Exploring Meditation Together

Last year I sent out a survey to find out what held people back from meditation?

I don't know where to start

I think too much and I am always exhausted

I don't want to do it alone

I don't know what would help me

I feel like I need someone to sit with me to work through it all

I need a spelled out plan to follow to get started

It seems to woo woo for me

I don't know if I am doing it right

I hear you

When I learnt to meditate (some 20+ years ago) I devoured as many books as I could, and was lucky enough to regularly attend a local Buddhist centre. Over the years I have continued to attend classes, retreats and sit with different meditation teachers in different settings .. giving me a solid foundation of understanding, community and support, to continue my passion for sharing meditation.  

I believe that meditation is a life skill that everyone can learn.

The Exploring Meditation course is designed to share the many insights, wisdom and knowledge I have gained from my journey .. in a straightforward, secular and practical program!

Easy bite-size steps  

I focus on providing a solid foundation of knowledge around the how and the why of meditation, with an appreciation of the art and the science.  My aim is to share sound and practical advice on some of the challenges in starting and maintaining a regular meditation practice, and I provide weekly notes and resources to take home .. along with a dedicated weekly time and space for group meditation practice.  All the support, encouragement and motivation you need to get started.

So .. is it time you learnt to meditate?

If you are feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, finding stress to be a growing concern for you, wishing you had a little more time, clarity and spaciousness to enjoy life, or just interested in finding out more about this thing called 'meditation' then JOIN US.

Exploring Meditation - February
(6 weeks)
Time: Tuesday evenings 7-8.30pm
Venue: Brighton VIC

SUMMER

16 Feb - 22 Mar

SIGN UP HERE

Meditation for Beginners

For those new to meditation or those seeking to reconnect with their practice. 

The Exploring Meditation course runs over a period of six weeks (meeting once a week) which gives us time explore a range of different meditation techniques so that you have an opportunity to find the best practice for YOU!  Class notes and OM-work provided each week. 

Exploring Meditation 2016 Classes
(6 weeks)
Time: Tuesday evenings 7-8.30pm
Venue: Brighton VIC

SUMMER

16 Feb - 22 Mar

AUTUMN

26 Apr - 31 May

WINTER

2 Aug - 13 Sep

(no class 9 Aug)

SPRING

4 Oct - 15 Nov

(no class 1 Nov)

We believe that meditation is a life skill! 

Our Exploring Meditation course is designed to provide a straightforward, practical and non-religious approach to meditation. 

Meeting weekly gives us a chance to get ‘into the flow’ of meditation, and gain some insight into the benefits found in a regular meditation practice. 

What do we do? 
The program looks something like this (and may vary a little depending on the group and individual interests):

*Week 1: core meditation principles, the ‘how’ and ‘why’, stress and how to circuit-break the habit and an introduction to Mindfulness of Body practices.

*Week 2: the impact of stress, introduction to short Meditative Exercises and longer techniques (both invaluable), Mindfulness of Breath Meditation. 

*Week 3: the brain, the process of meditation, Mantra Meditation, obstacles and antidotes, measuring your progress.

*Week 4: Silent practices, time for our personal practice and a review of common challenges, a look at the Meditation Map and time for Q&A

*Week 5: Mindfulness Meditation, how to include mindfulness practices in daily life.  A look at mindfulness of eating, listening and movement practices.

*Week 6: Resources for ongoing nourishment of your practice (what's next?), building a longer meditation practice, Silent Meditation and the art of 'non-doing'

Our aim? 

We aim to provide you with all that your need to meditate. Anytime. Anywhere. 

Each weekly class is designed to build on your understanding of meditation, and provide time and focus for group meditation practice. There is a period of instruction, discussion and PRACTICE. 

We also provide a weekly handouts so that you can build a meditation workbook, a resource that you can continue to dip into as your practice develops; and share insights, tips and tools that we hope might support your ongoing interest and engagement with your own personal meditation practice.

Class Structure 

We limit our classes to ten participants which allows for a nice mix of 'group' and personal attention. Our venues are chosen for comfort, ambiance and ease of access and our classes are conducted sitting in a chair or using a cushion on the floor - we often have the ability to provide both options for you to try over the duration of the course. 

If you have a mat/meditation cushion or stool then we would encourage you to bring that along; perhaps also a bottle of water and dress comfortably (and warmly as the body cools when deeply relaxed). 

Next: Exploring Meditation

SUMMER

16 Feb - 22 Mar

Venue: Total Reformation Health and Wellbeing
 (Brighton, VIC)
Time: 7-8.30pm
Cost: $175

Got a question? 

We are right here. Email sarah@quietmind.com.au if you have any questions. 

You might also have a look around our website where you can find a wealth of information and resources. 

JUMP IN .. meditation is a LIFE TOOL and we believe that everyone can learn to meditate. 

We look forward to meeting you.

Nose or mouth?

Last night in our third Exploring Meditation class, I was asked whether, in meditation, it was best to breathe through the nose or a combination of nose (inhalation) and mouth (exhalation).  

This morning I was reading How God Changes Your Brain and was astounded to find just the perfect answer to this question (similar to what I shared last night, but backed by research).

From How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist by Andrew Newberg M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman (Chapter 9: Finding Serenity):

"In general, when meditating, we recommend that you breathe through your nose.  Why?  It turns out that nasal breathing increases the release of nitric oxide in the body, and this improves the functioning of your lungs and circulatory system.  Increased nitric oxide may also assist in the lowering of anxiety, especially in socially intense situations.  Nasal breathing, like yawning, also serves to keep the internal temperature of the brain in balance".

Cited research:

Decreased pulmonary vascular resistance during nasal breathing

Depression and cardiovascular disease: role of nitric oxide

Yawning as a brain cooling mechanism

Learn to Meditate

A little while ago, I sent out a survey to find out what held people back from meditation?

I don't know where to start

I think too much and I am always exhausted

I don't want to do it alone

I don't know what would help me

I feel like I need someone to sit with me to work through it all

I need a spelled out plan to follow to get started

It seems to woowoo for me

I don't know if I am doing it right

I hear you.

When I learnt to meditate (some 20+ years ago) I devoured as many books as I could, and was lucky enough to regularly attend a local buddhist centre.  Over the years I have continued to attend classes, retreats and different meditation teachers and settings .. giving me a solid foundation of understanding, community and support, to continue my passion for sharing meditation.  

I believe that meditation is a life skill that everyone can learn.

The Exploring Meditation course is designed to share the many insights, wisdoms and knowledge I have gained from my journey .. in a straightforward, secular and practical way!

Easy bite-size steps  

I focus on providing a solid foundation of knowledge around the how and the why of meditation, with an appreciation of the art and the science.  My aim is to share sound and practical advice on some of the challenges in starting and maintaining a regular meditation practice, and I provide weekly notes and resources to take home .. along with a dedicated weekly time and space for group meditation practice.  All the support, encouragement and motivation you need to get started.

So .. is it time you learnt to meditate?

Symbolically and energetically Winter is a time of year when we naturally embrace and welcome a slower rhythm of life.   As the days become darker, longer and cooler.. we are drawn to a deeper stillness, inner awareness and reflection.  This can be a wonderful month to begin your meditation journey.

So .. if you are feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, finding stress to be a growing concern for you, wishing you had a little more time, clarity and spaciousness to enjoy life, or just interested in finding out more about this thing called 'meditation' then JOIN US.

Places are now open for our Exploring Meditation JUNE course:

Tuesday's 7.00-8.30pm

2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd JUNE

Brighton venue

Course $150

PLUS its my Birthday month .. so I am going to gift my guided meditation CD Find The Stillness with everyone in the JUNE classes.

*This will be our last course until late Spring .. so jump in and I look forward to meeting you.  If you have any questions please make contact here.
Sarah Quiet Mind Meditation

Excited to get started

Wonderful Sunday morning news .. our March 'Exploring Meditation' course in Brighton is now fully booked! 

I am so excited to start the meditation journey with this new group of eager participants .. and eternally grateful to have the opportunity to share my passion for meditation with the world. 

I am going to share some of the insights and experiences of participants during the course, and you can follow this here on the blog each week. 

And .. if you would like to go on the list for early notification of our next course (May/June) or eCourse (May) then email us at info@quietmind.com.au

New Meditation Classes

Over the summer break, moving between home and the beach (most days) I noticed this amazing new studio in a local street .. in fact I couldn’t miss the dramatic black and red brick exterior, smoky glass doors and palms. 

I immediately went and checked out their website .. and in recent weeks have been thrilled to meet both Darren and Teisha, two totally passionate health professionals that aim to educate and support their clients through the ‘holistic’ journey of Total Reformation ..

from the inside, out

There are so many synergies about what we do .. working from the inside, out which is what meditation is all about ,so I am super excited to share that we are holding two meditation events at this fantastic space:

Total Reformation Health & Wellbeing

212 Bay St Brighton (entry via Outer Crescent)

www.totalreformation.com

Fitness and well-being is all about building a strong body and a strong mind. Using strength and cardio training, and a focus on nutritional needs, we build our bodies and improve our fitness .. with awareness and meditation we provide weight training for the mind, making our brain more efficient and effective in tolerating and managing stress, improving focus and awareness, and developing a greater resilience to the constant changes and challenges that naturally occur in life.

So, I am super excited to introduce two new classes (booking essential):

A Taste of Meditation
Saturday 21st February
10.30-11.30am 
Cost: $40

A workshop designed to give you a taste of meditation, providing a clear, straightforward and practical understanding of what meditation is, and isn’t, and a review of the ‘how’ and the ‘why’. 

We introduction the power of Meditative Exercises .. brief and immediately beneficial exercises that come from traditional meditation practices but are also grounded in basic human physiology, activating the calming nervous pathways of the parasympathetic system to reduce stress and initiate the relaxation response. These exercises may take only a few minutes but are excellent circuit-breakers to rising stress, can bring an almost immediate sense of ease and calmness, and are an excellent starting point for building a regular meditation practice.  We shall also explore a longer more traditional guided meditation practices that focuses on a deeper sense of inner stillness based on Mindfulness of Breath and Body Awareness.

Exploring Meditation
(4 week course)
Tuesday 3rd to 24th March
6.30-8.00pm
Cost: $150

A four week course ideal for those new to meditation or those seeking to reconnect with their practice. We review some of the key principles of most meditation practices, introduce Meditative Exercises for daily stress relief, identify the key benefits and challenges in starting a regular meditation practice and explore of a range of different techniques so that everyone finds a practice that best suits them.  Research clearly shows that when you select a meditation practice that YOU are most comfortable with, you are likely to increase your chance of sticking with it!

Meeting weekly gives us a chance to get into the flow of meditation, and gain some insight into the benefits found in a regular practice. Each weekly class is designed to build on our understanding of meditation with time for instruction, discussion and PRACTICE with notes provided each week:

Week 1: core meditation principles, the ‘how’ and ‘why’, stress and how to circuit-break the habit and an introduction to Mindfulness of Body meditation
Week 2:  introduction to short Meditative Exercises and longer techniques (both invaluable) and Mindfulness of Breath meditation
Week 3: the brain ‘on meditation’, Mantra meditation, measuring your progress through biofeedback
Week 4: Mindfulness and how to build a daily mindfulness practice, listening/ eating and movement practices, resources for ongoing nourishment of your practice (what's nex) and the art of 'non-doing'.

Exploring Meditation 2016

For those new to meditation or those seeking to reconnect with their practice. 

The Exploring Meditation course runs over a period of six weeks (meeting once a week) which gives us time explore a range of different meditation techniques so that you have an opportunity to find the best practice for YOU!  Class notes and OM-work provided each week. 

Exploring Meditation 2016 Classes
(6 weeks)
Time: Tuesday evenings 7-8.30pm
Venue: Brighton VIC

SUMMER

16 Feb - 22 Mar

AUTUMN

26 Apr - 31 May

WINTER

2 Aug - 13 Sep

(no class 9 Aug)

SPRING

4 Oct - 15 Nov

(no class 1 Nov)

We believe that meditation is a life skill! 

Our Exploring Meditation course is designed to provide a straightforward, practical and non-religious approach to meditation. 

Meeting weekly gives us a chance to get ‘into the flow’ of meditation, and gain some insight into the benefits found in a regular meditation practice. 

What do we do? 
The program looks something like this (and may vary a little depending on the group and individual interests):

*Week 1: core meditation principles, the ‘how’ and ‘why’, stress and how to circuit-break the habit and an introduction to Mindfulness of Body practices.

*Week 2: the impact of stress, introduction to short Meditative Exercises and longer techniques (both invaluable), Mindfulness of Breath Meditation. 

*Week 3: the brain, the process of meditation, Mantra Meditation, obstacles and antidotes, measuring your progress.

*Week 4: Silent practices, time for our personal practice and a review of common challenges, a look at the Meditation Map and time for Q&A

*Week 5: Mindfulness Meditation, how to include mindfulness practices in daily life.  A look at mindfulness of eating, listening and movement practices.

*Week 6: Resources for ongoing nourishment of your practice (what's next?), building a longer meditation practice, Silent Meditation and the art of 'non-doing'

Our aim? 

We aim to provide you with all that your need to meditate. Anytime. Anywhere. 

Each weekly class is designed to build on your understanding of meditation, and provide time and focus for group meditation practice. There is a period of instruction, discussion and PRACTICE. 

We also provide a weekly handouts so that you can build a meditation workbook, a resource that you can continue to dip into as your practice develops; and share insights, tips and tools that we hope might support your ongoing interest and engagement with your own personal meditation practice.

Class Structure 

We limit our classes to ten participants which allows for a nice mix of 'group' and personal attention. Our venues are chosen for comfort, ambiance and ease of access and our classes are conducted sitting in a chair or using a cushion on the floor - we often have the ability to provide both options for you to try over the duration of the course. 

If you have a mat/meditation cushion or stool then we would encourage you to bring that along; perhaps also a bottle of water and dress comfortably (and warmly as the body cools when deeply relaxed). 

Next: Exploring Meditation

SUMMER

16 Feb - 22 Mar

Venue: Total Reformation Health and Wellbeing
 (Brighton, VIC)
Time: 7-8.30pm
Cost: $175

Got a question? 

We are right here. Email sarah@quietmind.com.au if you have any questions. 

You might also have a look around our website where you can find a wealth of information and resources. 

JUMP IN .. meditation is a LIFE TOOL and we believe that everyone can learn to meditate. 

We look forward to meeting you.

Learning to meditate

Burning Incense by kevinpoh on Flickr 

I am often heard saying ‘there are many roads up the mountain’ and part of our life journey is to find and travel our own unique road.  

Same with meditation.

Early Bird Meditation

I am shocked to admit that I found some time over the weekend to start planning our 2014 classes.  Admittedly it was a beautiful sunny day and I was outside enjoying the weather .. and I had started with penciling in some holidays (including BIG ones) and family commitments .. which just led me to reflect on when I might start our next classes.  

I have found over the years that the New Year sparks a HUGE interest in learning how to meditate.  I think after the frantic Christmas period when we finally have a moment to breathe .. we naturally reflect on our dreams and intentions for the coming year.

I too love the crisp, clear starting point of a new year.

So (yeah!) we are offering an Early Bird Special for bookings made before Christmas .. what a lovely gift .. 

'the gift of peace'

EXPLORING MEDITATION

(6week Beginners course) 

A 6-week course ideal course for those new to meditation or those seeking to reconnect with their practice.  Over six weeks we explore a range of different meditation techniques so that you have an opportunity to find the best practice for YOU!  Class notes and OM-work provided each week.   READ HERE about the course content and what you can expect.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL $150
(usually $175) 
BOOKINGS BEFORE 24th DECEMBER 2013

Brighton Yoga School : Monday nights 6.30-8pm
3rd February - 10th March 2014

EmPowerMe (Black Rock) : Wednesday nights 6.30-8pm
5th February - 12th March 2014

Exploring Meditation 6-week Course

We believe that meditation is a life skill!

Our Exploring Meditation course runs for six weeks and is designed to provide a  straightforward, practical and non-religious approach to meditation. 

Six weeks gives us a chance to get ‘into the flow’ of meditation, and gain some insight into the benefits found in a regular meditation practice.

What do we do?

The six week program looks something like this (and may vary a little depending on the group and individual interests):

* Week 1 : core meditation principals, the ‘how’ and ‘why’, Body Awareness

* Week 2 : the impact of stress, introduction to short Meditative Exercises & longer techniques (both invaluable), Breath Awareness

 

* Week 3 : the brain, the process of meditation, Mantra and Affirmation practices

 

* Week 4 : obstacles and antidotes, measuring your progress, Mindfulness practices both on the cushion and in daily life 

* Week 5 : settling into your own daily meditation practice, resources, Stillness 

 

* Week 6 : going it alone, meditation resources, and more practice!

Our aim?

We aim to provide you with all that your need to meditate.  Anytime.  Anywhere.

Each weeks class is designed to build on your understanding of meditation, and provide time and focus for group meditation practice.  There is a period of instruction, discussion and PRACTICE.

We also provide a weekly handouts so that you can build a meditation workbook, a resource that you can continue to dip into as your practice develops.

We also share insights, tips and tools that we hope might support your ongoing interest and engagement with your own personal meditation practice.

Class Structure

We limit our classes to ten participants which allows for a nice mix of 'group' and personal attention.

Our venues are chosen for comfort, ambiance and ease of access.  

Our classes can be conducted sitting in a chair or using a cushion on the floor - we often have the ability to provide both options for you to try over the duration of the course.  If you have a mat/meditation cushion or stool then we would encourage you to bring that along.  There are other requirements other than perhaps to bring a bottle of water and to dress comfortably (and warmly as the body cools when deeply relaxed).

Got a question?

We are right here .. email or call if you have any questions.

You might also have a look around our website where you can find a wealth of information and resources.

JUMP IN .. meditation is a LIFE TOOL and we believe that everyone can learn to meditate.

We look forward to meeting you.