Classes

Research shows that a regular meditation practice can restore emotional balance, reduce stress, improve health and actually change the brain’s gray matter.  Practitioners report a greater sense of well-being, contentment, and feeling of connection to others.  Mindful meditation helps one awaken to the richness of each moment in life.  With practice, one can become aware of habitual reactions to stressors and discover new ways of responding to life’s challenges.

Learn to better manage stress, calm a racing mind, and deal with disturbing emotions through this 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Management taught by a certified, experienced instructor.  Discover more joy, sense of wellbeing and appreciation of life as you increase your ability to be mindful.

The original mindfulness program was developed more than 40 years ago by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn to help people cope with chronic physical and emotional pain.  Since than, numerous clinical studies show the benefits of participation in an MBSM program, including

• Reduced stress
• Sharper focus
• Improved memory
• Reduced chronic pain
• Enhanced immune system
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduced anxiety and depression
• Improved sleep
• Improved communication

Read more in What Does Mindfulness Meditation  Do to Your Brain? in The Scientific American.

During our  times together, through experiential learning, discussion and daily practice, you can develop the ability to make positive changes in your life.  As you become familiar with your “inner landscape” and deepen the connection with your innate wisdom, you will learn to take better care of yourself and choose more effective ways of responding to life’s stresses and challenges. Rather than living in the past or worrying about the future, you will learn how to engage in life with openness, compassion and ease.

Questions about Mindfulness Meditation classes?

A sampling of comments from recent course evaluations:

Fantastic journey (guided) of self-discovery and spiritual development: Look forward to each new moment and day of awareness and unlearning of things from the past 15 years.  Very grateful. – Julie S.

“I found this class awesome and life-changing.” – Lauren P.

Lori was outstanding. Skeptical going in but discovered a higher purpose when finished course. Never finished growing, learning, improving.” – Steve B.

MBSM/MBSR 8-Week Refresher Course
A Journey of Mindful Connection, Renewal, & Support

Dates: Tuesdays, May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18, 25, July 2 & 9
Time: 7 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Silent Mindfulness Retreat Saturday June 29, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Retreat is not required, but suggested.
Location: Yoga for Living
Course Tuition: $189 Register here

MBSM/MBSR Alums: Let’s recommit to waking up to the fullness of life.  Repeating the 8-Week Course at a greatly reduced rate is a fantastic opportunity for anyone that has taken any 8-week MBSR or MBSM course anywhere or at any time. If you’d like to reignite, reinvigorate or deepen your personal practice and your capacity for kindness, compassion, and peace, this Spring course is for you.

The reinvestment in your practice includes 22 hours of in-class time, and online audio recordings for at-home practice. You may use your original written course materials or purchase our current 39 page MBSM guide book for just $12.

Mindfulness Silent Retreat

Date:  Saturday June 29, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Road, Cherry Hill, NJ
Fee: $40. Pre-registration required. Register here
Note: Some meditation experience is required. Snacks will be provided. Please bring your own lunch and beverages.

Are you ready to experience the luxury of just being rather than doing? To discover what lies behind your busy mind? To break free from life’s chaos and allow your body/mind to settle?

This retreat offers six hours of mindfulness practices, allowing you to deepen your meditation experience and become more in tune with your true nature.

Guided sitting, walking, lying down, gentle movement, mindful eating and compassion-based practices will enable you to strengthen your attention and open your heart. Toward the end of this retreat, we will break the noble silence to share reflections on the day.  Please join us in this rare opportunity to become more familiar with what lies within.

Tergar Dharma Practice Group with Lori Volpe & Lama Pasang

Date: Sunday afternoons, April 28 (Cherry Hill), May 19 (CH), June 2, (SH), June 23 (CH) July 14 (SH), July 28 (CH)
Time: 3 – 4:45 p.m.
Locations: Yoga for Living and Shamong (email for address)
Kindly pre-register by Saturday morning prior to each session by emailing Lori@OpeningIn.com
Cost: By donation

World-renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, founder of Tergar International, developed the Joy of Living curriculum as a secular approach to meditation. Please join us in this Joy of Living Level 1 program as we gain an understanding of how awareness meditation can be used to create a peaceful mind and joyful heart. Awareness meditation allows us to use any situation or experience, even difficult emotions and physical pain, as a gateway to inner peace.

In this level, you will learn:

• How to rest in open awareness, a state of spacious and alert presence
• How to use visual objects, sounds, tastes, and other sense objects as supports for awareness in meditation
• How to transform your relationship to physical pain, difficult emotions, and destructive thought patterns using the practice of awareness meditation
• How to deal with distractions and obstacles to meditation, such as excessive thought activity, sleepiness, and discouragement
• How to start a daily meditation practice, including the correct meditation posture and the ideal length of a meditation session

Through practice, discussion and the bonds that forge in community, we can establish or deepen a meditation practice, and gain a clearer understanding of what leads us away from suffering and into a more joyful state. Our community is diverse, and includes both beginners and experienced meditators. We benefit from guidance from a Tibetan monk.  All are welcome, regardless of religion.

The atmosphere of these sessions is informal, open, and warm. Regular attendance will allow you to benefit most from the curriculum.  We are currently reading the bestselling book Joy of Living, by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.

Mindfulness Meditation Drop-in Sessions

Date:  Thursday evenings, ongoing
Time:  7 – 8 p.m.
Location:  Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost:  $15 drop-in fee (Discount with class card)
Pre-registration is not required

Are you ready for inner change?  Then these drop-in classes can get you started or keep you going! Mindfulness meditation is a proven path to transforming your relationship to difficult emotions and stressful events.  And practicing in community is the best way to sustain an ongoing practice and to forge connections with others on this journey.

Under the guidance of a professionally trained, experienced instructor, these weekly sessions include guided meditations, discussions and, sometimes, gentle movement or walking meditations.  All are designed to help you become more focused, aware, patient and compassionate towards yourself and others.  By learning to approach your experiences in a clear and openhearted manner, you become more skilled at navigating all aspects of life, even the difficult parts.

As Jack Kornfield says, “When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.” This class can guide you back to connection with both.

What to expect when attending your first class: Please try to arrive a few minutes early as classes begin promptly. You will be greeted warmly at the check-in desk. We request that shoes be removed before entering the meditation room. You are welcome to sit in a chair, sit or lie on a blanket, or to use your own meditation cushion. Props are available to help you feel more comfortable.

Many people report feeling relaxed, calm, or peaceful during meditation practice. But occasionally, when we unplug from the usual distractions of our busy day, we can sometimes become more aware of anxiety or other unpleasant sensations/emotions. Your facilitator can help you navigate any feelings of uneasiness that you may experience.

We are here to support your practice, please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Grateful for You

4-Week Mindfulness for Beginners Course

Special Series:  Coming Fall, 2019
Time: 1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Cost: $135 for the series, including materials. Register here
Location: Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ

If you would like to learn more about mindfulness and how to begin or deepen your commitment to a meditation practice this is the course for you.  You will learn the following basics in these four weeks:

• What mindfulness is and isn’t and how mindfulness practice can benefit you
• How living in automatic pilot affects your life and how to become more present
• Practices to stabilize your attention
• Practices to manage difficult situations and emotions
• Practices to incorporate into daily living
• How to interrupt rumination about the past and worry about the future
• How to manage through stressful or anxious times
• How to “be with” challenging physical sensations and our busy minds.

Each class will include

• A guided meditation
• Instruction
• Group discussion
• Valuable tools to start implementing the practices right away

Join a Mindfulness Community with Dr. Dan Gottlieb & Lori Volpe

Dates:  Starting Fall, 2019 (Sessions every other month for 6 months)
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Location: Yoga for Living, 1926 Greentree Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ
Fee for 6 month series (Register before April 28): $195.  Single sessions: $40.
Pre-registration is highly recommended. Please mark your calendar.

Being in community is the best way to support your mindfulness practice. In these bimonthly sessions, we will explore topics, ranging from cultivating awareness to self-compassion to deep gratitude and lovingkindness for self and other. In the process we will support one another through compassionate listening. The format will include a brief talk on a relevant topic, discussion and guided practice.

If you’ve already taken courses with Dr. Dan and Lori, or if you have an ongoing mindfulness practice, this is special opportunity to connect or reconnect to your practice and with others on this path.

This community will be comprised of people who have a sincere interest in mindfulness and being in practice together.

  Six week series – $195
  Single session  –   $40

Or drop of a check to Yoga for Living, or mail to Opening In, 101 Forrest Hills Drive, Voorhees, NJ 08043

Mindfulness Based Stress Management Introduction

Trauma Sensitive Yoga

Four week series: Sign up for newsletter to receive notice of the next series

This gentle yoga series is open to anyone wishing to cultivate the mind-body connection in a safe and nurturing environment, whether or not you consider yourself a trauma survivor or have had prior movement experience. Movements will be accessible to most.

Trauma can be described as a distressing experience that overwhelms our capacity to cope. It can include an accident, a surgery, a divorce, the loss of a loved one, domestic violence and many other significant events. At least 70% of adults in the US have experienced at least one traumatic event.

Trauma experts know that the residue from overwhelming events can dysregulate our system, and that trauma sensitive yoga can play a significant role in mediating the chaos in our system.

This series will provide opportunities to

• Explore movement, breath work and mindfulness as means to balance the nervous system
• Increase body awareness
• Develop a nurturing relationship with your body
• Learn self care techniques that you can apply outside of the studio
• Become empowered to make choices based on what is right for you
• Work within your capacity to strengthen and stretch muscles

No hands-on adjustments will be given. And, to create more ease for those uncomfortable in groups, participants will not be expected to interact with others.

For more information, or to discuss whether this class is right for you, please contact Lori@OpeningIn.com

Preparing for yoga classes:

• Wear comfortable clothing
• Bring your own mat, or borrow one from the studio
• Eat only a light snack 2-3 hours before class
• Arrive several minutes early, allowing time to sign in and get settled
• As with any movement program, it’s best to consult your physician before beginning
• Set the intention not to compare yourself with others, and to do only what is right for your body

NIH Yoga and PTSD – Bessel van der Kolk’s study
Could Yoga Hold the Key to Healing a Patient’s Trauma?

Introduction to Mindfulness in the Workplace – 4 weekly hour-long sessions at your place of business. Covers the basics of Mindfulness Meditation and includes guided meditations for at-home practice.  Or, tailor the instruction to your workplace and any issues taking place (stress, tension between staff, etc.).

Private Instruction available. Please contact Lori for more information.

Hundreds of peer-reviewed studies verify that mindfulness can reduce stress, improve attention, boost the immune system, reduce emotional reactivity, and promote a general sense of health and well-being. It is no surprise that this practice has steadily grown in popularity.

Not sure where to start? Set up a free 15-minute phone consultation.

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