Meditation for Beginners with Neida Ratzlaff

Tuesdays
September 20 through October 11, 2016
9:00 - 10:00 am

At Radiance, 9 W Grant St., in the heart of downtown Lancaster, PA

Curious about meditation but intimidated by all of the mystery and options?  Metta, Transcendental, Mantra, Mindfulness, Chakra… in these classes you will experience each of these, and find the style that’s right for you.  We’ll go over the benefits of adding meditation to your yoga practice as we explore different types of meditation each week.  Each class will include time for questions and discussion. 

Week 1:  Mindfulness
Learn to appreciate being in the present moment as we practice two kinds of mindfulness meditation: breath awareness and chocolate meditation.  Yes, chocolate meditation!

Week 2:  Guided
Allow yourself to embrace a loving, compassionate state of mind as we practice a Metta (loving kindness) meditation.  Then relax into a place of peace and calm with a guided visualization.

Week 3:  Mudra and Chakra Mantra
We’ll explore ways to focus the intention of our meditation by learning various hasta mudras (hand seals) and work on energizing and balancing our chakras by chanting the bija mantra (seed sound) of each chakra.

Week 4:  Sight and Sound
In this class we’ll continue to explore mantra (sacred sound) to deepen our meditation.  We’ll also color mandalas (sacred circles) to visually ground us and promote healing and inner peace.

These classes will be held at Radiance, 9 W Grant St, just across the cobblestones from Central Market in downtown Lancaster. Cost for the series is $50.00.  To register, call Radiance at 717-290-1517, or stop in. 

Neida started her Yoga path with the goal of “taking 40 by the throat”. She pushed herself through heated Hatha styles of yoga growing stronger and more flexible as her practice grew. Her focus was attaining and holding the perfect posture, maintaining balance and alignment. She began taking tougher and tougher classes at a variety of local and distant studios. With eyes towards becoming stronger and better, Neida studied to become a Certified Yoga Teacher at Gateway Bodyworks and Wellness Center. It was there that she found a match to the Yang of her practice; the gentle Yin of her teaching. Neida has developed a beautiful style at the boundaries of a traditional Western class. She includes the rituals of mudra, breath, and motion in synchronicity – adapting props to encourage the body into releasing. But don’t be fooled, she still moonlights as the tough one.