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Greetings!
"How sweet I roamed from field to field, and tasted all the summer's pride"
~William Blake (1757-1827)
 Mindfulness comes in many forms and for me, today, it came in the form of peas. Let me explain. This is the first year that my family and I have been involved in a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, thanks to our friends Cindy and Jim. I am not and have never been a vegetable gardener; the produce aisle at my local grocery and an occasional farmer's market have always been fine with me. So, I was a bit concerned that our foray into weekly vegetable pickups from the CSA would be just another thing to add to an already very full to-do list; but I was mistaken.
My weekly pickups have instilled more mindfulness in my Thursdays. I don't know what types of veggies we will be having for dinner until I actually pick them up. Without the pre-planning and future thinking of making lists of specific ingredients for an intended recipe, I have become accustomed to the surprise of picking up whatever has been harvested that day and enjoying the adventure of the present moment by combining often disparate ingredients into something simple but often delicious.
I have become mindful of the complex flavors of the multiple varieties of greens, have experienced the curiously intense flavor of freshly harvested fennel, and gained a new appreciation for the labor involved in picking and shelling enough peas to feed a family. Today as I ventured out to pick some fresh peas off the vines at First Root Farm, I recognized this new form of summer mindfulness meditation in my life; stopping in the middle of a busy day with many pressing deadlines (like a newsletter to get out) and simply choosing and picking ripe, plump peas for the dinner table; no way to hurry up the process, just simply going with the rhythm of nature with a curious and open mind. I am not sure what next week's bounty will be, but these peas look incredible in this moment.
Wishing you a month of bountiful mindfulness,
Pam
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Meditation Maintenance | |
Meditation Maintenance Sessions are a great way to give yourself a monthly self-care "tune-up" by joining with fellow meditators to discuss insights and challenges of your practice. You are welcome to attend each month or simply on an occasional basis. You will find a supportive and welcoming respite in the midst of your busyness.
Summer 2011 Schedule
Evening sessions meet from 7-9 PM
Wed, July 13
No August Session
Wed, Sept 14
Daytime sessions meet 12:30-2:30
Fri, July 8
No August Session
Fri, Sept 9
Both evening and daytime sessions are held at Stress Resources' office (97 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA). Please pre-register for sessions as space is limited. Meditation Maintenance sessions are $15 per session. Register by e-mail or by phone (978-369-5243). | |
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Last Chance to Register for
MBSR Camp Aug 29-Sept 1 | | |
Don't Delay...Registration Closes on August 1
4-day MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) Camp for adults. The MBSR Camp will be held in Concord, MA and includes training in MBSR tools and techniques over the course of 4 consecutive half-days (9 AM -12 noon) for a total of 12 hours of group instruction and meditation practice.
The MBSR Camp is experiential in nature and will include both indoor and outdoor meditation training, as well as a field trip to a New England labyrinth. MBSR Camp is particularly suited to teachers and educators interested in incorporating mindfulness into their classrooms, but also open to anyone who is interested in MBSR training. If you are not local to the area, this would be a beautiful time of the year to visit New England, work with me, and enjoy local sightseeing in the afternoons (a list of local accomodations would be provided).
The MBSR Camp will be offered the last week of August (Mon-Thurs, Aug. 29-Sept 1). Cost is $300 per person. Minimum enrollment is necessary for the program to be held.
Secure online registration is now open by clicking here. If you prefer to register by mail, please email me for registration info. |
| Mindfulness at Walden Woods Workshop to be held on August 24 |
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Back by popular demand...Stress Resources' popular annual summer mindfulness workshop.
Last year we ventured to Walden Woods in Concord and explored Brister's Path, a beautifully natural environment steps away from the crowds of Walden Pond. We will again return to this magical spot on Wed, August 24 with a raindate of Thurs, August 25, from 6-8 PM.
Join us for this special evening of mindfulness. Registration is limited and all materials are included. The workshop does require walking on uneven ground and is not well suited to those with mobility issues.
Click here to find out more about the workshop or to register.
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Stress Resources Can Help You Begin or Maintain a Mindfulness Practice | |
 Are you curious about the new research on the health benefits of mindfulness? Are you interested in exploring how to add mindfulness practices into your busy life? Do you feel you might benefit from gentle guidance in establishing, renewing or maintaining a mindfulness practice?
Stress Resources will help you craft a mindfulness practice that makes sense for you.
- Flexible MBSR/Private and Semi-Private Mindfulness Training: This unique option offered by Stress Resources allows the individual to set the pace for training but maintains the essential framework of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in private or semi-private sessions. The individual mindfulness training option allows your MBSR training to take place over 8-12 weeks at your own pace and schedule. Four individual sessions (1-hour each) are scheduled at the participant's convenience with morning, afternoon and evening sessions available. Additional training sessions may be added as needed for an additional fee and a Blue Cross/Blue Shield discount is available. Train with a friend for added savings.
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Creating a Mindful Society | | |
 Being hailed as "a landmark gathering of the mindfulness community" the upcoming conference Creating a Mindful Society, being held in New York City from Sept 30-Oct 1, is sure sure to bring increased awareness to the growing field of mindfulness. The vision of the conference is to bring many perspectives and voices to the table with the intention of creating a more mindful society.
The program looks great, with keynote speakers such as: Jon Kabat-Zinn (Center for Mindfulness-UMass), Richard Davidson (Center for Investigating Healthy Minds-UWisconsin) Janice Marturano (Institute for Mindful Leadership), and U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio). The event will be held at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64th St in New York City.
Event information and registration is available at eOmega.org/mindfulness/NYC/pc |
Register NOW for Fall MBSR Groups | | |
Fall seems like a long time away, but classes are beginning to fill up for the Fall Group Mindfulness B ased Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes. There is currently still room in both the evening and morning sessions.
Make sure you don't miss out by registering soon for either the Thursday evening program, beginning on September 29, or the Friday morning program, beginning on Septemer 30. Classes are limited to 15 students and are approved for continuing education for nurses and other health care providers.
To find out more about Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction or to register either by mail or online, click here.
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Stress Resources is on YouTube |
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 Check out the new Stress Resources Channel on YouTube.com You will find a collection of clips, dialogs, and lectures from some of the world's foremost teachers of mindfulness, compassionate communication, stress reduction and relaxation methods...and some videos that I just plain like! This will be an evolving and expanding collection, so be sure to check in often by clicking this link and subscribing to the Stress Resources Channel (it's free!)
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Opening the Door to Meditation | | |
Thanks for your positive feedback and support of Opening the Door to Meditation...we are on the second run of the CD!
"Opening the Door to Meditation has become my favorite "GO TO" CD for my daily meditation. I love the 20 minute version with the guitar, and I have not missed a day now for the longest time."
"I hope Opening the Door to Meditation will find its way to people new to meditation (and those of us who've gotten sidetracked...). The music is great, and I think many people would enjoy it, whether new to meditation or not."
How can you order Opening the  Door to Meditation? - Stress Resources' secure online shopping cart by clicking here
- Downloadable mail-in order form by clicking here
- Amazon.com and entering "opening the door to meditation" in the search box
Do you already have a copy of Opening the Door to Meditation? First, thank you for purchasing a copy and secondly, we would love to hear your comments! You can post them directly on the Stress Resources Facebook Page  or to the Amazon.com review area. |
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