We invite you to commit to your practice this May and June with Lunchtime Learning at Dogwood Studios. Dive Deep into your yoga and meditation Wednesdays at 11:45am starting May 3!
May Lunchtime Learning: learn about and practice various meditation techniques.
June Lunchtime Learning: Therapeutic Yin Foundations.
Hybrid offering with In Person option at The Parlour.
You may use your applicable subscription or class package.
Learn more on our website.
Join us for one, some or all of these opportunities to make meditation part of your daily routine.
Meditation is an invitation to mindfully switch from thinking to observing. A regular meditation practice has the power to open your heart and mind to the present and keep you focused and grounded in the face of adversity. The best part is, it can be done anywhere, anytime!
Dr. Richard Davidson, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds, explains that “in classical traditions, the word "meditation" literally means familiarization. It means to familiarize ourselves with the basic nature of our own minds.” While there are many ways to practice meditation, each modality reinforces mindful attention and awareness.
Committing to a regular meditation practice may feel daunting at first. You might think you don’t have enough time or your mind is too busy to pause. While making intentional time for your practice is certainly encouraged, meditation can be as simple as bringing awareness to your breath at a stoplight, or performing a brief body scan while waiting in line at the grocery store. In its essence, meditation is about cultivating awareness. Davidson explains that meditation begins when we can bring awareness to our chaotic mind. He recommends beginning your practice modestly with brief periods of meditation - one or two minutes that you can set aside, as you slowly develop your practice over time.
According to Harvard Business Review, “the neuroscience behind habit formation doesn’t offer shortcuts. Experts advocate for the old-fashioned approach: incremental progress.” The amount of time it takes to develop and sustain a new habit will vary from person to person. Reflect on what you’re trying to achieve by committing to meditation and why. Understanding your why will help keep you motivated when you run into inevitable roadblocks. By familiarizing yourself with your own blockers, you can quickly identify and manage them as they arise. Most importantly, be compassionate with yourself as you embark on this journey towards a thoughtful routine.
Meditation invites deep introspection through which you may find distraction or negative thought. Don’t let this deter you! While every session may not be blissful, you will learn that the value of a meditation practice lies beyond your immediate experience. It’s not what you experience, but rather how you respond to your experience. Start by letting go of attachment to what your practice should look or feel like and allow yourself to experience your practice as it is.
When you practice meditation, it overflows into your everyday life. You are encouraged to slow down and be present in everything you do. With time and dedication, you will learn to carry this state of being with you when you leave your practice.
Dogwood Studios is excited to be hosting many opportunities to commit or recommit to your meditation practice. Keep track you commitment to enter into a drawing to win a prize.
Feel free to keep track of your commitment however you would prefer. We have developed a fillable Meditation Tracker or a printable Meditation Tracker for you to use.
Sign up for Lunchtime Learning, group yoga class with 15 minutes of meditation, Friday Evening Yin or morning meditation using the calendar on our Class Sign Up Page.
If you have questions, reach out to us at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.
Amanda Dzengeleski is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT), lifelong student, and lover of movement. She first discovered yoga as a form of mind-body medicine that cultivated a deeper state of self-awareness and personal growth. Using a trauma-informed approach, Amanda empowers her students to move freely and intentionally in celebration of body, mind, and soul.