Meditation
1) Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction brings together mindfulness meditation and yoga. Although MBSR is a training with potential benefits for all types of participants, historically, students have suffered from a wide range of chronic disorders and diseases. MBSR is an 8-week intensive training in mindfulness meditation, based on ancient healing practices, which meets on a weekly basis. Mindfulness practice is ideal for cultivating greater awareness of the unity of mind and body, as well as of the ways the unconscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can undermine emotional, physical, and spiritual health. The mind is known to be a factor in stress and stress-related disorders, and meditation has been shown to positively effect a range of autonomic physiological processes, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing overall arousal and emotional reactivity. In addition to mindfulness practices, MBSR uses martial arts to help reverse the prevalence of disuse atrophy from our cultures largely sedentary lifestyle, especially for those with pain and chronic illnesses. The program brings meditation and yoga together so that the virtues of both can be experienced simultaneously
About the Instructor
Jon Aaron has been practicing various forms of meditation for many years, but began seriously studying mindfulness meditation in 1998. Jon has studied mindfulness with a variety of teachers, namely Matthew Flickstein and other teachers affiliated to the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts. He trained in teaching MBSR at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, MA. in 2007 and 2008. He continues to refine his skills through supervision with a senior MBSR teacher from the Center. He has also completed Teaching as a Form of Practice retreats with Matthew Flickstein and the Integrated Study and Practice Program at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Jon is currently training as a contemplative caregiver with the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and the Beth Israel Hospital, and he continues to be involved with the New York Insight Meditation Center as an associate teacher.
2) Vedic Meditation
VEDIC MEDITATION is known to be one of the easiest and most natural methods of releasing stress and experiencing deeper states of awareness. You learn Vedic Meditation on-site with a qualified teacher and you become self-sufficient in the technique after only six hours of instruction. You will learn to meditate effectively in almost any setting using any comfortable seat you can find. With consistent practice, you will have an easier time sourcing inner peace and calmness in the face of lifes challenges, pressures and demands. No prior experience or knowledge is necessary to master this technique within four sessions. To begin learning, you must first attend an Intro Session. The purpose of this session is to meet the teacher and learn about the technique and course of instruction. The course usually begins the following day for those wanting to learn right away. Intro Sessions are free of cost and obligation.
About the Instructor
Light Watkins is a teacher of Vedic Meditation. He has taught hundreds of people around the world to meditate since completing his Vedic Meditation instructor training in 2007. Prior to teaching meditation, Light was one of LAs most popular yoga instructors, a successful board game inventor, and a top fashion model. Aside from teaching Beginner Meditation Courses, Light is a contributing writer for alternative health journals and he regularly travels throughout the U.S. giving lectures on how to find happiness and live stress-free in todays modern world. When not teaching, you can find Light playing board games, or exercising on the beach near his home in Venice, CA.
Please speak with a member of the staff to determine which program is best for you.