The Art of Meditation: 8 Practices for Mindfulness, Balance, and Well-Being
Discover the transformative power of meditation through an inner journey of mindfulness, creativity, and peace.
In this 8-week course, you’ll learn what meditation is — and isn’t. Explore a variety of meditation practices designed to create space for profound understanding to unfold. From foundational techniques like mindfulness and breath awareness to creative and expansive practices like mandala drawing and sound meditation, you’ll experience a range of tools to enrich your personal meditation practice and reach a state of clarity, calm, and connection. Join us and discover how the art of meditation can bring peace, presence, and possibility into your daily life.
Week 1: Introduction & Vipassana
Week 2: Lovingkindness (Metta)
Week 3: Breath Meditation (Pranayama)
Week 4: Body Scan & Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Week 5: Walking Meditation
Week 6: Art Meditation & Mandala Drawing
Week 7: Sound Meditation & Nada Yoga
Week 8: Gratitude Meditation & Dialogue
Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:00 pm beginning March 4, 2025
Location: The Library at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, 2701 Hayward St, Columbia, SC 29205
This donation based class is open to all. Come as you are. No credit card information is collected at sign up. Your info is only used to provide a head count and prepare for class.
Discover the transformative power of meditation through an inner journey of mindfulness, creativity, and peace.
In this 8-week course, you’ll learn what meditation is — and isn’t. Explore a variety of meditation practices designed to create space for profound understanding to unfold. From foundational techniques like mindfulness and breath awareness to creative and expansive practices like mandala drawing and sound meditation, you’ll experience a range of tools to enrich your personal meditation practice and reach a state of clarity, calm, and connection. Join us and discover how the art of meditation can bring peace, presence, and possibility into your daily life.
Week 1: Introduction & Vipassana
Week 2: Lovingkindness (Metta)
Week 3: Breath Meditation (Pranayama)
Week 4: Body Scan & Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Week 5: Walking Meditation
Week 6: Art Meditation & Mandala Drawing
Week 7: Sound Meditation & Nada Yoga
Week 8: Gratitude Meditation & Dialogue
Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:00 pm beginning March 4, 2025
Location: The Library at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, 2701 Hayward St, Columbia, SC 29205
This donation based class is open to all. Come as you are. No credit card information is collected at sign up. Your info is only used to provide a head count and prepare for class.
Discover the transformative power of meditation through an inner journey of mindfulness, creativity, and peace.
In this 8-week course, you’ll learn what meditation is — and isn’t. Explore a variety of meditation practices designed to create space for profound understanding to unfold. From foundational techniques like mindfulness and breath awareness to creative and expansive practices like mandala drawing and sound meditation, you’ll experience a range of tools to enrich your personal meditation practice and reach a state of clarity, calm, and connection. Join us and discover how the art of meditation can bring peace, presence, and possibility into your daily life.
Week 1: Introduction & Vipassana
Week 2: Lovingkindness (Metta)
Week 3: Breath Meditation (Pranayama)
Week 4: Body Scan & Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Week 5: Walking Meditation
Week 6: Art Meditation & Mandala Drawing
Week 7: Sound Meditation & Nada Yoga
Week 8: Gratitude Meditation & Dialogue
Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:00 pm beginning March 4, 2025
Location: The Library at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, 2701 Hayward St, Columbia, SC 29205
This donation based class is open to all. Come as you are. No credit card information is collected at sign up. Your info is only used to provide a head count and prepare for class.
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Not at all. Drop in for one, two, or all eight sessions. Each class offers an approachable path into meditation, so you can feel comfortable joining any session you’d like. When you sign up, you’ll be asked to let us know which sessions you plan to attend. If plans change, no worries.
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This course is very beginner-friendly. Come to the first class, if you can, where we will talk in depth about what meditation really is, and why you might like to try it. Each session offers an accessible and approachable path into meditation.
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Absolutely. There are always new insights to be gained and dialogues to share, even among experienced meditators. Meet a community of like-minded individuals and share your experiences, while perhaps picking up some new techniques or food for thought.
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Yes, this course is offered absolutely free. If you like, you can make a donation, a portion of which will go to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia for providing their beautiful library space for us to use, and the other portion of which will be used by Sumac Arts to offer more programming and events like this one for our community partners like schools, healthcare facilities, and nonprofits.
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Not really. Religion is a set of rules, and meditation is more about freedom from rules, freedom from thought. But the insights gained from deep meditation can certainly be profoundly spiritual in nature, and may even breathe new meaning into some of the religious doctrines with which you may be familiar.
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Meditation is a safe practice for the vast majority of people. That said, sometimes going inward can result in some uncomfortable feelings that surface, because we are giving ourselves permission to simply “be.” When we feel safe enough to approach this rich inner landscape with curiosity and compassion, we can start to gain the understanding necessary to truly sit with even our uncomfortable or distressing emotions without fear or judgment. This kind of nonjudgmental attention can result in profound insight. This journey can be somewhat difficult, however, and if you are distressed, please consult your doctor. Of course, meditation is not a substitute for medical advice or medication, and this group will not diagnose or treat any issues. If you have any questions, please consult with your doctor.