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Regular group mediation in the Well has started again (in person) and anyone is welcome to continue to use the space for group or individual meditation.
Regular group mediation in the Well has started again (in person) and anyone is welcome to continue to use the space for group or individual meditation.
We encourage those interested to get notifications of future activities in the Well to submit their e mail via the Contacts page on this Well website.
We encourage those interested to get notifications of future activities in the Well to submit their e mail via the Contacts page on this Well website.
During the academic semester we meet up during the academic semesters in "the Well" for free and open meditation practice. 334 Duckering - check out the Well's calendar.
During the academic semester we meet up during the academic semesters in "the Well" for free and open meditation practice. 334 Duckering - check out the Well's calendar.
Open to beginners as well as regulars - open to all.
Open to beginners as well as regulars - open to all.
Rather than guided meditation, the meditation group at 'the Well' uses a very simple, silent sitting and walking meditation practice. The group is encouraged at the start to transfer their attention over to their hands held gently in their lap, to focus on a small patch of the floor in front of them at 45 degrees down and, most importantly, to focus their attention on their breathing. A good place to start, when focussing on the breath, is to do what some call ‘the four count breath’ or ‘square breathing’ - breathing in for a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of four, breathing out for a count of four, holding for a count of four - repeat! We also soemtimes try out some walking meditation.
Rather than guided meditation, the meditation group at 'the Well' uses a very simple, silent sitting and walking meditation practice. The group is encouraged at the start to transfer their attention over to their hands held gently in their lap, to focus on a small patch of the floor in front of them at 45 degrees down and, most importantly, to focus their attention on their breathing. A good place to start, when focussing on the breath, is to do what some call ‘the four count breath’ or ‘square breathing’ - breathing in for a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of four, breathing out for a count of four, holding for a count of four - repeat! We also soemtimes try out some walking meditation.
We can aim to do a little of this every day. Our ‘monkey mind’, our busy mind, will break our focus on our breathing - but then when we become aware of this we simply bring our attention back to our breathing, the floor, our hands held gently in our laps. This out and back, out and back repeats ... repeating acts to strengthen our mind 'muscle'.
We can aim to do a little of this every day. Our ‘monkey mind’, our busy mind, will break our focus on our breathing - but then when we become aware of this we simply bring our attention back to our breathing, the floor, our hands held gently in our laps. This out and back, out and back repeats ... repeating acts to strengthen our mind 'muscle'.
The mediation sessions welcome beginners, drop-ins as well as those people that already have a meditation practice. The group meditation practice provides an opportunity to hone a mediation skill that can be transferred to anywhere and anytime - even to use when we are unable to regularly make the group mediation session - to even use for half an hour sitting quietly at your desk or walking up from our parking spot or for a short patch of time before we are about to make a presentation.
The mediation sessions welcome beginners, drop-ins as well as those people that already have a meditation practice. The group meditation practice provides an opportunity to hone a mediation skill that can be transferred to anywhere and anytime - even to use when we are unable to regularly make the group mediation session - to even use for half an hour sitting quietly at your desk or walking up from our parking spot or for a short patch of time before we are about to make a presentation.
Resources
Resources
This you tube video gives some helpful guidance and encouragement. A little meditation each day.
https://iteachu.uaf.edu/a-gentle-reminder/ Take a moment to connect to your breath
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-kMJBWk9E0
This you tube video is short and sweet and gives some basic guidance and encouragement to practice mediation a little each day - where ever you are.
The Simple Dutch Cure for Stress: “Uitwaaien” is a popular activity around Amsterdam—one believed to have important psychological benefits.
Nature article: The mental health of PhD researchers demands urgent attention - 2019
The need for 'deep work' - training our ability to concentrate
https://www.npr.org/2017/07/25/539092670/you-2-0-the-value-of-deep-work-in-an-age-of-distraction
Increased activity and decreased depression recent research
Interesting NIH funded research on meditation and wellbeing
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/researchers-develop-new-metrics-for-measuring-mental-states-during-meditation?nav=govd&utm_source=Center+for+Healthy+Minds&utm_campaign=514567460c-Apr2020_DNewsletter_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cce2315563-514567460c-9742869
The mental health of PhD researchers demands urgent attention - 2021
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