We could all use a bit more peace in our lives. But it’s not always easy to carve out the time to just sit and relax. Luckily, the Westchester Meditation Center (originally the Westchester Buddhist Center) is returning home. Beginning in January, they’ll offer 12 weekly community meditation classes on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 at the Bedford Hills Community House.
“People are craving the in-person community experience, and our area is kind of a hotbed for mediators,” says Lee Sauerhoff, one of the instructors. “There are quite a few people in Katonah who have a meditation practice and are co-facilitating this program.”
Never meditated before? No problem – they’ll teach you. Even better, you can begin with a drop-in class before making the commitment. (The cost is $120 for Bedford residents and $140 for non-residents.)
“We don’t meditate for the full two hours,” Sauerhoff explains. “People come in and socialize, and then they sit for about 20 minutes. If you’re new, you’ll get some instruction; a lot of people have questions on how to sit, what to focus on, what to do with their eyes or what to do if their back or mind bothers them. So, we spend the first several weeks talking about the structure of meditation and what to do. As the program evolves, we do a reading that can inspire a mindfulness awareness and practice.”
“It’s quite social,” she adds. “People go out afterwards for a drink or a bite to eat.”
This article was published in the January/February 2023 print edition of Katonah Connect.
The editorial staff at Connect To magazine.
