Feedback

Since I started sending out one month questionnaires in March 2021, 13 out of 13 participants responded. Here are all of their responses (in order) to the question of how the class helped them and how it could improve.

"I am more in the moment"

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"Loved the class. So relaxed. Funny, took me a while to not see things as right or wrong. Had a few sessions where I thought maybe my mind was freeing up more. I had a hard time with distractions, but that was on my end. The only suggestion I would have is reminding the class to mute themselves when going into longer meditations. It's really common sense but for weak minded individuals like myself, the sound of coughing, blowing noses and breathing issues was distracting. Overall though, really found it interesting and looked forward to the weekly classes."

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"I think it has helped w stress. I enjoy doing it. Its hard to say for sure just because a few outside factors also contributed to reducing stress, etc."

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"Less worrisome thoughts in my regular (non-meditation) day. "

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"The meditation has helped me think less about the results of Meditation. Before I might've wondered if I was progressing towards "enlightenment " now I don't wonder as much. It has also calmed the frustration that arises with golf practice :)"

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"I definitely sleep better when I keep it up. That's the biggest thing I've noticed. I really need to be better about keeping it up. The class was great. You were very patient with all my screw ups and I definitely feel like I got a lot out of it. "

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None

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I feel like I've been more mindful in my daily life since I started

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My blood pressure lowered an anger subsided but I used a different type of meditation which I am used to and I share with individuals in early recovery. The type of meditation that was taught in class would be for individuals that have more awareness.

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I prefer a different type of meditation, especially with clients in crisis. For myself, I need guidance.

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While I did not continue with the type of meditation we did in class on a regular basis; I did see a very unexpected benefit while I was using it. I usually get easily agitated over little things. This agitation spirals into various emotions: usually depression but sometimes anger and even panic. I found that during the time I was taking this class, my mind would pause before being overwhelmed by emotions. It meant having a choice to rise above and for me, that was huge and so unexpected.

I wondered why then that I so thoroughly avoided continuing the method. It was a great class and great technique. For me, I believe as a trauma survivor who experienced trauma for a prolonged period during very formative years, I developed an incredibly strong habit, even an instinct, of keeping myself throughly divorced from my body. This meditation technique put my consciousness back in my body in a way I wasn’t expecting and subconsciously I fought very hard to avoid that even though it’s a goal I’d love to accomplish.

Overall, I think this method is worth exploring and I think if you can prepare yourself ahead of time for the experience and know you may face resistance from an unconscious part of yourself - then it’s well worth it. I also think maybe combining this technique with counseling or some other support group could be helpful. I haven’t managed to get to that place myself yet but because of this class, I know what’s possible and feel hopeful for the future.

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Thank you so much for taking the time. (note: he didn't see any benefits during the class and stopped meditating after it ended)

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I’ve been able to meditate longer since I started and have had less anxiety during the actual sessions but I haven’t noticed any effects afterward.

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Not sure (note: he didn't see any benefits from the class)