with Amy Thompson Avishai
Gain a holistic understanding of what mindfulness is, and develop personalized practices that can positively impact your life. These simple—yet profound—practices will help you slow down and cultivate more calm, clarity and inner stability.
We will focus on foundational mindfulness concepts relating to the body, breath, thoughts, and emotions—including difficult emotions that we all experience. You will gain tools to cultivate a deeper and more compassionate connection to yourself, others, and the world.
Short talks and informal discussion (with plenty of time for questions) will be balanced with various forms of guided meditation, including seated on a chair or cushion, mindful movement, and standing or lying down. You will be offered options, and practices will be trauma-sensitive and accommodating to all.
Between classes, you’ll have a chance to adapt and integrate what we’ve covered into your everyday life. And because mindfulness and meditation are not "one size fits all,” you’ll discover what works best for you as an individual. Creative approaches are welcome (and optional) as part of your “homework”.
For newcomers and experienced practitioners (18 and up). Please note: This is not the Mindfulness Photography series that Amy often teaches.
This could be a good fit for you if:
you would benefit from the guidance and support of a teacher and a community
you are new to mindfulness practice
you would like to refresh or deepen an existing practice
you think that you can't meditate (you can.)
you have tried to meditate and didn’t stay with it, or feel stuck in some way (maybe you’ve used an app, taken a class, etc.)
you are seeking new or creative approaches to your practice
you meditate and would like to expand your mindfulness practice to your daily life and relationships.
MORE ABOUT AMY:
Amy’s mindfulness and meditation journey began over 20 years ago in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, and her practice has continued to deepen over the years.
She is a 2023 graduate of the two-year intensive Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, in partnership with the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley.
Amy worked as a photojournalist for many years, including at the New York Times’ bureau in Washington, D.C. and at the Valley News in Vermont and New Hampshire. She was also featured in National Geographic.
A Fulbright fellow, she has taught at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and other institutions. Amy is the founding teacher of The Center for Mindfulness Photography, based in Western Massachusetts, where students practice a blend of mindfulness and photography. Visit Amy's website.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS:
“Amy has a way of bringing stillness into a room and letting her teachings unfold by way of modeling mindfulness and presence. She is very receptive to the dynamics of the group and creates a safe and welcoming environment… Her workshop was as inspiring in its depth as it was in its simplicity” ~Liza S., educator
“Participating in Amy’s mindfulness workshop was a delight. So much of our lives are filled with endless action and pressure. Mindfulness is like pressing the reset button… learning how to be peaceful yet totally aware. The benefits of this concentrated focusing cannot be overstated. I hope to keep working on this in my daily life.” ~Medora H., visual artist
“The best gift was as soon as I quieted myself in a safe and comfortable space I began to realize truths about what I was going through in my life and became better equipped to handle these things. And better still I felt calmer. “ ~Katie G., environmental health professional
Wednesdays, 7:30-9:00pm, March 12 - April 2 (in-studio)
Sliding-scale series pricing: $80-130*
*A note regarding accessibility to all Sanctuary offerings: We have a range of scholarship options available. If the cost of participating is prohibitive, please email us at studio@yoga-sanctuary.com to learn more.