LUNENBURG — In a world filled with constant hustle and bustle, it can seem difficult to find moments of calm. Emily Zaffino, a holistic health practitioner in integrative nutrition, CHHC, and certified yoga teacher, invites her community of all ages and experience levels to explore the benefits of meditation first-hand.
The workshop will be held in three parts, with the first starting on Tuesday, May 7 at 6:45 p.m. at the Lunenburg Public Library, 1023 Massachusetts Avenue.
Special Community Supported Meditation (CSM) sessions are designed to introduce beginners to the gentle art of meditation.
Zaffino says he formally began practicing sitting meditation five years ago. However, her meditation has been a part of her life in various forms since her childhood.
“In elementary school, we started each day with a ‘moment of silent meditation,’ Teen Beat magazine introduced us to body scans and relaxation meditations, and our ballet teacher encouraged us to start dance sequences with our breaths. ” she said. “Growing up, yoga, running, and spending time in nature served as foundational habits for health, peace, and happiness. The habit led me to a place of inner calm and peace and was so nourishing that I carried it with me throughout my life.”
Participants will engage in gentle guided meditation aimed at developing essential skills for concentration and enriching meditation practice.
Additionally, there will be time for quiet reflection to deepen the experience.
“Our modern world is full of attractive distractions that take us away from the present moment,” Zaffino said. “Our lives seem to flash from screen to screen, showing us the world at a glance, but they also come with a lot of stress.”
Zaffino believes that we, as individuals, find ourselves not only managing our daily lives, but also accepting the stresses of a wide range of outside worlds.
“Quiet, peace, tranquility, balance, insight, etc. are not common expressions we use to describe our daily lives,” she said. “Meditation changed that for me, and it became a powerful grounding force that I’m excited to share.”
Participants are encouraged to bring a cushion or blanket to stay comfortable during the hour-long session.
“The three classes are not mandatory, but are an opportunity to meet, practice, and share experiences for connection and continued support along the way,” Zaffino said.
The remaining classes will be held in the library on Tuesdays, May 21 and June 4 at 6:45 p.m.
“Take the first step toward a more peaceful and balanced life,” Zaffino says. “We want people to have a toolkit to help them develop their own natural ways of being authentically present in their daily lives and enjoy more experiences of joy, peace, ease, and abundance of goodness.” I hope you come back.”
For more information or to register for one of these meditation classes, visit LuneburLibrary.AssabetInteractive.com/Calendar/Meditation-Group or call 978-582-4140.
