Intro to Unified Mindfulness -- Equanimity Theme

Learn the nuts and bolts of the UM system.   Get precise about ways to understand and share your practice experience.  Explore the best options for you.

We will learn how to deepen our appreciation of Self and World

through the 3 attentional skills which constitute mindfulness -- Sensory Clarity, Concentration Power, and Equanimity.

We will approach human experience through the main 3 sense modes -- seeing, hearing, & the feeling body.

We will rehearse and refine the mindfulness tools of Noting and optional Labels.

This 12 week session will take a detailed look at the theme of equanimity.  What is it?  How do I do it?  A life of complete acceptance is easier than we may think!

We will look at the difference between a formal practice which takes 100% of our attentional skills for 10 minutes or more, and the equally fruitful daily life practice which is more flexible.  You will be designing your own strategies for these approaches.

Ultimately, we will support each other in finding or creating complete experiences.  This is a path of giving love and connection to our Self and World through radical acceptance,

This is ideal for someone who is new to meditation and committed to spend time each day at play in the fields of mindfulness, or a meditator who is brand new to Unified Mindfulness.  Also good for review and deepening.  The approach is very systematic and precise, yet flexible and warm-hearted.   We reframe most perceived problems as opportunities.  We hope that we can blow mindfulness out of any box which limits where and when we can use it.   And we generally try to leave behind any currents of perfectionism.

Participants will be expected to practice the techniques we learn in class for a minimum of 10 minutes a day, either in stillness or in motion.   

Resources to support your practice:

The Core Training video curriculum from Julianna Raye

I will share audio recordings and video links with guided meditations and descriptions of techniques such as Just Feel, Just See, Just Hear, Focus on All, Focus on Rest, Labelling Gone, framing attention with "foreground" and "background," supporting equanimity

Key concepts and skills are portrayed on flipcharts and whiteboards.  I send photos of these and quick summaries after class as a memory support

I also recommend a practical manual for beginning Unified Mindfulness -- Mind Your Life by Meg Salter

While we will be sharing a diverse menu of techniques and options, you don't need to do them all.  The emphasis will be on finding a SIMPLE practice that works FOR YOU on a daily basis.  We use the menu not to eat all the food at once, but to make informed choices in creating your best meal.  The best way to optimize your meditation mileage is to keep your practice simple and steady while you get acquainted with options that will someday prove useful.

After the class wraps up you can find support through Chris and the UM community with coaching, monthly Home Practice Programs, or with ongoing weekly zoom groups on Monday evenings or Friday mornings.

This class is offered in exchange for Dana or giving.  We create a mutual gift economy.  References available from others who have taken the class.  8 students minimum required.  20 people maximum.

Website Registration opens -- 9/04                 Closes -- 9/18