Written by Jack Reaney co-editor
As Big Sky residents enjoy the quiet streets and warm May air, Big Sky community organizations provide space to gather and recharge.
Author, teacher, and therapist Dr. Jacqueline Rinaldi will lead three guided meditation sessions. This session is free and open to his BASE community and does not require a BASE pass. Tuesday night sessions will take place on May 14th, 21st, and 28th from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.
Rinaldi, a Big Sky resident who works in the Department of Psychology and Therapy at Montana State University, spoke with EBS by phone about upcoming sessions. She said practicing mindfulness is a way to recharge and unplug.
“It’s like giving your soul a warm bath or going to the gym,” Rinaldi says.
She said a common concern is that people don’t know how to control their racing thoughts or that they’re not cut out for meditation. She believes that mindfulness is not about stopping thoughts (although your brain thinks that’s its job), but about noticing them without judgment.
No experience is required for these sessions at Big Sky, she added.
“It looks like fun…If you have any concerns, come on over. It’s cold. We’ll talk about it. Don’t worry if you don’t know how,” she said.
Sessions include time for quiet reflection, sharing questions, experiences, and interaction.
“It’s very interactive, calm and stress-free,” she said.
About six years ago, Rinaldi earned a two-year certification to teach mindfulness. She has been practicing mindfulness for about 20 years. She started because she had ADHD-like symptoms that made her feel easily distracted and she was worried about her own mind. Thanks to her mindfulness, she realized when the busyness of her life forced her to fly around.
“I just needed to slow down,” Rinaldi said. “Mindfulness really helped me, and that’s why I wanted to start teaching, because the benefits were so great in my own life.”
Rinaldi hopes to share these benefits with the Big Sky community in future sessions.
