, I am offering this course on a sliding scale. I appreciate you paying at the highest rate that also meets your current financial circumstances. Your support is deeply appreciated and allows me to continue offering my services to all who may benefit. Thank you!
If there are special circumstances that make this course cost-prohibitive to you even with the sliding scale, please contact me.
Includes:
6 1½-hour group class sessions (9 total contact hours)
Weekly assignments to enhance your experience and understanding
Access to closed Facebook group for continued conversation and sharing of experiences between classes (If a significant number of participants do not use FB, or if the majority prefer, other alternatives may be explored.)
Individual email replies to questions between sessions, as time allows
Support of text Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation, by Sharon Salzberg. It is strongly encouraged - but not required - to purchase this book ahead of the course start date. You will not be sorry! It is a wonderful text and will give you a rich layer of context and ongoing support throughout the course and beyond.
The course will be held ONLINE via Zoom.
FAQ
What if I have no meditation experience?
No prior meditation experience is necessary. If you are a brand new beginner, this course will introduce you to a variety of meditation practices. If you have experience with meditation, this course will undoubtedly introduce you to new ideas, provide you support for your practice, answer questions you may have, and offer a community with which to practice.
What if I can't make all 6 sessions?
It is best, of course, to attend all sessions, if possible. However, I fully understand that sometimes a class must be missed due to prior commitments, illness or emergencies. In the event that you need to miss a class, I will send a follow-up note with a synopsis of what was covered, as well as the homework for the week. It is also highly advised to purchase Sharon Salzberg's wonderful book, "Real Happiness" as an additional support and guide.
What type of meditation do you teach?
The tradition I practice is insight meditation. You may also have heard this called mindfulness, awareness, or vipassana meditation. It is the practice of being present for what is occuring in our lives. While there are many different meditation traditions, I have found insight meditation to be the one that is most accessible—and most practical—in terms of truly making a difference in our daily lives.
What payment methods do you accept?
There are a variety of payment options. You may pay with a credit card, via PayPal, which also allows for direct bank payments, or you may pay via check.
Whichever payment method you choose, please note that registration is not final and your space is not secure until payment has been received.
If you are interested in setting up a PayPal account, it is easy and free. All you need to set up an account is an email address and a credit card. Click here for instructions: How to Set Up Your PayPal Account.
What if I have to cancel?
In the event of a cancellation, the refund policy is as follows:
- A full refund (minus an administration fee of $35) will be issued for cancellations made up to 30 days prior to the program start date.
- A 50% refund (minus an administration fee of $35) will be issued for cancellations made 30 days to two weeks prior to the event start date.
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations made less than two weeks prior to the event start date.
What if I still have more questions?
If you still have questions, feel free to reach out! You can email me at cindy@cindynovelo.com or text or call me at 785-331-7123.
I am so looking forward to this journey together!
Wishing you peace, light and happiness—today and every day,
Cindy