A yoga mat or somewhere to lay out for relaxation at the end of class (optional).
Good earphones to enable to hear more clearly.
Comfortable cushions, pillows or blankets to make your practice more comfortable.
You may wish to light a tealight candle as this can be really nice in your space.
Feel free to have your pet join you as it is really nice to have them with you when we meditate.
A notebook/paper and pen to jot down any reflections that may arise for you.
"Come home" to yourself and join us as enjoy some quiet you time every week!
Meet Sonya Harnett:
Sonya is a certified Masters of Wisdom Meditation Teacher and following almost 20 years of self-practice and 15 years teaching successfully both online globally and onsite meditation in many settings and in her local community in Celbridge, Kildare in Ireland. She has created this gently paced course to guide those to help develop their own personal practice as a source of inspiration, self-kindness and support and find their own truth to live a life of fullness and happiness.
See more here on Sonya's teachings, events and classes.
Why Meditate?
Meditation practice is about pausing, simply observing yourself without judgment in all situations, watching how we respond to each moment. The benefits build quickly over time and a "little andoften" is the key to reaping the rewards of a daily practice, even 10 minutes a day. Just as we exercise the body to keep it strong and healthy, we also need to take care of the mind to keep it nourished! Meditation practice has been around for over 2000 years and has been a time tested over the centuries to bring many to a place of stillness and silence that is within us all.
Meditation & mindfulness practices are a wonderful way that can develop awareness and mindfulness of our body, our senses, our minds and how we live our daily life. Through a regular practice, we may notice that we are calmer, clearer and more relaxed in how we relate to life around us. The benefits build quickly over time and a "little and often" just as we exercise the body to keep it strong and healthy, we also need to take care of the mind to keep it nourished! There are various traditions and methods to meditation.
Meditation is a practice that anyone can learn at any stage of life's wonderful journey. Our minds are designed to think, so as long as we are alive, thoughts are coming! Meditation will teach us to allow and accept and give us the life tools to focus our attention to our breath or may other techniques to soothe us from the daily swirl of life. It's an amazing tool for life!
Some of benefits of meditation on the body:
Blood pressure decreases and we become more relaxed.
Antidote to our stress response!
Improves mental clarity and focus.
Boosts immune system.
Improves our memory and learning.
Some of the emotional benefits of meditation:
Ease emotional stress.
Levels of emotional wellbeing increases.
Depression and anxiety may ease.
Our social connection to those around us strengthens and our relationships improve
I was introduced to meditation about 15 years ago and was always intrigued by it as it was something that I saw my Dad practice daily. But I never started to practice myself until a number of years later. The seed was set though! My life before meditation; I was chronically exhausted, anxious, lost, unfulfilled and just existed daily on some level. I was searching for happiness outside of myself, an exhaustive process!. So once I certified as yoga teacher, a short daily meditation also became part of my own personal practice. Something was beginning to change.
My life now after meditation; I can honestly say that it has transformed my life! I see the joy in the smaller moments and feel a little more reflective, more clearer so I can make better decisions and choices in my life. I have let go of the dreaded multi-tasking that seemed to be honoured by many of us these days! It's too exhausting! So I am delighted to say that I have morphed into a "one task at a time" person! I sleep better and I'm not as anxious as I was as I have now the tools in my meditation tool box to help me come back to my centre. We are always work in progress!
The pinnicle of my day are my two daily practices where I set myself up for my day ahead and also can relax into my evening ahead. This took me time, patience and self-compassion to ritualise! But like all habits, they require a little effort at first. The benefits are HUGE!! My family have come to see it as the norm in my home that I meditate. I was so blessed to be introduced to meditation all those years ago.
I am a Certified Masters of Wisdom & Meditation teacher with davidji meditation academy 285hrs. I am very grateful for my own many teachers and mentors. This was an journey of transformation for me and my passion is now to share with you these ancient teachings and wisdoms that form many of the many mindfulness and meditation techniques that are taught today! I have been teaching meditation in many settings and in our local community since 2011 and many have experienced the benefits in their own lives.
I will teach you how to simplfy your life and offer you EASY and very effective tools so you can bring more happiness into your own daily life. Meditation is for everyone and it's my intention help you awaken to clarity, self-kindness and more so you can live a life that is enriched with joy!
