Saturday, February 5th + Sunday, February 6th
Saturday, February 12th + Sunday, February 13th
9:00am - 12:00pm each day (eastern time)

Overview:

In this training and immersion, Cyndi will teach mindfulness meditation as the foundation for cultivating self-knowledge and confidence in our own goodness, insight and compassion.

Buddhist teachings say that the ground of our being is unconditional wisdom and compassion. But we don’t always recognize this in ourselves or others, because of obstacles such as mental discursiveness, grumpy inner critic, fear, discouragement, or lack of focus.

Shamatha, the Sanskrit word for mindfulness meditation, has been taught for over 2,500 years and offers a simple, yet profound technique for helping us focus and relax at the same time, so that we can allow our true nature to flower.

The fruit of this practice is the ability to connect to our inherent strength, stability and clarity and these are the tools that we use when teaching meditation to others.

This training and immersion includes instruction in vipassana or awareness meditation, and contemplative maitri or lovingkindness meditation. Each day will include walking meditation as a bridge practice between formal sitting meditation and the more interactive experience of our daily life. Peppered throughout the seated work, Cyndi will offer simple stretching and restorative yoga poses supported with bolsters, to help our bodies stay pliant and reawaken stagnant physical energy.

For people interested in learning to teach meditation, Cyndi will give lessons in how to give meditation instruction to a group, how to structure and deliver a pithy 5-minute dharma talk, how to field questions and lead group discussions. Students will practice teaching to the group and receive constructive feedback from Cyndi.

Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training and Immersion is open to people who have never meditated before; meditators who would like to deepen and refresh their practice; people who want to offer meditation instruction in a group setting such as a yoga class, school group, or therapy session. It is recommended for yoga students, yoga teachers, social workers, therapists, school teachers, leaders in any field, etc. Meditation instruction and practice is a beneficial addition to all other modalities, including one's every day life and relationships.

Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training and Immersion includes both Practice and Study:

Practice:

• clear meditation instruction and daily practice

• sitting posture work

• simple stretching and some restorative yoga

• specific instruction in how to teach meditation

• a 3-fold structure for creating meditation talks for a group

• teaching practice in front of the group, with feedback from Cyndi

• shamatha, vipassana, maitri and walking meditation instruction and practice

• how to develop a healthy meditation practice

Study:

• overview of the stages on the Buddhist path

• understanding the Four Noble Truths and how that relates to all of us now

• purpose and benefits of meditation

• journaling homework

• small study group assignments

• reading assignments