How to Meditate: An Introduction to Mindfulness

One of the best things I’ve ever done for myself was learning to meditate and create a daily mindfulness practice. Mindfulness Meditation helps me rebuff the jerk in my head who encourages me to make bad decisions; with a daily practice, I’m now able to sift through my thoughts so I’m (mostly) acting on the good ones, not the bad ones.

In this class, you’ll learn the basics of starting a personal meditation practice. I’ll teach you how to relax your mind, sharpen your concentration, increase calmness and clarity, and induce sustainable, conscious happiness. Most importantly, I’ll provide you with tools to reduce stress and anxiety, and become more resilient.

This class is open to anyone who wants to learn more about mindfulness, whether you’ve meditated 100 times or 0. I’ll address the basic barriers that many beginners face, such as: How long do I meditate? Where should I meditate? What do I focus on? How do I overcome distractions? The workshop will include some guided meditations and provide plenty of time for questions and discussion.

You will walk away with the ability to:

Laena is Founder and CEO of Anarchy in a Jar, a jam and mustard company based in Brooklyn. She grew up making traditional jam with her family in New York’s Hudson Valley, and after a career in science and academia decided to make her passion for jamming into a business. Founded in 2009, Anarchy in a Jar makes all natural condiments, cooked by hand, all natural, and made primarily with produce from local and small farms. You can find the jams at many grocery stores and cheese shops throughout the US.

Laena is also an herbalist, wellness maven, and birth coach, supporting women and helping empower their bodies through childbirth and life’s vagaries. She launched her beauty line, Edible Beauté, in 2016, using edible organic herbs and oils to feel good and nourish the skin.

Anarchy in a Jar has been featured in The New York Times, The New York Times T Style Magazine, The Martha Stewart Show, New York Magazine, Bust, Elle Japan, Tasting Table, Food & Wine, and Saveur. Laena’s cookbook, Jam On: The Craft of Canning Fruit, was published with Penguin in 2012.

• create a personal mindfulness meditation practice
• reduce stress and increase calmness
• train your mind to make better decisions
• sleep better, and reduce physical pain or depression

Taught by Laena McCarthy