Meditation Practice & Support @ Inner Balance

***PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW START TIME OF 6:30PM BEGINNING IN MAY 2018. PLEASE ARRIVE BETWEEN 6:15 AND 6:30PM SO WE MAY BEGIN ON TIME.

All teachers agree: The key to a successful meditation practice is regular practice. Therefore this meetup is looking for practitioners who are willing to make a dedicated effort to sit together weekly in order to fully realize the benefits of group practice. All levels and schools of thought are welcome. Meet like minded individuals while expanding your own personal practice in a non-competitive and supportive environment. Feel free to join us for a sitting and experience increased self awareness and inner peace by way of your journey inward.

TIME: Our meeting time will be 6:15pm so please arrive as close to 6:15pm as possible. We will begin our meditation promptly at 6:30pm. This meetup should end by approximately 8:30pm.

LOCATION: Inner Balance is located at the intersection of Pfingsten & Maria (Northwest corner). That's between Dundee & Lake Cook across from Underwriters Laboratories. Parking is available in the lot west of the office park. Proceed up the center pathway until reaching Suite 107. If you think that you might need some additional help finding us, please feel free to contact me prior to the closing of RSVP's & I will be happy to provide you with my cell #.

GENERAL FORMAT: We will begin with a short Gratitude & Metta (Loving Friendliness / Kindness) practice in order to center followed by a period of mindful introductions. Then some brief instruction will be offered and we will perform several basic stretching exercises (Optional) before we begin our formal practice which is described as follows: During our first twenty-five minute sitting period we will practice Samatha (Tranquility / Calming the mind and body through one-pointedness). We will use Anapanasati (Mindfulness of the breath) in order to accomplish this. The remainder of the first period will be held in silence. During our second twenty minute sitting period there will be a Vipassana (Clear seeing / Insight) exercise offered for contemplation. When we finish there will be a shared reading or an audio presentation, time for questions, reflection and mingling for those who would like to participate.

FYI: Chairs will be available for those who prefer to use them. For those who choose to sit on the floor, blankets, cushions & floorchairs are also available but feel free to bring your own, meditation bench, pillow, yoga mat or zafu cushion if you prefer.

COST: A voluntary donation to help offset expenses would be most appreciated but is by no means expected.

If you have any questions about this particular sitting or our meditation community in general, please feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to sitting in practice and sharing energy in the present moment with all who choose to attend. With Metta, Mark Z