NEW Virtual Course
Finding Stillness:
Introduction to Mindfulness &
Meditation
Finding Stillness is a warm and welcoming introduction to mindfulness meditation created especially for people who are ready to reconnect with their inner steadiness. Whether you're navigating midlife changes, healing after illness, rebuilding your energy, or simply craving more peace in your days, this course offers a gentle space to breathe, slow down, and rediscover yourself.
Over four 90-minute weekly sessions, you’ll learn foundational meditation practices that support emotional well-being, strengthen resilience, and nurture your capacity for presence. You’ll be guided step-by-step in a compassionate environment. No prior meditation experience required.
What You'll Learn:
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Foundations of Mindful Awareness
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The power of mindfulness, an introduction to meditation, and common misconceptions about meditation
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Guided meditation on the breath and alternative anchors; finding a place to rest and feel grounded.
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Cultivating Kindness, Compassion, and Joy (Metta)
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How to connect with your anchors of calm and comfort
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How to work skillfully with overwhelming emotions (window of tolerance)
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How to soften self-judgment and cultivate self-compassion
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How mindfulness supports healing, stress reduction, and inner balance
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How to integrate presence into your everyday life—even on busy days
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How to build a simple, sustainable meditation practice
Live Session Dates:
TBD
Format: Online via Zoom
Duration: 4 weeks
Class Length: 90 minutes each week
Cost: Dāna-based Offering (form below)
"To freely give with a heart of great compassion"
There is no registration fee for this course, however there is the opportunity to offer Dāna, a generosity-based offering, to help continue to provide such courses and workshops for others, or it could be a donation to a charity that means something to you, or sharing what you learn with others to continue to spread peacefulness and compassion through your community. If it's helpful to have a suggested amount, a contribution of $25 is welcome. You are invited to give more, or less, or nothing at all, according to what feels right and sustainable for you.
Course Includes:
4 Live sessions + Recorded guided meditations + weekly practices + journal prompts
About this course
This course is being offered as my practicum for the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Program (MMTCP) with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and many other amazing teachers like Sharon Saltzburg, Jonathan Foust, Rhonda V. Magee, and others. As per the practicum requirements, one session will be recorded for the purpose of receiving feedback from my mentor and will be used solely for that purpose. The recording will be audio only.
While this course fulfills a course requirement, I'm so grateful to have this opportunity to explore mindfulness and meditation with you and to support you in your own growth journey.
Whatever brought you here, you are in the right place. This course is about slowing down, learning to be more aware of your breath, your emotions, and how to generally become more mindful in daily life, through kindness, generosity, and compassion.
In Buddhist tradition, Dharma teachers take a leap of faith with every retreat, offering their wisdom, compassion, time and life energies with no expectation of receiving anything in return. Their own practice involves living from a place of deep trust that those who value and practice the teachings will be inspired to help provide for their support, which allows them to continue to offer these priceless teachings.
So, while there was no registration fee for this course, there is the opportunity to offer Dāna, whether that comes directly to me in order to help continue to provide such courses and workshops for others, or maybe it’s in the form of a donation to a charity that means something to you, or if it’s sharing what you learn here with others to continue to spread peacefulness and compassion through your community.
To freely give with a heart of great compassion.
To give without expecting anything in return.
To give thinking of the needs of others without considering one’s own benefit.
The three types of Dāna:
1. The gift of material goods (財施 zai-se): To share of one’s wealth and property for the benefit of the community and those in need.
2. The gift of Dharma (法施 hō-se): To share one’s appreciation of the Buddha’s teachings.
3. The gift of freedom from fear (無畏施 mui-se): To share the courage of true wisdom, so that the difficulties of life can be met with a calm and peaceful heart.
If you would like to offer monetary gratitude in the form of Dāna, please complete this form and offer any amount over $1.00 USD.
In gratitude (gassho)
Anika
FAQs
What if I miss a class?
If you are unable to attend a session, please try to inform me in advance. You may still attend the other sessions, but know that they will not be recorded other than one of the sessions to submit to my mentor. That recording will not be shared with participants.
What meditation experience is required?
This course is an introduction to mindfulness meditation. No previous experience is required.
Will this course be interactive?
Yes, each session will consist of some time to connect with one another, opportunities to practice guided meditation, reflection and sharing, and Q&A.
What if I'm unable to offer dāna?
There is no requirement to offer dāna. Anyone is welcome regardless of financial circumstance.
Contact
Feel free to reach out with your questions. I'm happy to answer them and looking forward to sharing.