If it is available to you, notice the condition of your body-fatigue, tired, energized, restless, tight, tense, relaxed, at ease...how is it in the body right now? And if it feels right to you, soften or breathe into any area of tightness, tension, and discomfort. Thank you
Hope your Memorial Holiday was easeful. Or perhaps you are like me, weekends, holidays, what are those? Either way, this was a unique holiday given The New Normal, The Next Normal, or The New Abnormal that we find ourselves in. Still, Memorial Day is about honoring those that gave their lives so that we can enjoy ours. This year, we included in our tribute, thoughts and prayers healthcare professionals, first responders, and other front line workers combatting the pandemic that lost their lives. If you didn't get a chance to do so this weekend, remember, you can at any time Pause for a Moment and Just Be…and Be Grateful -- recognizing how much our own lives and well-being are interwoven with other’s lives and well-being.
Here in Jupiter, the weekend was a washout. But like so many aspects of the current pandemic, as bad as things are, there was a relative silver lining for us. We were told hundreds of people from Broward and Miami Dade counties would be coming to Jupiter beach. This prompted the Jupiter Police to close the street we live on to local traffic only. But the rainstorms kept the crowds away. Rainstorms -- the ultimate social distancing enforcer.
“At the end of the day, I can end up just totally wacky, because I’ve made mountains out of molehills. With meditation, I can keep them as molehills.” Ringo Starr
Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer. And of Worrycane season with its perpetual cone of uncertainty. I am guessing I don’t have to point out how unusual and unpredictable this summer is likely to be. As much anxiety, fear, frustration, or anger you might be feeling, I’m confident we will get through this. There will be unwanted and unexpected twists and turns for sure, but we are very resilient. And with Awareness, Sanity, and Compassion, we will flourish and evolve. Call me OptiMystic, but I know personally and professionally that mindfulness builds resilience, and resilience can transform stress reactivity into stress hardiness, PTSD into Post Traumatic Growth and Vicarious Trauma into Vicarious Transformation.
However, we need to continue – or restart - our mindfulness practice, perhaps that much more under the current circumstances. It is from the direct, systematic, and intensive engagement with/in formal and informal mindfulness practices that we come to know the benefits it has to offer.
And the time will come when you see we're all one
And life flows on within you and without you The Beatles
It also helps to stay open to all outcomes and attached to none. Valuable too is letting go of the need to control and accepting uncertainty. And staying connected with “wise friends on the spiritual path.”
Please take good care, of yourself and of your others. Practice patience and tolerance for those with opposing views. They too are suffering and want to be safe and live with ease. Remember too, to not just to survive this, but to thrive and evolve, it will take all of us. Together we can do this because we have done it. United We Can Divided We Stall!
Finally, I am deeply grateful for all of the support, donations, and for your presence at my virtual sessions. It is why I do what I do. May I pay it forward. One more favor. I and the other So Fl teachers are hoping you could tell your friends, families, and others that are outside of our local area about offerings--please pass on this listing, or give out my contact info to those up north, out west, in other countries, even down the street! We Thank You
Here is the listing of the updated virtual mindfulness and self-compassion sessions offered by local So Fl teachers to support you through these unsettling times.
MBSR & MSC ONLINE COURSES:
Gus Castellanos MBSR Tuesdays, June 9 - July 28, 6:00pm-8:30pm with Mindful Kids Miami. For Adults & open to all. Master Plan Points and CEs available. Link for Info/To Register HERE. 
**Offering discounts for seniors (65+), healthcare workers, 1st responders, educators and students from any school (18+), and alumni/graduates of any prior MKM class. 'Claim your discount code' here
Mindful Kids Miami offers these other MBSR classes:
*Mondays, 6/8 – 7/27, 3:30pm – 6:00pm with Linda McKenzie LINK HERE
*Wednesdays, 6/10 – 7/29, 10:00am – 12:30pm with Martha Holmes LINK HERE
Patricia Isis Mindful Self Compassion Mondays, June 1 – July 20, 6:00 - 8:30pm. LINK HERE
Mary Beth Stern Unwinding Anxiety app-based program developed by Judson Brewer, MD PHD. GROUPS FORMING NOW FOR SUMMER. Contact 561-346-7225 mbfstern@gmail.com FLYER HERE
Gwendolyn J Schanda - MindPowered Kids - online course for kids and their parents on meditation and mind superpowers Link HERE
South Florida Center For Mindfulness offers these
MBSR classes via zoom (link to register here)
*Mondays with Piero, June 8 - July 27, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
*Wednesdays with Sharon, June 1 - July 29, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
MBSR if stay at home restrictions are lifted :
*Thursdays at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Piero, June 11 - July 30, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
*Saturdays at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Piero, June 13 - August 1, 10:30 to 1:00 pm
All-day silent retreat, Sunday, July 26, 2020
Mindful Self Compassion if restrictions are lifted (link to register here)
*Tuesdays at Yoga Source Plantation with Sharon, June 9 - July 28, 12:30 to 3:00 pm. Free Information Session on 6/2/20 at 12:30
*Wednesdays at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Sharon, June 10 - July 28, 6:00 to 8:45 pm. Free Information Session on 6/3/20 at 6:00
Half-day silent retreat for both MSC classes, Saturday, July 18, 2020
Debra Annane MBSR Saturdays, June 20 – Aug 15, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm. with UM Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Orientation Sessions on June 13, 10:30am – 12:00 pm and June 16, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. LINK HERE
Knelleee Bisram MBSR Wednesdays, June 17-August 5, 6:30-9:00pm. Free Orientation June 10th on Zoom or contact us for telephone interview/pre-screening. LINK HERE
Valerie York-Zimmerman MBSR Thurs., Jan. 21 – March 11, 2021, 6:00 – 8:30 pm. for the public LINK HERE
Valerie also offers MBSR PRACTICUM PROGRAM Sat., January 23 – March 13, 2021, 10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m for teacher training (Practicum students will need to attend the Jan 21 - Mar 11 MBSR class) LINK HERE
Orientation for both: Thurs., January 14, 2021, 6:00 — 8:00 pm. These will be live/in-person in South Miami unless public health regulations require physical distancing, then they will be on Zoom. Space is limited. Email ijourney@att.net to join.
DROP-IN, DAILY & WEEKLY ONLINE OFFERINGS
Inner Space of Kindness provides FREE virtual mindfulness sessions, made up of local teachers = Gus Castellanos, Debra Annane, Knellee Bisram, Mary Beth Stern, Janet Slom, Aimee Bernstein, and Peter Calin. Our schedule has changed for June. Gus' classes are still on Thursdays at 1pm. For info, the rest of the schedule and teacher bio's LINK HERE
Gus Castellanos free drop-in sessions with & in support of Mindful Kids Miami and Connected Warriors Tuesdays 11am-noon. LINK HERE
Mindful Kids Miami also offers Online Mindfulness classes with Adriana Moreno-Zarate, Patricia Isis, Valerie DeWitt, & Martha Holmes listed by date and teacher Link HERE
Juan Reyes, MD FREE meditation class for professionals in the healthcare field. Wednesdays, 8-8:45pm. LINK HERE
Debbie Steinberg - Judaism and Mindfulness. Mondays at 3:15 pm. Open to all and any religious orientation, both beginners and experienced mindfulness practitioners. Join Link HERE or (872) 240-3212 Access Code: 610-664-245#.
Cindy Ricardo - Mindfulness Meditation Circles: Wednesdays 6:05-7:35pm - Zoom link here and Sundays 11am-12:30pm EST - Zoom link here
Lunch time Meditation: Thursdays 12:00pm - 1:15pm EST - Zoom link here
These offerings are by free/ by donation (suggested $10+). To donate link here
Piero Falci (thru June 4) Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11:30 AM, Zoom ID: 767 3375 7492 Password: 6yEdbP AND Thursdays, 4:30 PM, Zoom ID: 719 6244 2885 Password: 6yEdbP
Mary Beth Stern – Tuesdays 10-11 and Saturdays 10am-11am. Contact mbfstern@gmail.com for zoom links
Delia Calixto – Fridays 4pm Join Zoom Meeting Here Meeting ID: 859 836 1987
Carolyn Sant Angelo and Scott May - Thursdays 6-7pm "Mindfulness for Today's World". No registration needed. Free. Zoom Link HERE
Gary Gonzalez Tuesdays 7:00 to 8:30PM every Zoom Link HERE and Saturdays, 8:30-9:30am Zoom Link HERE
Ivanna Casado Mindfulness sessions Fridays, noon Zoom LINK HERE
Jill Merrell / Merrell Family Foundation offers complimentary Social Connection and Meditation Wednesdays, Noon-12:20pm. Zoom Link HERE Meeting ID: 496 908 923
Marlene Arzola Monday meditation offering 8 pm, zoom id 918-119-0561. Flyer HERE
Nikky Davis, Psy.D FREE gathering for healthcare workers, teachers, clinicians, and all other helping professionals. Friday & Saturday 11amEST on Zoom Register HERE
Amy Exum, LMHC and Eli Bravo with Baptist Health - Virtual Daily Meditation and Tips for Emotional Well-Being. To obtain the updated link for any of these classes, go to this LINK HERE search “virtual” and find "Virtual Community Health Classes for Week of..." Classes are held on Mondays, 9:30 a.m., Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m., Wednesdays, 3 p.m. en Español, Thursdays, 1:30 p.m., & Fridays, 9:30 a.m.
