Mindfulness Week 2016 (October 10-14)

by

2015 Ambuel and Pitts

http://meditation.umwblogs.org/mindfulness-week/

Mindfulness Week 2016

The University of Mary Washington presents the 4th Annual UMW Mindfulness Week (Mon. Oct. 10-Fri. Oct. 14th, 2016), a week-long series of activities that center on cultivating integrated, whole-person wellness through the intersections of mindfulness, creativity, social justice, and contemplative practice.  All events are free and open to the public.

Schedule of Events

Mon. 10/10/16:

1. Introduction to Mindfulness with Guided Meditation Practice, led by Bill Brooks, 4:00-5:30 Lee Hall 411.  This workshop provides a general introduction to “mindfulness”, that is, sustained, non-judgemental attention given to what is in the present moment, and how mindfulness can be cultivated through meditation.

Tues. 10/11/16:

1. Mindfulness with Mandalas:  A Short Film and Workshop, led by UMW Student, Joshua Whiting, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Capital Room, University Center (room 314).  In this workshop, Joshua will showcase a short film he created about mandalas for his final project in CPRD 104: Contemplative Practice and he will lead a workshop in which participants create and draw their own mandalas.

2. “The End of Enlightenment? Mindfulness and the Making of Secular Buddhism”, a lecture by UMW Prof. Daniel Hirshberg (Religion), 4:00-5:00 p.m., Trinkle 204. In this lecture, Prof. Hirshberg, a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, will contrast the classical objective of Buddhist enlightenment against the contemporary goals of secular mindfulness, which assimilates select elements of Buddhist discourse and practice, and yet eliminates the goal of liberation – or does it?

Wed. 10/12/16:

1.Mindful Eating Workshop, led by UMW Prof. Angela Pitts (Classics), 12:00-12:45 p.m., Capital Room, University Center (Room 314).  This workshop will focus on the healthful benefits of eating slowly and intentionally while offering deliberate, sustained attention to the sensations experienced while eating and to the relative nourishment provided by foods of various nutritional value.  The workshop offers some query into the social and cultural factors which lead to poor nutrition and eating disorders and how mindful eating may counter these ill effects.

2. Flourishing in the Creative Process, a workshop led by Kris Iden, artist and educator, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Melchers 202.  This workshop will focus on deepening presence through the cultivation of awareness, objectivity, non-judgmental self-critique, curiosity, inquiry, and self-reflection.

Thurs. 10/13/16:

1. Mindfulness for Preventing Activist Burn-Out:  A Workshop, led by our keynote speaker, Prof. Beth Berila, Professor of Ethnic and Women’s Studies and Director of Women’s Studies Program at St. Cloud State University, 500-hour Ayurvedic yoga instructor, and author ofIntegrating Mindfulness into Anti-Oppression Pedagogy: Social Justice in Higher Education (Routledge, 2016), 1:00-3:00 p.m., Lee Hall 412.  This workshop will focus on using contemplative practice to promote well-being for those who are in danger of experiencing “burn-out”.  Please bring one item that represents your commitment to social justice–something that symbolizes why you do the work you do.

2. “How Mindfulness Can Help us Be Better Agents of Social Change”, by our keynote speaker, Prof. Beth Berila, Professor of Ethnic and Women’s Studies and Director of Women’s Studies Program at St. Cloud State University, 500-hour Ayurvedic yoga instructor, and author ofIntegrating Mindfulness into Anti-Oppression Pedagogy: Social Justice in Higher Education (Routledge, 2016), 7:00-8:30 p.m., Hurley Convergence Center’s Digital Auditorium.  This interactive lecture will contemplate why mindfulness is needed in social justice work and how contemplative practices help us become more skillful in that work.

Fri. 10/14/16:

1. Mindfulness Yoga in Ball Circle, led by Bill Brooks, 12:00-1:00 p.m.  Engage in a yoga practice which focuses less on how well a pose is formed and more on being present for and paying attention to the sensations of the breath and body as the pose is entered, held, and exited.  All levels of experience welcome. (Rain location: Colonnade Room, University Center).