During this five week course, you’ll explore mindfulness within a supportive community of caregivers who have similar aspirations and challenges. You’ll learn different ways to meditate and start training your mind to be present for what arises with compassion and without judgment. When we’re present, we have more capacity to be kind to ourselves and to others - even when life gets challenging.

Creating space to practice mindfulness can be difficult for caregivers, so the course is designed to help you learn “just in time” tools that can be used throughout your day, either alone or with the person for whom you care.

Mindfulness is easier to practice when we are supported by a trusted community. Throughout the class, you’ll be introduced to some virtual mindfulness communities, including the Caregivers Cafe (HYPERLINK), that you can visit as the class progresses. In this way, you'll have an opportunity to find a group that feels right before the class ends, so that you can continue to practice in community longterm.

Class Details:

• 2 hours per week for five weeks.

• Begins with a guided meditation and check in, when you can share about your experience using the practice over the previous week.

• Teaching followed by Q&A.

• Short break

• Final guided meditation and discussion

• Closing circle

Who is this for?

As your loved one ages and/or becomes increasingly infirm, your relationship with them may change. While these changes are often inevitable, we are seldom prepared for the transition and neither are they. Whether it is a sudden crisis or slow deterioration, you may feel responsible for their well-being and become increasingly active in their lives. As our concern and involvement escalates, we often have less time and energy for ourselves and may feel depleted. Meanwhile, they have their own views about their independence and our level of involvement. The result can be painful, taking a toll on intimacy and connection just when both sides are wanting it most. This four hour, interactive workshop offers a buffet of practices designed for people who are dealing with the joys and challenges of caring for loved ones.

This workshop will help you:

• Better understand what your loved one wants/needs

• Engage in ways that feel more supportive to them

• Take better care of yourself throughout the process

Goals for participants:

• experience three awareness-based practices (mindfulness, inner relationship focusing, and vagus nerve calming)

• learn portable skills that can be used throughout your busy day

• identify the practices that work for you

• learn ways to continue practicing with others through existing virtual communities where drop-in practitioners are welcome

After this workshop, you may be drawn to developing a mindfulness or focusing practice and wish to do so in the company of other caregivers. Our introductory classes are designed for that purpose. Scroll down to learn more.