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Meditation
Master the power of being mindful
About Meditation
So, what is meditation?
Often when meditation comes up in conversation for me, the response is “Oh, I wouldn’t be able to meditate! It’s too hard. I’ve tried it before.I just can’t do it!”
I think it helps to approach it in a wholistic health way and look at ourselves in the aspect of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
We are more than just a physical body and a brain (see previous pages on website for explanation).
It helps to realise the effect our thoughts, attitudes, feelings and emotions can have upon our physical body's health.
Our mind and body are at one!
This state of balance and equilibrium is the essence of mind-body medicine and meditation is interwoven into this union to connect the two… with a sense of ease and inner peace!
There are many types of meditation which have arisen from the many cultures of the world we share. So it can become overwhelming and even a little confusing.
What I will be focussing on is what has worked for me personally.
My Personal Experience
Since delving into the realm of meditation following my father’s death in the 1980’s I have found a chain of events has gradually unfolded and presented opportunities throughout my life. Meditation has helped me to get to know myself better and understand myself. My thought processes, why I react in a certain way and what I can do to regulate my own emotions to help me be responsible for my own self-regulation.
To save my energy and ‘bounce back’ with self-awareness and lovingkindness.
I looked at and explored many types of meditation in the 80’s and 90’s including Mindfulness meditation, Loving-kindness meditation, Yoga meditation, Trataka/ Candle-gazing, Chakra meditation and Mantra meditation, Guided Imagery meditation. All of which have a common goal to reach outcomes to promote a sense of inner balance and equilibrium of mind and body.
I found what worked best for me was the approach of progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness and guided imagery. I used these techniques during times of study, pregnancy and childbirth and taught them to my children from a young age. My Uncle Burnie learnt meditative practice from Dr Ainslie Mears and Dr Ian Gawler and passed on the techniques to me.
Since retiring from my nursing career in 2020, opportunity arose to formally learn these practices from Dr Ian Gawler and his wife Ruth and obtain qualification as a Meditation Teacher and become a full member Meditation Teacher with Meditation Australia. I am delighted to now be able to offer the following accredited 8 week meditation courses.
What's on Offer
● “Master Your Mind” Part 1- Mindfulness Meditation.
● “Master Your Mind’ Part 2- Contemplative Meditation.
● ‘Master Your Mind’ Part 3- Guided Imagery Meditation.
These three types of meditation are unique in their own ways but also compliment one another.
Each is an eight-week course.
Two hours per week (with a 20 minute break).
Cost: $30 per session
(Early bird full payment $200)
At the completion of the course there will be an ongoing weekly meditation group available to provide opportunity to maintain and develop our meditation practice.
Two hours duration.
Cost: $10 per session.
“Master Your Mind” Part 1- Mindfulness Meditation:
Overview:
● What Meditation really is.
● The basics of posture and physical relaxation.
● 3 sessions establishing mental stability.
● 3 sessions establishing mental clarity.
Aims:
● To impart knowledge about meditation.
● To form positive attitudes.
● To cultivate, support and build a sense of community amongst the participants.
● To provide opportunity for active participation while learning and practising new skills and behaviours.
Attention is paid to the theoretical basis of meditation.
Allowing plenty of time to practise techniques and discussions.
Questions are encouraged in each session.
The program is complementary to any mainstream medical treatment.
Module 1: Introduction to Meditation.
The goals, key techniques & strategies. Preparatory techniques. The Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise (PMR).
Module 2: Calming the body- Physical relaxation.
Posture. How to relax deeply and quickly.
Module 3: Calming the Mind.
The role of concentration. How to let go of stress, tension & anxiety. And allow the mind to settle.
Module 4: Mindfulness- is a very special kind of concentration.
How to practice its two versions.
How mindfulness benefits daily life.
Module 5: Awareness- the heart of meditation.
Stillness is a place of inner refuge and clarity.
How connecting with this inner essence brings peace, confidence and capacity.
Module 6: Stillness.
Seeing the difference between mindfulness and awareness and why it matters for both our practice and our lives.
Module 7: Meditation- Stillness & Insight.
Everything is in a constant state of flux, and yet we often try to live as if this is not the case.
The freedom that comes from accepting change.
Module 8: Meditation in Daily Life & Finale.
Many suffer from loneliness.
May feel & act as if isolated & separate. And yet we are all connected, and highly inter-dependent.
The joy is really knowing this and living in accord with it.
“Master Your Mind” Part 2- Contemplative Meditation:
Overview:
● What is Contemplation and where does it sit within the other domains of meditation in this series of teaching (Mindfulness Meditation, and Guided Imagery)?
● A method that begins utilizing the Active Mind and has the possibility of bridging to the Still Mind.
● 3 sessions exploring in detail the theory, techniques and finder points arising in contemplation.
● 4 sessions building on specific applications of contemplation: Personal problems, compassion, Truth and Stillness.
Aims:
● To impart knowledge and gain further understanding about contemplation and its application in meditative practice.
● To build deeper experience of contemplative practice.
● To actively learn, reflect and apply what has been learnt in the company of other participants.
Module 1: Introduction to Contemplation:
The context for contemplation, program structure and building connections.
Module 2: The Theory:
The Active Mind and a theoretical framework for the program.
Module 3: The Techniques:
Application of specific contemplation techniques and their purpose.
Module 4: The Finer Points.
Deeper investigation into contemplation focusing on clarity and insight.
Module 5: Contemplation on Personal Problems:
Exploring personal challenges and attending to emotions that arise.
Module 6: Contemplation on Compassion:
Understanding compassion and experimenting with various ways to understand and embody it.
Module 7: Contemplation on Truth:
A deep investigation into establishing an understanding of the truth, exploring logic, reasoning and intuition.
Module 8: Contemplation on Stillness and Finale:
Reflecting and practice on contemplation of silence, and program review.
“Master Your Mind” Part 3- Guided Imagery Meditation:
Overview:
● What are Guided Imagery and Meditation?
● And where does Guided Imagery sit within the other domains of meditation in this series of teaching (Mindfulness Meditation, and Contemplation)?
● How the mind works and how we can use it as the incredibly powerful and creative tool it is.
● Each of the 8 sessions begins with a short section on the theory and practice of meditation; specifically Mindfulness-Based Stillness Meditation.
Aims:
● To impart knowledge about meditation and imagery.
● To form positive attitudes.
● To cultivate, support and build a sense of community amongst the participants.
● To provide opportunity for active participation while learning and practicing new skills and behaviours.
● Attention is paid to the theoretical basis of our subjects, while also allowing good time to practise techniques and engage in discussion.
● Questions are encouraged.
● There is a degree of repetition to foster familiarity and learning, while building confidence with material.
Module 1: Imagery & its Potential.
The context for imagery, program structure and building connections.
Module 2: The Mind & its Processes.
How the Active Mind works; a theoretical framework for the program.
Module 3: Inner Peace, Inner Wisdom.
Establishing an inner refuge, and meeting the inner guide to wisdom.
Module 4: Positive Thinking.
Not wishful thinking, using the power of the mind effectively.
Module 5: Personal Development.
Exploring personal challenges and how to transform them.
Module 6: Tools for Transformation.
How to use affirmations and visualisation.
Module 7: The Good Heart.
Using imagery to develop compassion and accomplish forgiveness.
Module 8: Accelerated Healing and Finale.
The application of Mind-Body Medicine, program review and integration.
Course Breakdown
Pricing Information
Each is an eight-week course.
Two hours per week (with a 20 minute break).
Cost: $30 per session
(Early bird full payment $200)
At the completion of the course there will be an ongoing weekly meditation group available to provide opportunity to maintain and develop our meditation practice.
Two hours duration.Cost: $10 per session.
" The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.
We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift". - Albert Einstein.
