Mindfulness Classes

Join our midday meditation and take a pause from the busy-ness of the morning. You will receive the opportunity to restore while setting a calm and rested tone for the remainder of your day.

Each Instructor will bring her own unique guidance to the weekly sessions which will vary slightly and may include meditations ranging from mini body scans, brief, gentle movement in the chair, breath awareness meditation, loving kindness and simple stillness.

Can’t stay for the entire session? Drop in and out quietly (muted)  for any time you have available.

Weekly sessions will be led by: Susan Gaylord, Paula Huffman (Additional Instructors may be added at a later date)

*Ongoing Tuesday Event

This evidence based, educational program is modeled on the 8 week course as developed by Jon Kabat Zinn at the Center for Mindfulness of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Mindfulness is about waking up to our lives as we learn ways to pay attention on purpose, which provides the opportunity to step out of Auto Pilot and live life more fully.

As supported by clinical studies, participants who have completed these programs may report the following: 

• Cultivation of the ability to slow the ruminating mind that can result in catastrophic thinking often based on thoughts that are not facts.
• An enhanced ability to mitigate the effects of chronic pain.
• Greater energy and enthusiasm for life through awareness of present moment experiences.
• Improved self-esteem and overall personal growth.
• An ability to cope more effectively with both short and long-term stressful life events.
• Improved sleep.
• Management of mindless eating.
• Improved  methods of communication.

What to Expect:

• 8 Sessions, 2 hours each.
• A participatory experience that includes Instructor presentations, group discussions and introduction to and practice of Mindfulness meditations.
• Support through the provision of extensive course reading materials, guided meditation audio tracks, and on-line supplemental resources.
• Unlimited email access to the Instructor for questions and guidance.
• Participants are encouraged to practice home assignments for 30 minutes daily when possible.
• This challenging, life-affirming course requires a solid commitment for optimal benefit. Your instructor is committed to and skilled at creating a safe, supportive, and deeply engaging environment.

This event will provide students with a day of outdoor fun and creativity based on the tenets of mindfulness. Students will be introduced to short meditations and will be guided to use mindfulness techniques in their art practices throughout the day.

Students will embark on a Sense and Savor Walk where they will be encouraged to experience nature with a heightened sensory awareness. After gathering artifacts, the students will use these objects as inspiration for their art activities. Materials will be provided, though students may bring any supplies or tools they would like to use throughout the day.

Kate and Aviva will include a number of icebreakers and other non-threatening activities to help students interact and connect with each other. Having worked in middle school student services, they use their expertise to make the day a productive, engaging experience.

Connect with Nature on the beautiful grounds of New Hope Camp and Conference Center as you experience a day of rest and rejuvenation.For those new to the practices, this day of mindfulness will provide you with the opportunity to experience the basics of mindfulness meditation. Experienced meditators may use this day to deepen your practice or re-invigorate a “stagnant” one.

You will be supported and led throughout the day by an experienced facilitator of Mindfulness while being given a time for both solitude and socialization. There will also be time for sharing your experiences with others.

Practices included in our day:

• Body Scan Practice
• Seated Meditation
• Mindful Eating
• Gentle and Restorative Yoga
• Walking Meditation
• Mindful Communication

Sandra Jean Simmons, MD (retired)
Sandra was certified by the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mindfulness as a Qualified MBSR Teacher in 2018. She has worked with the UNC Department of Integrative Medicine as an Adjunct Instructor leading eight week MBSR programs, including programs for research studies, since 2005.