269.552.9899
KIRK LOWIS, MA, ACTRP
MINDFULNESS-AWARENESS, MEDITATION, AND SELF-CARE
Embrace Life’s Challenges
Do you ever feel stressed out or overwhelmed by your work? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Vicarious (or second-hand) trauma and chronic stress are realities of youth development work and can lead to feelings of helplessness, isolation, sleep disturbances, memory disruptions, anxiety, depression, and irritability - just to name a few side-effects. The good news is that there are things you can do to build your own resiliency while also becoming more effective at your work with vulnerable youth. This workshop will give you tools to check in on your own resiliency and mindfulness strategies to help build resiliency in you and the youth you serve. Mr. Lowis is the Resident Meditation Instructor with Dharmadhatu Kalamazoo and has been practicing meditation since childhood.
MINDFULNESS-AWARENESS WORKSHOPS
For youth, for staff, for you
MINDFULNESS-AWARENESS MEDITATION: AN INTRODUCTION
What is mindfulness-awareness practice and how can meditation help us and the youth we serve? Learn to meditate while gaining a better understanding of why meditation is helpful for youth development professionals and for the youth we serve. This hands-on workshop will provide context as while presenting a simple to follow step-by-step process to jump start your mindfulness-awareness meditation practice. Sitting practice and walking meditation will be introduced.
TONGLEN: AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPASSION PRACTICE
How do we bring our mindfulness-awareness practice to the next level by introducing compassion awareness into our practice? Compassion practice helps us to dissolve our “emotional armor” and connect with others through honing our empathy response. This hands-on workshop will cover compassion meditation practice as well as ways to incorporate compassion practices into your daily life. It is recommended for those who have an established meditation practice.
A CULTURE OF CARE AND COMPASSION: SELF-CARE THROUGH MINDFULNESS-AWARENESS
Do you ever feel stressed out or overwhelmed by your work? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Vicarious (or second-hand) trauma and chronic stress are realities of youth development work and can lead to feelings of helplessness, isolation, sleep disturbances, memory disruptions, anxiety, depression, and irritability - just to name a few side-effects. The good news is that there are things you can do to build your own resiliency while also becoming more effective at your work with vulnerable youth. This workshop will give you tools to check in on your own resiliency and mindfulness strategies to help build resiliency in you and the youth you serve.