Text & images
 ©2010 Gena Bean

• What is meditation?
Meditation is a way of calming the mind's chatter.
There is a phrase "the still small voice inside" that refers to your own inner wisdom. Meditation is one of the ways to listen for your own voice of wisdom.
There are many forms of meditation. And different people meditate for different reasons. In the Mindfulness Meditation taught by Gena Bean, the intention is self-healing and stress reduction.

• How do I start?
Since meditation is hard to describe, it's best to start with a teacher in a class. Some people read a magazine article about meditation and think to themselves, "I already do that." But without instruction, it can be difficult to get into the right mode so that your brain waves change into a meditative state.

• What do I bring to a meditation class?
Very little is needed to start meditation. You don't need any special materials, or chairs, or clothing.
Be prepared to sit still for a while. In many meditation settings, everyone takes off their shoes. So be prepared to be barefoot or have socks.

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• Do I need to be flexible and in shape?
No, you don't.

• Do I have to sit on the floor?
No. In any class led by Gena Bean, there will be chairs to sit on. Many people do choose to sit on the floor, and there are cushions provided for sitting on the floor for those who choose to. If sitting is uncomfortable, students also have the option to lie down on a yoga mat instead of staying in a seated position.

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• What is the point of doing meditation?
For many people these days,the purpose of meditation is personal development. But each person who meditates has his or her own reasons. In Gena Bean's Mindfulness classes, stress reduction and raising quality of life are the primary motivations.

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• What role does spirituality play in meditation?
Meditation has been used in most religious traditions throughout history. It is a tool for calming and focusing the mind. That kind of tool is very useful in spiritual pursuits.
Gena Bean's Mindfulness classes are non-denominational.
The Mindfulness program originally developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the UMass Medical School is loosely based on some of the Mindfulness techniques from Buddhist practices. Therefore, during classes, Buddhist concepts are sometimes referenced for clarification purposes.

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