Meditation

In practicing meditation, we’re not trying to live up to some kind of ideal – quite the opposite. We’re just being with our experience, whatever it is…

‘This very moment is the perfect teacher, and it’s always with us’ is really a most profound instruction. Just seeing what’s going on – that’s the teaching right there. We can be with what’s happening and not dissociate. Awakeness is found in our pleasure and pain, our confusion and our wisdom, available in each moment of our weird, unfathomable, ordinary everyday lives.”

– Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart

My experience: In my mid 20s, I discovered an inward journey through meditation. When I first started to meditate I was struck by how a shift in attentional focus could alter my experience of the world and my relationship to my mind. By cultivating a regular meditation practice, I found a way to inhabit the present, cultivate kindness, self-compassion and a sense of ease with what comes and what goes in this ever-changing world.

My practice is continuously evolving, as all things do. I love to talk about practice and to practice in community. I find Buddhist philosophy and invaluable orientation to work with. I often bring Buddhist ideas and mindfulness practice into my work.

Training: While living in Toronto, I received mentorship from Jeff Warren and the Consciousness Explorers Club (CEC) to begin guiding meditation practices. I also trained with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach to become a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher.

Offerings: I am grateful to be a part of the CEC teaching team and community. As a community, we take a non-dogmatic approach to practice, which looks like experimenting with and exploring different techniques and practices at different times. The CEC meets every Monday night online for pay-what-you-can meditations, led by a motley crew of consciousness explorers. We also host semi-regular retreats, online and in person.

I am available for one on one or small group meditation teachings and explorations.

Course Offering:

If you’re interested in exploring the weird and wonderful world of meditation (as an individual or as part of a group), please be in touch to discuss how we might work together: caitlin@pivotintoharmony.com

Mindfulness and Mental Health – Connecting the Dots

I offer a 4 week online course on Mindfulness and Mental Health. We look at how mindfulness and mental health intersect while experientially learning practices that specifically support experiences of anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD, mood swings and bipolar.

Each session includes a short talk, a practice period and discussion. Sessions are a maximum of 90 minutes.

Testimonial

“Caitlin guides meditation with imagination and heart. She is skilled at holding space for individuals and groups, is comfortable in her skin and in the often uncomfortable territory of changing inner experience. Her psychotherapy training shows up on the cushion. She isn’t shy about dealing with people’s personal challenges, and she has a multidisciplinary perspective on growth and development. A fine guide!”

Jeff Warren, Founder, Consciousness Explorers Club