Meditation Courses

Developing attention through body and mind

There are many kinds of meditation: from simple mindfulness practices to teach our minds to remain stabile and focused, to complex tantric visualizations that train our more exceptional mental capacities. They all aim at opening our minds to a more positive and caring perception of ourselves and the world around us.

The basis for all meditation is training in mindfulness. Mindfulness allows us to be present in the moment, in the 'here and now'. This is a powerful way to come into contact with our inner world and to find our balance - the basis from which peace originates. This is why meditation is healing and calming.

By practicing meditation we can also become aware of our negative attitudes towards ourselves and others. We will start to notice how we constantly judge things as pleasant or unpleasant. If we find something unpleasant, we react with distancing, and if we find it pleasant, we react with attachment. In order to get an attitude of acceptance through various forms of meditation we train ourselves to perceive anything that comes up within us without judgment.

Meditation can also strengthen our connection with our inner positivity. By reacting defensively we not only close the door to other people; we also disconnect ourselves from our own deeper layers of love and openness. By meditating we train our minds to stay focused on our essential nature; we rediscover the very basis of our humanity.

Jewel Heart offers several meditation trainings. Although in their basis they are comparable, they emphasize different aspects:

Clear Mindfulness

We spend a large part of the day in our thoughts. We hold on to the past, or we occupy ourselves with the future. We worry, argue and try to grasp for happiness. But we are rarely successful in achieving our goal....

We seldom focus our attention on the present, on the 'here and now'. For this reason we lose contact with ourselves. We ignore physical symptoms and our emotions. We do not control our own minds.

In eight sessions we will practice different forms of awareness: of the breath, of the senses, of feelings and of thoughts. Each evening starts with some simple physical exercises; there will be a brief introduction about meditation and the opportunity to exchange experiences. In between class sessions, you will be given assignments to practice formal and informal meditation at home.

Facilitator: Paula Boon is a meditation facilitator at Jewel Heart.

Please check the course overview for dates and times (in Dutch).

Clear Mindfulness and Relaxing

There are many factors in our lives that can cause stress. We usually react to them in ways which only increase the stress we were hoping to avoid. Through meditation we learn to open up to what is there. It takes courage to make total contact with the situation as it is, and to let feelings and thoughts flow through us without feeding them or trying to get rid of them as soon as possible.

In this course we will start to gain insight into the way these processes take place. We will practice becoming more and more totally present in the now - and being friendlier towards ourselves and others. With this open attitude as a starting point, we make contact with the silence within.

In twelve sessions, through sitting and walking meditation, we will practice being mindful of breathing, of our body and our senses, of our feelings and our thoughts. Suggestions about how to practice formal and informal meditation at home will also be provided.

Facilitator: Paula Boon is a meditation facilitator at Jewel Heart.

Please check the course overview for dates and times (in Dutch).

Meditation and Body work

Meditation enables us to recognize our problems, to deal with them in a more timely and effective way and possibly even to avoid them. Through meditation, we learn to become more loving towards ourselves and our fellow human beings, and to become happier. By becoming aware of the tensions in our body and by dealing with them, we can deepen both our meditation practice and our general well-being. This course includes exercises that stimulate our awareness of where and how we tighten up, and how we can start letting go. In this way we can create  amore open attitude in our bodies as well as in our minds.

To get a better contact with our bodies and aspects like tension and relaxation, meditation and body work will be alternated.

Facilitator: Marja de Lint is a Cesar Therapist (ITIP) and meditation facilitator at Jewel Heart.

Please check the course overview for dates and times (in Dutch).

Developing Attention through Yoga

Information in English will be available soon. Information in Dutch is available here.

Facilitator: Fenneke Lust is a yoga teacher (Saswitha in Bilthoven) and meditation facilitator at Jewel Heart.

Please check the course overview for dates and times (in Dutch).

Follow-up Course Meditation

During this course on Tuesday evening, we deepen our awareness of our breath, body, senses, our feelings and thoughts. We will also pay attention to developing kindness for ourself and others. This course is open to participants who have participated in one of the other meditation courses. 

Facilitator: Paula Boon is a meditation facilitator at Jewel Heart.

Please check the course overview for dates and times (in Dutch).
 
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