Daylong Meditation Retreat:
Cultivating Mindfulness and Equanimity
SPRINGTIME...
With the arrival of spring comes a reawakening of the senses, as we begin to re-engage with life outside our apartments. And with this we might notice freshness, excitement, distractions, transitions. This is an opportune time to reflect on how we are relating with our lives and our world.
WHY A DAYLONG RETREAT?
In a daylong meditation retreat, we can give ourselves the gifts of rest, self-care, and self exploration. By deepening our awareness through a day of practice, we can learn to see things as they are; to gently notice the habits of our mind; and to connect with a genuine sense of our groundedness and aliveness that can help carry us through the year.
EQUANIMITY AND MINDFULNESS
In this mindfulness retreat, we will have a particular focus on the practice of equanimity: the ability to remain connected to a sense of our intrinsic wholeness in the midst of constant change, without clinging to the pleasant, tensing against the difficult, or tuning out to everything in between.
WHAT THE DAY WILL LOOK LIKE
The day will consist of guided instruction in several forms of mindfulness meditation, gentle stretching and yoga (suitable for all ages and abilities), periods of silent practice, and time to ask questions and discuss meditation within a supportive community. Suited for new and experienced meditators alike. Chairs will be provided, though you may bring a meditation cushion if you prefer.
There will be a 45-minute lunch period. Participants are asked to keep their phones off or on silent for duration of the retreat, including during lunch. You can bring lunch with you or go out to purchase food. Please wear comfortable clothing, layers and socks. Bring a water bottle and yoga mat if you have one (the church has a few mats.)
LOGISTICS
Saturday, April 11th, 10am-5pm
Astoria First Presbyterian Church
23-35 Broadway Astoria, NY, 11106
Space is limited to 18 participants. Register early to reserve your spot.
Cost of retreat: Sliding scale $40-$60.
$40 - for full-time students, seniors, unemployed
$50 - general rate
$60 - benefactor rate (if you are able, please consider this rate to help sponsor those attending at the $40 rate.)
If you have any questions or are unable to pay the suggested rates, please email Emily Herzlin: emily.herzlin@gmail.com
About the teachers:
Emily Herzlin is a writer and teacher. Emily has been practicing mindfulness meditation for over ten years, and trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) through the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School. She is also a graduate of the Yearlong Immersion and Teacher Training program at the Interdependence Project, where she currently teaches MBSR. She has taught creative writing and mindfulness meditation at Columbia University, The Interdependence Project, Adelphi University, GreenspaceNYC, and Mission to (dit)Mars. Emily organizes Mindful Astoria, a meditation group in Astoria, Queens.
Paul Sireci began practicing Buddhism and meditation in earnest in 1996. Having been a monastic for several years in the early 2000s, he has continued his love affair with the path as a lay practitioner and psychotherapist. Paul is inspired by a vision in which the radical truths found in the teachings will create a 21st century Buddhism that is not afraid of engaging issues of power, privilege, and difference. He is passionate about an emerging Dharma centered on healing and transforming communities as much as it is already helping people find their native sanity. In his free time, Paul can usually be found wandering around Chinatown.