Amy Ward Brimmer
We sat down with Amy Ward Brimmer to get a bit more information about her upcoming DVI Community event, “Embodying the Four Postures for Meditation.”
DVI: Why do I need to learn about different meditation postures?
Amy: A frequent response I get from individuals who give up on meditating is, "I can't sit in a still position for any length of time." Many mistakenly assume that they need to sit still in a classic lotus position to meditate properly. Despite the fact we often call our meditating practice, "sitting," I want to demonstrate a number of options for the four meditating postures described by the Buddha: sitting, standing, reclining, and walking.
DVI: What do you hope people will come away with from Saturday's workshop?
Amy: I hope they will learn how to do less work and feel more at ease with whatever posture or postures they elect to use. So many times, we try to force our bodies into submission when we meditate. I hope to change that mindset, encouraging people to take a kinder and friendlier attitude toward their bodies. Just as we don't try to stop our thinking when we meditate, we also don't need to stop our bodily sensations. In fact, mindfulness of the body is the first of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness; we are instructed to use present moment awareness of the body as an object for our mediation.
DVI: What's the plan for the workshop?
Amy: We'll practice the four postures for meditation: sitting, standing, reclining, and walking. Using the fundamentals of embodied mindfulness that I have practiced and taught for 30+ years, we’ll explore how to get comfortable and cultivate ease in each of the four postures, as well as the pros and cons of each. I'll assist with optional hands-on guidance, to help folks find a lively balance, with less tension and more ease.
To learn more about Amy Ward Brimmer and her mindfulness work, visit amywardbrimmer.com.