Description
The Buddha began the Four Foundations of Mindfulness with the body, inviting us to “know the body as it really is.” The body is always here, always in the present moment, offering a direct doorway into awareness that is available amidst the ordinary rhythms of daily life. Yet many of us live primarily in our thoughts, disconnected from the wisdom, aliveness, and immediacy of embodied experience. This practice group explores how returning to the body again and again can become an anchor for presence, a refuge during difficulty, and a gateway to greater freedom.
Together we will cultivate embodied awareness through sitting and walking meditation, mindful movement, breath awareness, and simple contemplative rituals that help bring mindfulness off the cushion and into everyday life. We will explore practices that awaken our capacity to inhabit the body with curiosity and kindness, discovering how ordinary activities—walking, eating, drinking tea, washing dishes, or pausing to feel our feet on the earth—can become opportunities for practice. As we deepen our intimacy with the body, we begin to experience life more directly, meeting each moment with greater steadiness, sensitivity, and ease. Open to both new and experienced practitioners, this group offers a supportive community to explore what it means to live an embodied, awakened life—fully present to ourselves, to others, and to the world.
Attending an online practice group
- Sitting a practice group from home online differs greatly from coming to a meditation center. Tending to your comfort and giving yourself a quiet, private sitting and walking space (if possible, in your environment) will help keep your attention focused and support your practice and learning. Plan to bring as much simplicity and ease to your day as possible. The schedule of the practice group is structured to support your well-being and practice with regular breaks and time for mindful movement.
- We use Zoom for online practice groups. Before your practice group begins, be sure to download Zoom and familiarize yourself with using the program, including the chat feature. Specifics about how we use Zoom during your practice group will be covered initially; however, we cannot provide technical support during the group.
- We ask that you treat our virtual meditation hall as if we were together in person, in the same room. The teachers and other yogis benefit greatly from your full presence and careful attention.
- Join each session of the practice group a few minutes early. This will support the teachers and your fellow attendees.
- Please maintain noble silence as much as possible for the duration of the practice group and take any necessary steps to limit external distractions such as incoming emails, texts, or other interruptions to maintain the integrity of our practice together. Close all programs on your computer other than Zoom and turn off all notifications on your devices.
- Power off your phones and smartwatches for the entire practice group. Please don’t check your devices during breaks. We suggest you put an “away” message on your email and voicemail and leave your devices in another room during the practice group.
- Please keep your video on during our time together as much as possible. This supports a sense of connectedness and sangha.
- You will receive a welcome email from CIMC a day or two before your program, including the Zoom link, practice group schedule, and further information.
- Practice groups will often have home practices in between sessions.