Intentions:

• Build an infrastructure to support an everyday mindfulness practice (Yes, there is "homework").

• Start slowly and patiently by strengthening our attention with mindfulness of the breath before broadening our attentive awareness to mindfulness of body, sounds, thoughts, emotions and kindness.

• Examine the distractions and obstacles that not only come up in our mindfulness practice, but in our everyday life experiences.

• Provide tools and techniques for working with challenges.

• Work with other live beings, to start a lifelong deepening of connection, understanding and awareness.

• Emphasize learning to be kind to, and even embrace, the wandering mind while developing a self-sustaining mindfulness practice inviting curiosity, compassion and clarity.

• Create a mindfulness practice that is right for you.

  • Embrace the "beginners' mind"

  • No experience is necessary.

  • There are no special clothes, awkward postures or chanting required.

  • If you want to sit in a chair, by all means, sit in a chair

  • Building a mindfulness practice is a marathon, not a sprint. The important thing is to keep at it.