What: This is a *free, open ongoing mindfulness meditation group for both beginners and experienced practitioners.

*The class is free for all participants. Donations are gratefully accepted, but are in no way required our sought.

While the forms of meditation we practice are rooted in Buddhist teachings, the study and practice of mindfulness and insight meditation is applicable to anyone from any background or religion, and all are welcome.

Each class will include: guided meditation, instruction, opportunities to practice, and time for discussion, questions and answers.

When and where: We meet every Tuesday from 7-8:30 p.m. (starting May 1, 2012) at Centennial High School, 4300 Centennial Lane, Ellicott City, MD, 21042, room 406. Please arrive early to settle into your seats - we start right at 7 p.m. If you arrive late, there will be place to meditate outside the room. After the meditation, you may join us for the rest of the class.

We practice Insight Meditation, a style of meditation that helps the mind attain deeper levels of calm concentration through sustained attention on the breath, then combines this with the crucial aspect of insight through contemplation of the mind and body and all of their changing and impermanent senses, emotions and thoughts. Insight Meditation trains us to live more fully in the present moment, enables us to experience life from a greater stillness, and aids us in relating to both ourselves and others with increased clarity, compassion, calmness and creativity, and less fear, anxiety and stress.

Along with these and a long list of other psychological benefits, meditation has also been shown to reduce stress hormones in the body, lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, alleviate depression and boost the immune system.

Teachers:

Stan Eisenstein, a high school teacher who has been meditating for 25 years and has been practicing Insight Meditation since 2004. Stan is a mentor with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW) and is enrolled in the Meditation Teacher Training Institute, a two-year certification program with senior Insight teachers Tara Brach, Jonathan Foust, Hugh Byrne, and Pat Coffey.

Anne Gould: Anne has been practicing Insight Meditation for six years. She has participated in four silent residential retreats offered by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, DC (IMCW) and the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, MA. Anne is currently a member of the Mindfulness Teaching Training Institute program being conducted by IMCW. Her spiritual homes are Unitarian Universalism and Buddhism. Anne was married in South Korea in 1977 while in the Peace Corps. She has one son. She retired in 2008 from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Address: Centennial High School, 4300 Centennial Lane, Ellicott City, MD, 21042, room 406

(see parking map below)

The easiest place to park is in the lot on the South side of Centennial High School (on the left side of the building if you are facing the building.

To get there, enter the bus loop (on the south side of the building) and make an immediate left onto a drive that passes through a gate. It looks as though this is an illegal turn, but it is not.

Park and following the Columbia Insight Meditation Class signs to room 406.

Suggestions:

1. There are plenty of chairs, but if you prefer to sit on the floor, which is carpeted, please bring a hard pillow or zafu, since, when meditating, it is recommended that your hips be higher than your knees. If you have never tried sitting on the floor during meditation, it is highly recommended that you try the chair first, then practice sitting on the floor at home until you are comfortable.

2. If you have any back issues, please bring a pillow or cushion to place behind you.

3. Please remember to turn off your cell phones before entering the room.

4. Please try not to wear any perfume to the sit, as it can be quite distracting to others. Also, with respect to those who may be allergic, we do not use incense.

5. The group is not recommended for those under age 13. Please feel free to contact Stan Eisenstein at IMCWColumbia @yahoo.com if you have any questions.

6. If you arrive late, there will be place to meditate outside the room. After the meditation, you may join us for the rest of the class.