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Health & Fitness

Meditation and Mindfulness - Self Care

Meditation, Self Care, Reiki, Yoga, Health Bodies

Meditation is a powerful tool for helping us keep the mind clear.  Think of all the noise that is continually going on in your head.  Meditation helps you clear the mind to find a peaceful place to be.  Many people when you ask them about meditation think that it is “hocus pocus” or something that they could never do.  One thinks that it would be hard to sit still for so long or that they would just fail at it and it wouldn’t work.  It isn’t that hard and it is has been proven to help with memory, attention, thought and consciousness. 

So what does one do at a meditation workshop?  They vary!  For example, it may be learning how to come up with a mantra – an expression that one repeats over and over again – that allows one to escape the rambling of the mind and focus instead on a syllable, a word or a phrase.  By sitting or lying down, one repeats this mantra over and over again for 5, 10 or twenty minutes. 

It is a skill that has been shown to lower blood pressure, ease chronic pain and soothe headaches and stomachaches.  It can help one relax the tight muscles in one’s body just through the most basic of mantras “OM”.  

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The Somerville Council on Aging is offering two different series with meditation in mind.  The first is a lunch time series on Stress Management & Self Care that will focus on Reiki, Meditation and an overview of alternative therapies.  This series begins December 4th from 12:30 – 1:30 pm and continues through December 18th.  It is free and open to the public.  Bring your lunch and there will also be light refreshments.  Come to one or all three.

The other event is called “Four Weeks to Better Health” meeting on December 22nd and continuing every Tuesday through February 12th.  This meets at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm.  Cost is $20 for the four week session.  This is led by a certified yoga/meditation instructor.  Session one cover happy hips, knees and feet.  Session two covers good digestion.  Session three focuses on healthy hearts and Session four is on mindfulness and mediation. 

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Both events are at the Holland Street Center at 167 Holland Street Somerville.  RSVP and pre-registration is required.  617-625-6600 ext. 2316.

 

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