How To Meditate

DATE: Mondays starting 12th September
TIME: 7pm-8:30pm
LOCATION: In-person
LEVEL: Wellbeing Programme – Beginners
SUGGESTED DONATION: £6 per session

This six-week introduction to meditation is a great way to find out what meditation is all about. Each week we’ll explore a topic through practice, discussion and presentation. These sessions start from the very beginning – you don’t need to know anything about meditation already, or have done any before. We’ll take you through the basics, giving you the confidence to explore meditation in your own way.

Some of the benefits of meditation:
● Sharpens your attention and ability to concentrate
● Increased resilience over time to stressors
● Increases compassion and our compassion becomes more effective
● Improves overall mental health
● Has a positive impact on your relationships
● Can reduce forms of psychological bias
● A positive impact on physical health

These sessions will be in person only to allow everyone to feel comfortable sharing their meditation journey. Led by long-term meditators at Jamyang, Jay Simpson and Kerry Prest. You’ll get course materials as we go along if you want to practice at home or do more research. Plus we’ll have links to articles, videos and books to supplement the sessions. This will be a secular presentation of meditation. All levels are welcome. 

Please RSVP for the first session below. After that, you don’t need to register again and just attend what sessions you can.

PLEASE RSVP BELOW TO ATTEND THESE SESSIONS

Here’s an overview of the six weeks.

WEEK ONE: Introducing Meditation

1. What is meditation? Becoming familiar with our internal thoughts and
emotions.
2. The two types of meditation.
3. Why meditate? The benefits. The scientific evidence.

PRACTICE: breathing meditation

WEEK TWO: The Body in Meditation
1. The “Seven-point posture” for meditation
2. Conducive conditions for meditation

PRACTICE: breathing meditation & setting a motivation (analytical meditation)

WEEK THREE: The Mind in Meditation

1. Mindfulness and Introspection – the meditators tools
2. Emotional resilience: changing the balance with meditation

PRACTICE: breathing meditation & setting a motivation (analytical meditation), mind like the
sky

WEEK FOUR: Obstacles and Antidotes

1. Avoiding the extremes
2. Obstacles and their antidotes
3. Setting up a daily routine

PRACTICE: breathing meditation & setting a motivation (analytical meditation), negative
emotions as obstacles to meditation

WEEK FIVE: Objects and Mindfulness
1. Different objects for different benefits
2. Which meditation to choose?
3. Mindfulness in everyday life
4. Visualisation in meditation

PRACTICE: breathing meditation & setting a motivation (analytical meditation), equanimity

WEEK SIX: Conclusions

1. Summary of all the material so far
2. Remembering why we meditate
3. Suggested reading and next steps
4. Keeping a practice going, support from groups and retreats

PRACTICE: breathing meditation & setting a motivation (analytical meditation), compassion
& dedication

DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUTS FOR THIS CLASS HERE

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