Meditation and Mindfulness

 The Course

“What lies behind us and what lies before us
are small matters compared to what lies within us.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

• 
  
• conscious breathing and breath-counting
• fire, earth and water meditations
• mantras and chanting
• compassion and loving-kindness
• light and color

RELAX with gentle, guided meditations in a peaceful atmosphere for the well-being of body, mind and spirit

EXPAND your consciousness as you experiment with lessons in mindfulness

ENJOY the fellowship of a small, supportive group for discussion and sharing on diverse spiritual themes
                            
Take-home support materials are included with
each session.

Created and led by
Jane Grey, Ph.D.
Meditating since 1989
Teaching meditation since 1994
See bio

Contact Jane to be notified of the next group Meditation workshop, or to arrange a class for yourself or your corporate team.

Testimonials

A few quotes from Jane's meditation students:


“I came for meditation and got a whole lot more.”
— Birthe Stein

"Jane makes meditation accessible."
— LaVonne W.


“Thank you for this priceless gift.”
— Matthew O.


“Before Jane’s meditation class, I was just dabbling.
Learning a variety of techniques and having the support
of this weekly class helped me to become a real meditator. ”
— Pat Sharron   


"Jane’s meditation class played a crucial role
in my spiritual development.”
— Deborah D.

“This class was like coming home.”
— Kathleen Connors Bouchaud
 

Contact Jane to be notified of the next group Meditation workshop, or to arrange a class for yourself or your corporate team.

Recommended

Reading

for Meditation and Mindfulness. No book purchase is required with my class, but further reading is certainly encouraged.

"How to Meditate"
    Lawrence LeShan
    1974, Bantam Books

"Meditation"
    Eknath Easwaran
    1978, 1991, Nilgiri Press

"The Miracle of Mindfulness"
    Thich Nhat Hanh
    1975, 1987, Revised Ed., Beacon Press

"A Path with Heart"
    Jack Kornfield
    1993, Bantam Books

"The Three Minute Meditator"
    David Harp

"Wherever You Go, There You Are"
    Jon Kabat-Zinn
    1994, Hyperion

"Angel Love"
by Aeoliah

This is recommended meditation “music/sound”
available on CDs and tapes.  www.aeoliah.com

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Jane's meditation classes

•    What are the benefits of meditation?

Regular meditators often experience any of the following:

• Inner peace and calm
• Better sleep
• Better physical health
• Healing facilitated on every level
• Increased ability to focus and concentrate
• Increased ability to relax
• Increased ability to “let go”
• Increased compassion for self and others
• Increase in faith and trust
• Less anxiety
• Less tension
• Less stress
• Less fuzzy thinking
• Less worry
• Feeling less distracted and scattered
• Feeling more centered and grounded
• Healthier responses to stress and upset
• Expanded self-awareness and understanding
• Increased clarity
• Better self-esteem and self-confidence
• Better self-management
• More contentment
• More creativity
• More patience
• Better decision-making
• Increased ability to forgive
• Increased spiritual connection
• Increased awareness and sensitivity
• Improved intuition
• Increased ability to manage thoughts and emotions
• Increased ability to step out of vicious cycles of thinking
• Feelings of comfort and well-being

...and that’s just for starters!

•    What kind of meditation do you teach?

I teach many different styles because I don’t believe that there is just one “best” way for everyone. Each week in this workshop you will learn at least two methods including the classic techniques of conscious breathing and chanting.  

Different techniques will suit different people, different personalities and different lifestyles, at different times.  By having a repertoire of methods, you can practice what works for you at any given moment in your life. It’s the practice that makes you a meditator, not the method.

Meditation is both an art and a skill, and it can be approached creatively.

•    What about Transcendental Meditation (TM)?

It is called transcendental because it is meant to transcend the ego mind. In fact, ALL meditation is meant to do that. The TM folks just copyrighted the name. In TM you are usually assigned a secret mantra.  I will teach you how to choose a mantra, and how to use it.  I do not “assign” you a mantra, nor require you to keep it a secret, although you may do so if you choose, of course. The TM method is a worthy and valid form of meditation, but there are many other ways to meditate.
 
•    Is this course about religion?   Is this a cult? 

This is a spiritually-oriented course but it is not about religion.  The group is absolutely not a cult. The course is meant to be friendly, open and useful to people of any faith.  People want to learn meditation for different, not necessarily spiritual, reasons. I teach the principles and methods of meditation, not a belief system.   

•    Is meditation against my religion?

It is said that prayer is talking to God, and that meditation is listening...

As far as I know, meditation is not prohibited by any religion. However, I have heard of clergy who discouraged people from meditation, considering prayer to be preferable.  I disagree (and I think this clerical disapproval of meditation is really a power play.)  Prayer and meditation are complimentary spiritual practices. I am not advocating one over the other.
 
•    What happens if I don’t attend all three sessions?

If you keep practicing, you will not fall behind. If you miss a session, you will be provided with your weekly materials so that you can catch up on what was presented during your absence.  I do suggest that you not miss the first session.  There is no tuition reimbursement for missed sessions. Tuition does not include private coaching or make-up sessions.

•    How big is a group?   What can I expect during a typical session?

A group class is limited to 12 people. The class is held entirely in English.  Each session will include presentation and practice of new meditation techniques, relaxing guided meditations and time for questions, sharing and discussion.  The week’s materials are distributed at the conclusion of the session.

Corporate groups of any size are booked 3 months to 1 year in advance.

Private and semi-private lessons are arranged.

•    At what point do we learn to meditate?  When will I become a real meditator?

You will learn the basics of meditation on the very first evening. As soon as you practice meditation on a regular basis, you are a
meditator. That can happen immediately.  

Becoming an experienced meditator happens gradually  
as you practice and build your skill and understanding. You will have “homework” which consists of practicing that week’s meditation technique. The real work happens outside of class.

•    I don’t have a lot of time to devote to meditation.
Is this a problem?

Meditation creates more time than it takes. This is because meditation tends to increases your ability to focus, to live and work with more clarity and efficiency. You will enjoy the most benefits from meditation when you practice it regularly and frequently. That could be twice a day or three times a week, depending on the results you want, your lifestyle and level of commitment. In this workshop you will learn how to integrate meditation into your life. In any case, meditating occasionally is always better than not meditating at all.
 

You will find this class stimulating and motivating. If you:

•    don’t meditate regularly and would like to find new impetus

•    would enjoy the experience of group and guided meditation

•    are bored with your current meditation routine and would like to learn new ways to meditate

•    want to meet and make friends with like-minded people

•    want to be part of a spiritually-oriented group, and/or

•    would like to broaden your understanding and experience of meditation,

then this class will be worthwhile for you.  Many people have taken my meditation classes more than once.

•     I want to arrange a private class or corporate workshop. Do we have to do all ten lessons?

Private classes and corporate workshops can be of any duration. I tailor them to fit your objectives, budget and time constraints.

•     My organization or team wants to learn to meditate but we don't want spiritual discussion. Can you teach us meditation without talking about spirituality?

There is absolutely no requirement for any spiritual orientation or discussion. I am happy to teach meditation to secular groups, with no spiritual agenda whatsoever.

Contact Jane to be notified of the next group Meditation workshop, or to arrange a private class for yourself or a workshop for your organization or corporate team.