Community Meditation

Beginning in the fall of 2023, Atlantic Academy will host group meditation sessions twice a week.

Tuesday nights

5:15 - 6:15 PM

Sitting and walking mindfulness meditation

At Atlantic Academy, we believe that fostering well-being is not only a commitment but a shared responsibility that extends beyond the walls of our institution. Rooted in this belief, we are thrilled to announce a new initiative that brings the transformative power of mindfulness meditation to the greater community, free of charge.

Mindfulness meditation has long been a cornerstone of our commitment to holistic education for both our staff and students. The benefits of mindfulness are well-documented, ranging from reduced stress and anxiety to enhanced focus and overall mental well-being. Recognizing its profound impact within our own community, we felt compelled to share this invaluable practice with our neighbors.

These sessions are an extension of our dedication to well-being and aim to create a space for individuals to explore the transformative potential of mindfulness.

Our Approach to the Practice

We will be practicing the cultivation of an open and gentle awareness of our experience, one breath at a time. Initially, this practice starts with following the breath, as a sort of anchor to rest our attention on. In some traditions, we rest our attention on the breath, noticing how each inhalation and exhalation feels moving through our body, noticing the depth or shallowness of our breath, and perhaps the sound of our breath. In other traditions, the practice is to count each breath (either the inhalation or exhalation) up to 10, then start over again until the end of the meditation period.

During our sitting practice, the mind will naturally wander to thoughts, sensations, and environmental stimuli, such as noises, odors, and/or visual stimuli. When this happens, when we notice that our attention has drifted, we gently bring our awareness back to the breath, back to the technique that serves as our anchor for the present moment.

After a period of sitting meditation, we engage in walking meditation, where we walk slowly and purposefully together, stretching our legs, while continuing to practice mindfulness meditation in silence. In walking meditation, the anchor for our attention is the contact of our feet with the ground. So when distraction arises, we come back to the feeling of the ground beneath our feet.

Guided Practice

There will be times during our group practice where we follow audio-recorded guided meditations by Dr. Reggie Ray, a meditation teacher that practices within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. In these guided sessions, we will practice both in a laying down and sitting position, with the aim of strengthening our own somatic awareness and sense of embodiment, using such techniques as visualization, breath work, and body-scanning.

These particular practices are an excellent way to begin one’s meditation practice. Whereas mindfulness-based meditation (i.e., following the breath) can take a long time to garner positive results, these body-based practices can immediately benefit the practitioner in terms of lowered stress, an increased sense of groundedness, and deeper self-awareness.

Although some of the guided meditations have few references to Tibetan Buddhism, the practices do not require or necessitate any religiosity whatsoever. In fact, as you will experience, these guided meditations are inherently secular and intimately personal, as the goal is simply to cultivate a deeper relationship with one’s body, mind, and life.

Where

Group meditation will be held at Atlantic Academy, at 10 Knowlton St, Camden, ME.

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For more information on these practices led by Dr. Reggie Ray, you can visit Insight Timer for talks and guided practices: https://insighttimer.com/reggieray