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my Inner Inmate says the outcome is not up to me, the outlook is!!
Hello <<First Name>>
If it is available to you, take a moment and notice any impulses to do something - anything other than what you are doing right now...then notice how it is in the body with this impulse or lack thereof without acting on it. Thank you
I am not one that reviews the previous year or makes resolutions or predictions or express my hopes for the new year. This is not because I am "so in the present" pretending that the past is over and that the future has not yet arrived, but because my life has unfolded in such unexpected ways, that I have learned to stay in the Mystery and out of the MyStory.
"I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding" John O'Donohue
However, because we are the end of a decade, I found myself reflecting on the last 10 years. These last 10 years are when I started my ‘second career’ as a mindfulness teacher, an undeniable Mystery, at least to me.
At the start of 2010, I was one year out of my 2-year “razor wire retreat.” 2009 was the year that I began teaching mindfulness sessions at the Hanley-Hazelton Treatment Center in WPB. Also, I was also assisting Tussi Kluge with community day-long retreats at her Palm Beach estate, something we offered monthly in 2009-10. Tussi was my mindfulness mentor, sponsor, and teacher and is a friend. She is the one most responsible for starting me on my mindfulness teaching journey. Tussi teaches mindfulness in Germany and will be here in January for a workshop highlighting her mindfulness book, “The Toolbox is You” (see below for details). From 2009 to 2013, I assisted Mimi Bailey (my 1st MBSR teacher) in organizing the MBSR classes at Jupiter Medical Center, occasionally co-teaching a class. It was in an MBSR class in 2013 that Arthur Calcagnini participated in that we began discussions for the establishment of the Calcagnini Center For Mindfulness at Jupiter Medical Center as a UMass CFM affiliate.
In 2010, I met and had lunch with Jon Kabat Zinn at Tussi’s estate, and inspiring meeting to say the least. I attended a 7-day retreat with Jon and Saki Santorelli two weeks later. Shortly thereafter, I co-taught my 1st MBSR classes - with Tussi at UM Medical School and with Kim LaRue at the Sari Center. From 2010 to the present, I taught over 150 mindfulness-based programs, expanding from community-based MBSR classes to MBSR classes for specific populations (eg, Firefighters, Nurses, school teachers) and developing and delivering modified MBSR based programs, workshops and retreats for a variety of facilities and institutions (eg, prisons, medical schools, law firms) and specific groups (eg, State Judges, mental health providers, under-resourced teens, physicians, Veterans). I have participated in mindfulness research with Amishi Jha and Scott Rogers at UMindfulness and continue to do so with FIU College of Medicine and UM Miller School of Medicine. In the summer of 2017, I left my day job to teach and advance mindfulness throughout our community full time. This culminated with my co-organizing and co-hosting of the “A Mindful South Florida” earlier in Dec 2019, the intention of which was to bring together the mindfulness community of the three So Fla counties.
Please know I do not mention all this for oohs&aahs, praise or accolades, but because it truly is a mystery to me. And more importantly, to express my deepest gratitude for your presence and support these last 10 years. The growth and evolution of mindfulness in So Fla would not this would be impossible without you and your ongoing support and commitment to your practice and to our community. May we continue to flourish and extend mindfulness to many people, in many ways, to the benefit ourselves, society at large, and our world.
“Whatever else they’re good for, decades serve to remind us we’re living in a transitory moment that will pass and get replaced by other moments” Rolling Stones mag
As much as the 2010s was the decade of my personal mindfulness evolution and development of my post-Medicine career, So Fla too saw a proliferation of mindfulness classes, programs, and offerings. These extend to all sectors of our community – hospitals, clinics, and medical centers; schools, from 1st grade to grad/med/law schools; non-profits; 1st responders; Veterans and their families; prisons; treatment centers; corporations and businesses; law firms, legal system, and courts; wellness centers and yoga studios. There is a growing number of certified mindfulness/MBSR teachers and teachers-in-training. We have local teacher training for certification and multi-day silent retreats. This decade also saw Amishi Jha establish one of the nation's top neuroscience of mindfulness and attention research labs at UM.
Also, Mindfulness went mainstream worldwide in the 2010s. Mindfulness classes, teachers, coaches, apps, researchers, promoters infiltrated all segments of our society, from the exam room to the classroom, the boardroom, dining room, bedroom, and war room. Being an experienced-based practice, mindfulness has benefited and improved the lives of many.
However, the last decade was not without its problems, challenges, and difficulties for me personally, for our society, and for mindfulness as well. I have seen the 2010s called the Decade of Truth Decay, Decade of Self-Delusion and Decade of Revolt. More germane to mindfulness is the designation, The Decade of Self-Care. Self-care is something we strongly emphasize in our mindfulness offerings. Mindfulness and self-care are part of the ‘global wellness industry’ that has arisen partly due to our desire to disconnect in a time when we are the more connected than ever and because of the problems with the ailing American Healthcare system that promotes preventive care and wellness so poorly.
Additionally, mindfulness has seen a backlash over the last few years, exemplified in the 2019 books “McMindfulness” by Ron Purser and “Mindfulness and Its Discontent” by David Forbes. Now, I don’t agree with Purser’s and Forbes’s criticism of the mindfulness movement, but they do have some valid points. The commodification of mindfulness has led to the watering down of what mindfulness is about and often misleads on what it can and cannot do. Mindfulness, particularly the neuroscience research has been hyped with exaggerated claims made by magazines, websites and teachers usually to grab your attention or sell you something. And worse, there is a tendency when things are not working out or are problematic to blame the practitioner and not the practice. The commercialization of mindfulness and self-care asserts that modern life is so stressful that adults need ceaseless soothing in order not to lose it or go nuts. This has the tendency to advocate the responsibility for our feeling stressed out to the individual and not to the institution, system or entity that created and propagates it. Adding to all this is the expensiveness of most mindfulness offerings and the inaccessibility to vulnerable populations, including those that may need it most.
"You and I should live as if You and I never heard of a You and an I" Rumi
Which brings me to social mindfulness, something I wrote about early this year (available here: part 1, part 2 & part 3). Briefly, since our minds are intrinsically tied up with our bodies and with the larger social and ecological contexts in which we are embedded, mindfulness is inherently a social practice. But social mindfulness is distinct from the common, everyday concept of mindfulness. Although both share a focus on ‘being aware in the present moment,’ social mindfulness explicitly focuses on others, whereas the more popular mindfulness focuses on the self. Emphasizing social mindfulness may thus contribute to promoting both prosociality as well as individual well-being. Couple this with the idea that almost all of our stress is socially derived - the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression in our culture is not due as much to pathological psychological traits as to dysfunctional workplaces, institutions, and systems, it makes sense to address together the troublesome patterns and faults rooted in our institutions, systems, and society. We need to stop just pulling people out of the river and start going upstream to find out who is throwing them in!
That said, I am not pessimistic or worried about the future of mindfulness, or for that matter, of our lives in general or the world. Still, I don’t know what mindfulness will look like next year, let alone the next decade. But I do see it as here to stay. My hope is to develop more social mindfulness awareness, if not offerings. And that we extend the reach of mindfulness to be more diverse and inclusive, and especially to those that are currently underserved. Being an evolutionary and an OptiMystic, I know we will flourish individually and collectively and make the world a better place—sooner or later. I trust that mindfulness will grow and evolve to benefit not just me, or us, or even all of us - but to serve all beings and our planet.
”Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bucking the trend toward short practices, my wish for 2020 and the 20s’ is that we go deeper and longer in our mindfulness practice. We should be more than just calming ourselves down or trying to feel better. Instead, we can engage our moments steadily over time so that we cultivate the attitudes that support letting go of the personal and interpersonal habits that sabotage our own and each other's well-being. We then can share our experiences with each other so that this increase and deepening of our practice, both individually and collectively, might help all of us to respond to the unpredictable and disturbing situations that may happen these coming years, as well as to celebrate and delight in the joyful and heartwarming occasions...
Finally, I sincerely want to thank you for attending my classes and workshops, gave feedback, read this newsletter and supported me this past decade. It is an honor to have worked with and shared mindfulness with you. And most of all, a deep bow of gratitude and love to my wife Bessy for sharing the journey and for our life together these past four decades ❤❤❤
Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy 2020 and a Mindful, ‘non-Roaring’ 20s
May you be healed and be a source of healing for others.
May we be healed and be a source of healing for many others.
May all beings be healed and be a source of healing for all of creation
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A Mindful South Florida update
"A Mindful South Florida" event was a success thanks to your support. In keeping with our intention to cultivate more mindful, well-functioning human beings and local communities, Valerie York-Zimmerman and I are holding meetings of mindfulness supporters and advocates to discuss forming A Mindful South Florida Coalition. We welcome all who are committed to deepening their mindfulness, wisdom, and loving-kindness in a community-based, more effective effort. Our first meeting will take place on Sunday afternoon, Jan 26 in South Miami. Please reply to this email if you would like to attend this exploratory planning meeting. We plan meetings in Palm Beach and Broward Counties in the near future.
Thank you again for your generosity, support and all you do for our community.
Here is the video of the main symposium at the Biltmore LINK HERE with Broward School Superintendent Bob Runcie, mindfulness in schools pioneer, Tish Jennings, Ph.D., criminal justice reformer, Judge Steve Leifman & mindfulness researcher, Neuroscientist and addiction psychiatrist, Jud Brewer, MD, Ph.D.
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"The Toolbox is You" Workshop
with
Maria Tussi Kluge
Author & MBSR Instructor
sponsored by
Mindful Kids Miami
Participants will be exploring the exercises in the book, all based on practical ways of finding the genius "toolbox inside ourselves." All the practices are tailored to guide each other in very practical ways.
January 16th, 5:00 - 8:00pm
Riviera Presbyterian Church, South Miami
Link HERE
Workshop $15 includes a copy of Tussi's book, ”The Toolbox is You“
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MBSR/mindfulness classes open for enrollment:
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Gus Castellanos' MBSR class:
- Saturdays, Jan 25 - Mar 14, 2020, 10am - 12:30pm with UM Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, CEs available. Link to register
- Wednesdays, Jan 29 -Mar 18, 5:30-8pm with Sari Center at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach. CEs available, Partial scholarships offered to anyone in need of financial assistance. Flyer HERE contact gus@18mind.com for info/to register
- Tuesdays, Jan 21 - Mar 10, 6-8:30pm, with Mindful Kids Miami at Riviera Presbyterian Church, South Miami. Registration/Info HERE
Valerie York-Zimmerman 8 week MBSR Thursdays, Jan. 23 – Mar 12, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., Garden Sanctuary, South Miami. Link HERE Orientation: Jan 16, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Valerie also offers MBSR Practicum Leading to Teacher Certification with UCSD’s Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute. Practicum students attend the MBSR Program for the public on Thursdays, Jan. 23 – Mar 12, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. and also meet separately for Practicum classes, Saturdays, Jan 25 – Mar 14, 10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Link HERE
Calcagnini Center For Mindfulness MBSR classes for 2020 listed for Winter and Spring 2020 link HERE
Mindful Kids Miami offers 8-week MBSR classes on:
*Saturdays, 10am-12:30pm, 1/18 – 3/14 with Martha Holmes at Mindful Kids Miami office, South Miami LINK HERE
*Wednesdays, 3:oo-5:30pm, 1/22 - 3/11 with Olivier de Lavalette at Flagler Elementary School, Miami. LINK HERE
*Thursdays, 3-5:30pm, 1/23 - 3/12 with Dorlie Banbanaste at Palm Lakes Elementary, Hialeah. LINK HERE
*Saturdays, 10am-12:30pm, 1/25 - 3/14 with Scott May at Barry University. LINK HERE
Patricia Isis, Ph.D. 8 week Mindful Self Compassion Mondays, 6:30-9:00PM, Jan 27 - Mar 16 at Mindful Kids Miami office, South Miami LINK HERE free orientation Monday, Jan 13, 6:30 - 8pm
Toni Saul MBSR Tuesdays, Jan 21 - Mar 17, 6-8:30pm, Coral Gables Congregational Church. Link HERE Free orientation Jan 21 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Flyer HERE
South Florida Center for Mindfulness
MBSR classes
LINK HERE FOR THESE CLASSES
Free Information Sessions:
Thurs, 1/9, 6 - 7:30 pm at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Piero
Sat, 1/11, 10:30 - 12 pm at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Piero
Classes Begin:
Thurs, 1/23 to 3/12, 6 - 8:30 pm at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Piero
Sat, 1/25 to 3/14, 10:30 - 1 pm at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Piero
8 week Mindful Self Compassion
Link HERE to Register
Free Information Sessions:
Tues. 1/7, 12:15 to 1:45 pm at Yoga Source Plantation with Sharon
Wed. 1/8, 6 - 7:30 pm at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Sharon
Classes Begin:
Tues. 1/14 to 3/10, 12:15 to 3:00 pm at Yoga Source Plantation with Sharon
Wed. 1/15 to 3/11, 6 - 8:45 pm at Boca Raton Physical Therapy with Sharon
Sacred Treehouse offers:
Link for info/to register HERE
*MBSR Wednesdays, Jan 22 - Mar 11, 6-8:30 PM in Boca Raton with Nicole Davis. Orientation: Wed, Jan 8, 6-7 PM
*MBSR Fridays, Jan 24 - Mar 13, 10 AM - 12:30 PM in Jupiter with Nicole Davis. Orientation: Friday, Jany 10, 6-7 PM
*8 week Mindful Self Compassion Fridays, Jan 24 - Mar 13, 10am-12:30pm in Delray Beach with Patty Shutt, PsyD
Carolyn Sant Angelo MBSR Wednesdays, Jan 8 – Feb 26, 5:30 – 8pm, at River of Grass, Davie. Register: Carolyn@InsightInstituteLLC.com. Link HERE ~ Flyer HERE
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