***We will be in the meeting room upstairs at the elevator/stair lobby across from the porcelain facilities***

The March Meetup happens to fall on Proceed Day, when we March 4th (march forth). This is a little known, made up (but aren’t they all) holiday. My former supervisor supposedly started it. Proceed to rational mindfulness to celebrate…I promise no mindful marching. Life can be so stressful—it really helps to learn and practice evidence-based techniques to manage stress and to become more compassionate. Especially for non-believers, it is important to do so in a science-friendly, rational atmosphere.

The Rational Mindfulness Group supports secular people in using scientifically-informed mindfulness and meditation practices to reduce stress, sharpen thinking, calm emotions, and enhance compassion. Our meetings combine various types of meditation, yoga (stretching), readings, and discussions. It’s a great place for both those who want to learn how to meditate and become more mindful, and for those with some experience who want to try out new techniques and meet like-minded folks.

Recommended Reading

Benson, Dr. Herbert, The Relaxation Response, Morrow ,1975

Boyce, Berry (ed), The Mindfulness Revolution: Leading Psychologists, Scientists, Artists, and Meditation Teachers on the Power of Mindfulness in Daily Life, Shambhala, 2011

Harris, Sam, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, Simon & Schuster, 2014

Kabat-Zinn, Jon, Full Catastrophe Living(Revised Edition): Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness, Bantam, 2013

Kabat-Zinn, Jon, Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment – and Your Life, Sounds True, 2011

Kabat-Zinn, Jon, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Daily Life, Hyperion, 1994

Puddicombe, Andy, Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in Ten Minutes a Day, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2011

Suzuki, Shunryu, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, Weatherhill, 2002 (5th Printing).

Williams, Prof Mark and Dr Danny Penman, Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World, Rodale, 2011

Links and Apps

Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World – Guided Meditations: http://rodalebooks.s3.amazonaws.com/mindfulness/index.html

http://www.mindful.org

Apps: Simply Being (basic short guided meditations $.99); Headspace (comprehensive guided meditation sessions, some limited free content); Mental Workout (meditations and other strategies, some limited free content). Insight Timer (lots of free guided meditations, and a customizable timer, etc.).

Typical Schedule

15 Min – Getting settled – general conversation
10 Min – Introduction to Rational Mindfulness
10 Min – Q & A
15 Min – Mindful Breath Meditation Instruction and Meditation (start with body scan)
10 Min – Mindful Walking Instruction and Practice
15 Min – Mindful Breath Meditation
15 Min – Reading and Q & A