a place for contemplative practice, deep listening and compassion
Mindfulness Meditation
Anxiety and chronic stress are taking a toll on mental and physical health, relationships, and overall well-being. Endless information and distraction contribute to increasing levels of stress and anxiety. Drowning in “to-do” lists, we have lost our capacity to ride the waves of awareness that can carry us to calmer seas of clarity and connection. Research reveals that the antidote to endless rumination and worry lies in our capacity to pay attention to present-moment experience with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to be with what is, no matter the outer circumstance.
Mindfulness meditation can be thought of as hygiene for the mind and brain. It's essentially an "inner exercise" to strengthen and enhance focus, concentration, insight, empathy, compassion, attuned communication, and resilience.
Our Director of Mindfulness Education, Kay Stewart, M.Ed., founded Stillwaters Mindfulness Training in 2013 after completing graduate study in Mindfulness and Contemplative eduction. She offers various mindfulness classes and retreats through what has evolved to be Shallowford Center for Mindful Living. Offerings are grounded in the principles and practices of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, an evidence-based program developed by Jon Kabat Zinn in 1979. Ancient contemplative wisdom intersects with modern contemplative neuroscience to reveal that, with practice, our brains can literally be “rewired” for resilience, compassion, and embodied presence.
For a taste of mindfulness practice and easy access to free guided mindfulness meditation recordings with Kay, follow Stillwaters Mindfulness on Soundcloud.
“In essence, mindfulness ... being about attention, awareness, relationality, and caring ... is a universal human capacity akin to our capacity for language acquisition. It is a way of being in wise and purposeful relationship with one’s experience, both inwardly and outwardly, with oneself and with others ... It usually involves cultivating familiarity and intimacy with aspects of everyday experience that we often take for granted." - Jon Kabat Zinn
Shallowford Center for Mindful Living offers educational programming through various class series, practice circles, and retreats scheduled throughout the year.
To be notified of class offerings, please join our email list (at the bottom of this page).
You can also request a retreat or workshop specifically designed for your group or organization.
Questions?