Elliott Hulse is one of the OG online strength coaches. The 2009 Strongest Man in Florida, he started building his online coaching platform and established Strength Camp in 2007 as a way to bring athletes together and help them become the strongest version of themselves not just through working out, but through meditation, psychology, and self-knowledge.

Hes built a brand worth millions through digital marketing and thousands of informative YouTube videos; he likes to think of himself as a video poet and in2015 he earned the awardYouTube Fans Favorite.But while he first became known for video guides to physical fitness, his brand has gradually evolved to provide a moreholistic approach to self-improvement thats grown fromhis experiences with active meditation, Eastern philosophy, and the Bahai faith.

Today, in addition to training strongmen and hosting Strength Camp, he also offers Grounding Camps that teach active meditation, bioenergetics, philosophy, and self-love. For a male strength coach, hes unusual to say the least, buthes an undeniably effective teacher who is wholly dedicated to helping as many people as possible become as strong and capable as possible, no matter what form that might take.

We sat down with Elliott to learn more about training tips, nervous system health, active meditation, gender politics, and everything in between.

Image via Elliott Hulse on Facebook

BarBend:Elliott, thanks for taking the time to chat.I really want to talk about the changes Ive noticedsince you first started your coaching platform, so lets startwith the physicaltraining. Compared to ten years ago, whats one of the biggest differences in how you train people to get physically stronger?

Elliott Hulse: Its interesting that you use the word change. A lot of what people see Elliot Hulse doing now looks different than what Ive always done, only because it happens to be whatIm choosing to show.

A lot of these changes are not changes at all. What has always been there is to take a holistic approach to performance, meaning when were going to improve someones squat or their vertical jump, we dont just look at the strength of their legs. Anyone who works in biomechanics will tell you youve alsogotta consider the low back, youve gotta consider the shoulder girdle, youve gotta consider the entire mechanism, the whole human kinetic chain, not just the legs.

Image via The Strength Camp on Facebook

So when in terms of supporting someone into becoming their strongest selves, be it jump higher or just to live a happier life, the first place we begin is with the nervous system and how well its functioning.

When I work with a client and I want to get the most effective movement, I have to assess andcorrect any neuromuscular imbalances. And the first place Id begin, in particular withhow the nervous system is firing or how it turns on the muscles, is with the spinal cord. I am a fan of upper cervical chiropractics, especially the atlas orthogonal. Thats the very first vertebrae at the base of the skull. The interesting thing is that it doesnt have the same kind of spiny processes as the other vertebrae so it doesnt interlock as well. It floats.

Your atlas being the first vertebrae at the base of the skull means any information that goes from the body to the brain or vice versa has to pass through it its the first gateway from the brain to the body. And if the very first gateway is obstructed or tilted improperly, then all the information coming down form the brain is going to be distorted.

So how does that change how you train or assess clients?

Ill give you two assessments you can do at home.

The first is pretty easy:stand in place, face a wall so you have perspective on where you are. Close youreyes and start marching in place for about a minute, lifting your knees up to waist height. Then open your eyes. If you find that your marching has caused you to move and youre not facing the wall any longer, its an indication that the left and right side of your nervous system arent firing the same.

Theres another great demonstration, but you need a friend for this one. Lay on your back and raise your left arm up so its perpendicular to the ground and have your friend push down on your arm from behind, just to see how strong you can be to hold it up. Then have him go to the other arm.

If there is an imbalance in strength from one side tothe other, you might think its just because youre right handed. ButI want you to go back to that left arm and turn your head allthe way to the left, so youre facing that arm. Then do the test again. One of two things isgonna happen: that arm is going toget even weaker than it was before, or all of a sudden its going toget really strong. That should give you an indication as to how the atlas is subluxed. Alternatively you can try this doing dumbbell overhead presses. Theres nothing mystical to it its allowing youto recruit more muscle by getting the atlas out of the way.

Without this kind of approach, everything else you do is kind of a waste. Im looking at everything in a holistic way. Im interested in how your body works together, how functional you are, how powerful you are, how great an athlete you can be. And for that you have to make sure the nervous system is firing properly.

I use the analogy of a racecar. If you have a wheel misalignment, I dont care how well you drive, itll never perform at its best.

So is this the kind of thing you teach at your Strength Camps?

Ifyou go to Strength Camp, we do corrective stretching and exercising, but its very generalized. People are there for a different reason, which is to become the strongest possible version of themselves.

What about the other camp you offer, Grounding Camp? Its about active meditation, right? Is that a kind of workout?

Ill tell you how the idea of Grounding Camps first came about. Twelveyears ago my wife got pregnant at about the same time I lost my job and was going through some depression. A few years earlier Id been reading the work of this Indian mystic called Osho. I thought his philosophy was great; he always referred to meditation as the practice of his philosophy. The difference is his meditation was very physical. While most meditations are sit down and breathe which is great, thats what youre aiming for his required that you got up and that you charge the body with breath through various different exercises, it was very physical. Ill leave it at that, but I was drawn to it as an athlete.

So Idid a quick Google search and found thatthe only Osho active meditation bootcamp was happening inNew York City. And I got up at 3:45 every morning in the dead of winter to take the Long Island Railroad for 21 days to go to this camp.

By the end of it, my life had done a complete 180. Id shaken out of the depression and regained a tremendous amount of clarity, and I was able to use it as a launching pad into the next phase of my life which brought me down to Florida, whenI started Strength Camp.

The woman who ran the Osho classes also did one-on-one therapy called pulsation, which was essentially a neo-Reikian therapy that comes from the work of Wilhelm Reich. It was bioenergetics, essentially. And I took this session with her and I had this tremendous experience that woke me up:while I was doing the exercises, I broke into this uncontrollable laughter, the kind of laughing most of us havent had since we were children. It was about releasing the trapped emotions in my body that had been stifled from poor breathing.

So afterI moved down to Florida,I was talking about the benefitsa lot in my videos and peoplewere asking me where they coulddo active meditation and bioenergetics. So I decided to reach out to my former teacher in New York City and encouraged her to work with me on a camp where we can introduce people to it.

In arecent interview you published on your blog, when you were asked if you were a strength coach you answered that you were nothing and everything. Can you explain that?

Its hard because I resist labels, but its hard for people to know whoyou are and what youre doing if you dont label yourself. If I were to identify who I am and what Im doing, Im (long pause) Im a coach. Im a healer. And I support people in becoming the strongest version of themselves. I dont even like the term healing, I like the term whole-ing more. I want you to become your whole self. Im a holistic strength coach.

But on Instagram I say Im a strongman and strength coach. Thats my entry point and its where I shine the brightest.

A lot of the things I say are highlighted in hippie new age cultures, Im not a part of that culture. But I resonate with those ideas.

Im in the strength space,I just have something different to bring to it. Ralph Waldo Emmerson said the greatest value is to bring something from where it is plentifulto where it is lacking. And in the strength and fitness and bodybuilding communities, what is lacking is the holistic approach. Whats lacking is the attention to the nervous system, to meditation, to breathing. But they all support your ability to be stronger and improve performance. So all Im doing is bringing what is lacking in one community what is plentiful from another.

Image via Elliott Hulse on Facebook

I imagine that compared to ten years ago, you must receive a lot more questions about philosophy and psychology and self improvement. Your brand seems to have had a pretty noticeable shift, no?

My clients have always asked me questions likethat. When I was 26 years old I had teenage athletes asking me questions like, Elliott, what do I do if my girlfriend cheats on me?or, My best friend betrayed me, what do I do?

Theyre bringing thingsup from outside of the gym, but it relates to things inside the gym. If someone comes in and his girlfriends justcheated on him, his cortisol levels are up! His testosterone is down! His ability to perform and recover is all screwed up. So I can offer him some perspective thats going to brighten him up and support him in getting through this, if I can give him some empowerment based on his circumstance. That sucks, well, guess what, you just discovered something new about yourself, you had a new experience that allows you to overcome this and gain strength character strength because of it. So reframing, giving someone a new way to look at their problems, I love doing it. I love hearing their problems and giving creative solutions to it.

So I started making YouTube videos and started getting the same sort of questions in the comment areas of videos on how to deadlift. Id love to go to the gym, but my girlfriend cheated on me. So I started answering those questions, and eventually I started another YouTube channel to deal with those sorts of issues and how to grow stronger from your challenges.

Image via Elliott Hulse on Facebook

Its cool how yourunderstanding of strength and performance has grown and change since you started out.Ive noticedin the last few years youve beentalking more about different definitions of masculinity as well, howyou that men should embrace their fragility a little more and not be afraid to show their softer side.

Yeah, well, whats happening in the world is whats happening in each and every one of us. And whats happening in the world is a tremendous amount of reintegration. Were coming out of an era where we were split, we were separated.

But with the advent on the internet and the interrelatedness of humanity now, and the spread of ideas,were living in agolden age where all separation seems to be being dissolved. And you can see it everywhere fromthe strife about the difference between the rich and the the poor, youre seeing the polarity, the duality being exposed in racism in America and many other countries.

I think whats really fascinating with this new generation as it relates to sexuality is this rise in non-dual sexuality. My daughters 12 years old and there are lots of children in her school who are non-binary in their sexuality. Theyre gender fluid; they dont identify with one gender or the other.

Thats a sign. It is an indication of whats happening on a cosmic and global level which is the integration of seeming opposites. What was once duality, like heaven and hell, is now being integrated. And there is no evil and good, everything just is. In the same way that a full day integratesday and night. You cant have day without night. You cant have winter without summer. You cant have yin without yang. You are not fully masculine without the integration of the feminine. Carl Jung would describe it this way: within every man is a woman called the anima. And in every woman theres a man called the animus.

A teacher of mine once told me when I was having some personal challenges, Elliot, you will not become a full man until you become a woman first. And what he was referring to was the integration of the yin qualities that are inherent within every man, except they have been stifled. They have been disregarded, they have been chastised out of us.

I like to use the term tender aggression. The tenderness thats associated with being a a fully alpha male requires the integration of female nurturing andyielding qualities. If youre justaggressive, if youre just one sided, youre not embodying full masculinity. Youre just a premature ejaculator. Youre an example of the immaturity that pervades the patriarchy. Youre looking to dominate with power rather than integrate softness, integrate nurturing, integrate tenderness into your aggression so that youre whole. Thats what makes you full.

Awesome. Well, its been great chatting with you, Elliott! Best of luck with the Strength Camps and Grounding Camps, I hope you help a lot of people findtheir own wholeness.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Featured image via Elliott Hulse on Facebook.

Original post:

Elliott Hulse Talks Strongman, Active Meditation, and Bioenergetics - BarBend (blog)

Your grandmother is probably into stand-up paddleboarding these days. The trendy water workout is no longer reserved for boho surfer types and fitness fanatics. SUP (as its called) has become the hottest exercise since aerobicsand I can see why. An intense paddleboarding sesh can can be just as intense as a bike ride and engage everything from your arms to your bum.

But fitness junkies always want more. Regular old SUPing is not enough, and you can now take classes that offer resistance training on the board, paddleboard yoga, andof course meditation .

I had to try it. I love paddleboarding , dig Downward Dog, and am trying to give this whole meditation thing a go , so I signed up for a class with Sera at Serenity Eco Guides in the Florida Keys. Sera is a lovely long-haired woman with a six-pack and Heidi braids that goes by one only namea la Cher or Beyonc. She refers to herself as a healer and holds a BS in psychology with a minor in environmental chemistry. She is a manager at Ocean Edge Hotel & Marina where she uses her skills as a paddleboard healer to bring restorative exercise to her guests.

Sera says that ecotherapy is a broad term for a variety of nature-based healing practices that facilitate the experiential connection of the client with the environment. The essential function is to reconnect to the senses and increase self-awareness. This style of therapy is an application of the relatively new field of ecopsychology and usually incorporates some counseling and coaching components.

I have found that it is easier for me to guide my students into a subconscious state when the only ambient noise is natural and there is no one else around, Sera tells me.

Honestly, it all sounded a little hokey. Could I really get my Zen on and relax my body while trying to balance on a board? Also, the whole subconscious state thing seems like a load of BS. I was skeptical, but figured if an exercise can simultaneously work my abs and bliss me out, then it's worth a shot.

I hopped on my board and confidently paddled along the bay, realizing as I went that the nature of SUP is meditative in itself. Once upright, I gently pulled the paddle through the clear waters, moving my arms from one side to the other. I had no text messages to attend to and zero emails staring me in the face. It was awesome.

Our group anchored in a lush mangrove and we began the practice with a few yoga poses . We Pigeoned, Downward Dogged, and planked, all of which are incredibly challenging on a paddleboard. Finally, we moved into meditation.

Sera says that SUP yoga is the practice of stretching and applying yoga on board, which requires a lot of balance and is physically demanding. SUP meditation doesnt look as cool, she says, but the benefits are enormous.

To successfully meditate on a paddleboard, one must be completely still with her eyes closed.She says you can practice in any yogic posture, but the simplicity of Corpse pose seems to be most effective. Lying still on my back? Twist my arm, why don't you?

Sera had us lie down and gently graze our hands along the water, which not only felt cooling on a warm afternoon, but helped me to relax. She also assured me that a gator would not bite off my pinky toe so I could comfortably chill the F out.

Sera says that people are often unaware of the constant stream of thoughts that flow though their heads . Sometimes it is very difficult for people to quiet their mind, and nature makes this easier," she told us. "Meditating on a paddleboard is a powerful way to increase your awareness of how, what, and where you feel about life.

At that point I was feeling pretty good about life, considering that I was floating in a beautiful bay that was not full of alligators.

From a lying down position, Sera led us in a guided meditation and the last thing I remember is her chanting, I am serenity. Serenity is me. TBH, I had no idea what that meant, but I feel asleep under the hot Florida sun. Or so I thought

Sera tells me that I didnt actually doze, but under her guidance of yoga nidrathe yoga of sleep she facilitated the state of consciousness between waking and sleeping. She tells me, You were not asleepyou were in your subconscious mind where the answers to all of our questions truly are.

OK, I do question that, but Ill never complain about napping on the ocean.

Anne Roderique-Jones is a freelance writer and editor whose work has appeared in Vogue, Marie Claire, Southern Living, Town & Country, and Cond Nast Traveler. Twitter: @AnnieMarie_ Instagram: @AnnieMarie_

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I Tried Stand-Up Paddleboard Meditation and Didn't Think It Was BS - SELF

White River Junction Sometimes its curiosity that drives people. Other times its pop culture references or a longing to be more reflective.

Whatever it is that brings them, visitors to the Upper Valley Zen Centers weekly Introduction to Zen Practice classes have helped keep the program going for nearly a decade.

I think the idea of entering into a new space and a new practice and a new discipline can be intimidating, said Allyn Field, a lay ordained monk and teacher in the Rin Zai Zen Tradition who runs the center. The Wednesday night group, which meets from 6-7 p.m., is a more informal way to ask questions, to learn about some of the basic ideas behind the practice that we do.

Topics include the best posture to sit in that doesnt cause back or ankle pain.

Often people will come repeatedly, Field said. The space can hold about 12 people and, while the courses have had eight to 10 people, four or five is more typical. Admission is by donation.

People come for many different reasons, Field said. Some may come to a sense that they havent really slowed down in their lives to understand why theyre doing the things that theyre doing.

Others may be coping with the breakup of a marriage, a death,or, simply, life.

People sort of reach a midlife crisis where they start to ask questions, Field said. How do I face the fact that its not all about youth and liveliness, its also about getting old and decrepit?

The religious beliefs of those who attend do not matter.

Our practice is not dogmatic. It doesnt subscribe to a particular dogma in that way, Field said.

Everyone is always welcome.

I think people often come to the Zen Center with some idea of what it is and what theyre going to get out of it, Field said. The first thing I do is to encourage them to let go of those ideas and start with a fresh mind.

Editors note: The Upper Valley Zen Center is located at 58 Bridge Street in White River Junction (on the ground floor of the Main Street Museum building). For more information, call 603-448-4877 or visit http://www.uvzc.org.

The Upper Valley Zen Center isnt the only nonprofit organization that offers meditation. Here are some of the Upper Valleys regularly occurring meditation groups. (If we missed one let us know at calendar@vnews.com.)

Meditation Group in Newbury, Vt.: Mondays, 7-8:30 a.m. Tenney Memorial Library, 4886 Main St. Weekly sitting and walking meditation. Bring a cushion if desired; chairs also provided. Free. 802-866-5366.

Mindfulness Meditation in Norwich: Tuesdays, 9-11:30 a.m., The Heart of the Valley Mindfulness Practice Center, 70 Beaver Meadow Road, Norwich. Meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh followed by discussion. Admission by donation. 802-436-1136.

Meditation and Discussion in Norwich: Tuesdays, 5:30-7 p.m., St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Hall, 262 Main St., Norwich. Practitioners of all levels are invited to join the sitting and walking meditation in the Theravadan tradition. After the meditation, the group explores their experience, with the teacher's guidance. Sponsored by Valley Insight Meditation Society. Free. prenderp@gmail.com or 802-649-7085.

Meditation in White River Junction: Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Shambhala Meditation Center, 158 S. Main St., White River Junction. Sitting and walking meditation. Individual instruction, cushions and chairs available. Free. shambhala.whiteriver@gmail.com or 802-484-7235.

Midweek Meditation in Sharon: Wednesdays, 8-9 a.m., Seven Stars Arts Center, 5126 Route 14, Sharon. A meditation sitting group derived from the vipassana tradition. Open to all regardless of experience. The format is a few minutes of instruction, a quiet sitting period, then a discussion with Q&A. Bring a favorite cushion or pillow, if available. Chairs provided if not. Free. 802-763-2334.

Evening Mindfulness Meditation in Norwich: Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., St Barnabas Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 262 Main St., Norwich. Meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, followed by a reading and sharing. Free. joyceandpat@gmail.com or 603-277-9318.

Meditation and Discussion in Lebanon: Thursdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Barn, 14 Green St., Lebanon. For experienced meditators on a drop-in or continuing basis. The current format is guided meditations, followed by discussion. Please contact Valley Insight Meditation Society at valleyinsight.org/contact-us/ before attending for the first time. As always, it is not necessary to be reading any suggested essays or books to follow the teachings and to take part in the discussion. Admission is by donation. prenderp@gmail.com or 802-649-7085.

Meditation in White River Junction: Thursdays, noon-1 p.m., Shambhala Meditation Center, 158 S. Main St., White River Junction. Sitting and walking meditation. Beginners welcome. Instruction available. Free. shambhala.whiteriver@gmail.com or 802-484-7235.

Zen Practice Study Group in White River Junction: Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Upper Valley Zen Center, 58 Bridge St., White River Junction. Meditation and study of texts in Buddhist tradition. All welcome, no preparation required. Admission is by donation. Allyn.Field@gmail.com or 603-448-4877.

Help us keep this list up-to-date. Send additions or corrections to calendar@vnews.com.

Excerpt from:

Out & About: A Place to Learn Why You're Doing What You're Doing - Valley News

Amy Sowder, For the Poughkeepsie Journal 12:03 p.m. ET May 20, 2017

The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, NY, April 30, 2017. Video by Adam McIe for lohud

Amy Reyer, who leads meditation classes at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, is pictured at the top of the "Holy Mountain" on the property April 25, 2017. (Photo: Mark Vergari/Poughkeepsie Journal)Buy Photo

Next Saturday, you could find yourself staring up at a 55-foot ivory Buddha as you chant, barefoot and perched on a floor cushion.

You might be slamming a tennis ball with all your might at a former adult summer camp or inhaling to a count of three and exhaling to a count of three from a mountaintop as your gaze drifts over the Hudson River Valley.

All of these activities are within reach in an hour or two at meditation getaways that last a day, a weekend or much longer, if you have time.

Your meditative moment could be contemplating the sparkling river from a gazebo atop a bluff, meandering a lush garden labyrinth, sweating in a woody sauna, folding yourself into a downward-dog position, meditative kayaking,or learning how to run in a meditative state.

Its a self-care kind of vacation, but it involves internal work with long-lasting payback.

You dont have to have your eyes closed and sitting on a cushion to exercise these tools. Thats good, but what makes meditation practice great is what it does for us the rest of the time, says Amy Reyer, mindfulness and meditation educator.

Shes the founder of the Art of Living Slowly and leads a compassion meditation class in Croton-on-Hudson. She also leads a meditation class at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison using the Tergar philosophy, which translates the ancient practice of meditation for a modern world for people of all backgrounds.

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The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, photographed April 9, 2017.(Photo: Adam McIe for The Journal News)

But you dont have to be a teacher or go out of state to take a breather in Buddhist monk fashion. You can reap the benefits of meditation anywhere in everyday life.

It's not about getting away from real life but making friends with yourself so you can be more present in your life, says Ethan Nichtern, a shastri (or senior teacher) in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition, and an award-winning author. He leads weekend retreats at the Shambhala Center of New York, where theres no cloistering away from reality.

An urban retreat is a good middle ground between a 10-minute practice in the morning at home and a full-on, deep retreat.

It's not that people are trying to be yogis living in caves and all that. But we want to learn how to apply compassion and mindfulness in everyday life, Nichtern says.

For an experience closer to monastic living for a few days, that is thats available at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, the Shambhala Center at Sky Lake in Rosendale, and Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper. Those who are really serious can take a year-long residency at Zen Mountain.

But if youre just starting out, you may want to try an evening or a day at one of these retreats:

Steps leading up to The Sanctuary, a quiet space for contemplation and daily meditation classes at Omega.(Photo: Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, New York, eOmega.org)

Offerings: Choose from more than 390 workshops, retreats and professional training opportunities in 2017; the curriculum spans six learning paths: Body/Mind/Spirit, Health & Healing, Creative Expression, Leadership & Work, Relationships & Family and Sustainable Living; there are at least 20 programs specific to meditation and mindfulness, but hundreds of the workshops offered have a meditative component within the program; attend a workshop or visit as getaway for a rest and rejuvenation retreat; there are daily open (optional) classes in meditation, yoga, tai chi and movement; there will be four silent retreats in 2017.

Did you know?: Founded in 1977, Omega Institute is celebrating 40 years; more than 23,000 people visit each year; most people stay for a weekend retreat or a five-day weekday retreat, but commuting is possible.

Accommodations: A former summer camp, Omegas 250-acre campus restored the dining hall, main hall, and guest lodging, adding a library, wellness center, and sanctuary; lodging ranges from cabins with private baths to camping sites with shared baths.

Choose from dozens of meditation workshops at Omega from beginners courses, to advanced professional training.(Photo: Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, New York, eOmega.org)

Cost: Overnight rates range from $236 for camping two nights to $1,883 for a single room in Cabin A for seven nights, which includes three meals a day, open classes, the sauna, lake (in season), basketball and tennis courts and trails; in May theres a special R&R getaway deal including a free massage and discounted rates.

Go: 150 Lake Drive, Rhinebeck,877-944-2002, eomega.org.

Offerings:Located in the Shawangunk Mountains, Sky Lake is a Shambhala contemplative center for meditation, arts and community. It is part of an international community of meditation centers founded by Chgyam Trungpa Rinpoche and now led by his son and lineage holder Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Guests at the center canwalkin the woods, hiketrails at nearby Mohonk Preserve, scale the Gunks or take a stroll around thespring-fed pond.Meditation instruction is available, from free introductory instruction and follow-up instruction to guided programs that incorporate nature such as a Mindfulness Kayaking program (May 24-25). The center'sSpring Kado Retreat: The Way of Flowers (June 2-6)is an an intensive 4 day program including flower arranging demonstrations, sitting, Dharma talks, Kado practice, outside walks, and evening events.

Accommodations:There are a few different overnight options including a fewprivate rooms, shared room, shrine room or tent camping in summer.Rates are per person andinclude three meals a day for 1-2 week programs and breakfast and lunch only for Shambhala training weekend programs. Rates differ for each program.

Go:22 Hillcrest Lane, Rosendale, 845-658-8556,skylake.shambhala.org

Amy Reyer, who leads meditation classes at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, is pictured with the historic St. Francis Chapel on the property April 25, 2017. (Photo: Mark Vergari/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Offerings at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center: Discover days of renewal and recollection, meetings, events, conferences, retreats and mini-retreats; there are a bunch of themed retreats such as addiction recovery, women-only and men-only; Tergar-philosophy guided meditation classes held7 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

Offerings at Garrison Institute: Many themed retreats are available, like the Personal Retreat Weekend July 14 -6, a silent, unstructured personal retreat for meditators with a developed practice and those seeking renewal in the serenity of a contemplative environment; many 2017 retreats focus on the arts and The Atlas of Emotions.

Did you know?: Garrison Institute is a castle that was the former Capuchin monastery overlooking the east bank of the Hudson River across from West Point. Its on 95 acres of Glenclyffe property, formerly the estate of Hamilton Fish, New York governor and President Grants secretary of state.

The historic St. Francis Chapel on the grounds of Graymoor in Garrison, April 25, 2017.(Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

Accommodations: Located on a mountaintop overlooking the Hudson River Valley, Graymoor is open dawn to dusk year-round to the public to enjoy the miles of expansive, picturesque grounds with trails, a labyrinth, three chapels, shrines, library, dining room and meeting rooms. There are bedrooms for single and double occupancy with towels, linens and one pillow per bed. Meals are included for retreats; Garrison institute offers single and double bedrooms, along with vegetarian meals, walking trails, a gazebo, gardens, and a labyrinth. Theres internet access, theater, library, and more meeting rooms.

Prices and packages: Graymoor has one-day mini retreats 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays for $35, weekend retreats with two-night stays and five meals vary, but can be between $150 and $225; at the Garrison Institute, rooms are $290 to $330 with partial scholarships available.

Addresses: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, Kennedy Lounge, 4th floor, 1320 Route 9, (40 Franciscan Way for GPS navigation) Garrison; and The Garrison Institute, 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D at Glenclyffe, Garrison.

Contact: Amy Reyer and Joy Baum co-lead Tergar Hudson Valley meditation sessions at Graymoor; Baum also organizes Inhabit Retreats, such as one coming up this summer at Garrison Institute; for Reyer, 914-373-9234 and amy@artoflivingslowly.com; for Baum, 914-980-9545 and inhabitretreats.com;garrisonistitute.org.

The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, photographed April 30, 2017. (Photo: Carrie Yale/The Journal News)

What's there:Great Buddha Hall, Kuan Yin Hall, Dining Hall, Gift Shop, Thousand Lotus Terrace, Seven Jewel Lakes, Garden, and Woo Ju Memorial Library.

Offerings:A 10-Day Insight through Satipatthna Meditation Retreat, in which you must follow the eight traditional precepts including silence, vegetarianism, abstaining from food after the midday meal and more; Summer Camp starting June 30, for adults, teens, and children who are able to maintain silence.

Anuruddha Thera is a cousin of the Buddha and one of the five head disciples of the Buddha. He ranked foremost among those who had obtained the divine eyes. Being an affectionate and loyal monk, he was foremost in consoling the monks with divine eyes. He was photographed at The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, April 30, 2017. (Photo: Carrie Yale/The Journal News)

Did you know?:This Buddhist temple is home to the largest indoor statue of a Buddha in the western hemisphere. Its 55 feet, including the pedestal and base.

Accommodations:Expect monastic accommodations; bring a sleeping bag, toiletries, and loose, modest clothing with long sleeves and long pants/skirts, shoes with no laces, and warm outerwear. Bring no valuable jewelry, cell phones, or other electronics.

Cost: Some classes havea suggested donation; donations are accepted also for other programs; registration for overnight retreats is dependent on acceptance as space is limited; register for summer camp before June 11.

Go:Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 1 to Dec. 31; library is open 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 2020 Route 301, Carmel,845-225-1819,baus.org/en/visit/chuang-yen-monastery

The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, photographed April 30, 2017. (Photo: Carrie Yale/The Journal News)

Offerings: All programs fall into the monasterys training schedule, which is highly structured; the Sunday morning program is a good way to first experience the monastery, learn to meditate and discover the offerings. There is no need to pre-register, but arrive by 8:45 a.m. for the chanting and bowing service, then beginner instruction in zazen (Zen meditation), formal discourse, and then lunch until 1 p.m.; wear loose, comfortable, modest, non-bright clothing; no shorts, leggings or tanks; then there are weekend, weeklong, one-month and year-long residential retreats. Themes vary from Running as Meditation and Family Camping and Storytelling Retreat to Dreaming to Wake Up and Introduction to Zen Meditation.

Accommodations: Dormitory bedrooms are separated by gender with bunk beds for six to eight people; bed linens are provided and vegetarian meals included, as well as coffee and tea in the early morning.

Cost:$5 suggested donation for the Sunday session; prices vary for retreats, but for example, one weekend retreat is $250; financial assistance is available.

Go: For GPS navigation, search for the intersection of Plank Road and Miller Road in Mount Tremper; it should take you to the monasterys front gate.845-688-2228, zmm.mro.org.

The historic St. Francis Chapel on the grounds of Graymoor in Garrison, April 25, 2017.(Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

Why bother with all this anyway?

Meditation reduces stress, depression and anxiety. It improves your health, well-being and resilience to the struggles life throws at you, says Chrissa J. Pullicino, external communications manager at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck. Oh, is that all?

Of course theres more. There are four components of well-being supported by neuroscience in the 2015 World Happiness Report a document backed by institutions such as Columbia University. The components a positive outlook, rebounding from negative emotion, mindfulness and mind wandering, and caring for others can be developed and improved with training and experience. Happiness and well-being are best regarded as skills that can be enhanced through training, according to the report.

Yes, you can train yourself to be happy and feel a sense of well-being (most of the time).

Meditation is the training, and it can take many forms: breathing, visualization, chanting, sound, compassion, moving, gratitude and mantras. Its really a matter of taste and finding what suits you.

And where it suits you.

I feel most drawn to nature mediation. I feel most connected and alive when Im in the beauty of nature, Pullicino says. I find having a gratitude practice can be really helpful. On your commute to work, or before bed at night, even on your worst day, theres always some blessing in your life you can feel thankful for.

I genuinely do feel more of a sense of well-being and trust in life that everything will work out.

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Meditation retreats in the Hudson Valley - Poughkeepsie Journal

Maybe Im a little late to the hashtag-mindfulness movement, but I just recently started using a meditation app. There are plenty of articles touting the supposed benefits of meditation practices ranging from from charting new pathways in the brain to remaining in a zen-like state when having a conversation about politics and in recent years the market for mental wellness and meditation services has grown to more than $1 billion. But for me the impetus was convenience: my gym app started offering meditation practices for free, and for awhile they were shoved in my face every time I opened the app.

Whats surprised me more than my almost-immediate taking to this new feature in the app (which the gym has labeled Headstrong, not to be confused with the wildly popular Headspace), is how much I like wearing Apples wire-free AirPods while Im using it. I know, I know: fetishizing an Apple product while trying to achieve mental clarity, through a practice that at its roots is supposed to help quell earthly desires, is borderline ridiculous. Also, big caveat! AirPods dont fit everyone well, and ill-fitting headphones are just as irritating as having Donald Trumps tweets read aloud to you while trying to meditate (good luck with that).

But unlike my Verge colleague Sean OKane, the AirPods feel good in my ears, and when I wear them I can pretty much forget theyre there. I can sit up, or lie down, or lie down and then sit up, and theyre there, but I dont realize theyre there. Theres no neckband behind my head or cables snaking over my ears or tiny shark fins poking my ear cartilage; and theres no dangling wire tickling the side of my face and keeping me leashed to my smartphone. Im completely unencumbered for six or ten or fourteen minutes, or at the very least, able to convince myself Im unencumbered, since the whole thing is still powered by a smartphone.

Somehow, they stay in my ears

Since theyve come to market Ive worn the AirPods during a variety of activities, and in general Ive been impressed by their staying power. Ive walked, hiked, run, jumped rope, and lifted weights while wearing them. Somehow, they stay in my ears. The only time Ive been in danger of losing the tiny ear dongles was when I pulled a sweatshirt over my head and one got caught in its laundry-bound path.

But during almost every activity Im still very much aware of them, whether its because Im consciously listening to a music playlist, or because someone comments on them, or because Ive caught a glimpse of myself in a gym mirror and thought, Oh god, Ive become one of the AirPods people.

When Im sitting there attempting to use the meditation app, the AirPods become one less thing I have to remember to forget. I can still hear ambient noise from the outside world, but theres also a voice whispering directly into my ears, one that feels like its curling up along the edges of my brain. If youve ever used headphones to fall asleep, you know the sensation: theres the low hum of a TV, maybe, or the murmur of voices from another room or in the car, just enough to keep you aware of whats going on around you, but your attention is focused on the thing youve chosen to listen to.

Lots of people use meditation apps without AirPods. Lots of people meditate without the use of any kind of app or guide at all. You dont need AirPods to meditate. But for me theyve become the surprisingly perfect accessory.

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Apple's AirPods are the perfect accessory to meditation apps - The Verge

Malcolm Little was born in Omaha, Nebraska on this day, May 19th, 1925. I consider him one of the signal figures in the spiritual history of the United States. Ive written here about him before. But, I never feel Ive quote captured what I hope to share. So, one more time

Malcolm was the fourth of seven children. His father a Baptist preacher and an outspoken advocate of Black self-reliance. The family moved first to Milwaukee and then to Lansing.

His father was killed when he was six years old, while ruled an accident the family believed in fact he was murdered for his outspoken call for social justice. His mother was committed to a mental institution when he was thirteen. After bouncing from foster home to foster home, he fell onto the streets and into crime.

At the age of twenty, while serving a term in prison Malcolm discovered the Nation of Islam.While a controversial American religious movement with little connection to normative Islam, it offered him sobriety and a purpose. And he embraced it like a life raft in a raging sea. There he also received a new name.

Malcolm X.

Malcolm quickly rose to leadership. But at the same time he was increasingly aware of the problems within the Nation as well as how far its teachings were from authentic Islam. He delved deeply into the religion that the Nation had lifted its name from, and eventually converted.

Within his conversion we find the beauty to be found in the Muslim faith. For him a major step in his deepening spirituality, now as Hajj-Malik El Shabazz.

I think about his relationship with first the Nation and later with normative Islam. For African Americans, particularly black Americans in the mid nineteen sixties, the complicity of the Christian churches not only with slavery, but with its half life continuing at that point for just shy of a century, had soured many hearts with that tradition.

With Islam here was a religion that, while it has many, many shortcomings as well, at least preached racial unity from its inception. This proved something powerful. And opened a world of possibilities both for him as a person, and, truthfully, for all of us. While still holding everyone to a sharp accountability, Malcolm Xs Islam was a path toward reconciliation of both the spirit and the world.

Sometime in 1963 he began collaborating on a memoir with Alex Haley.And then it all ended. On the 21st of February in 1965, he was assassinated by three members from the Nation, who saw him as an apostate.

But they were too late to shut down his message.Mr Haley finished the project and the Autobiography of Malcolm X was published later that year.The Wikipedia article on the book tells us When the Autobiography was published, the New York Times reviewer described it as a brilliant, painful, important book.

In 1967, historian John William Ward wrote that it would become a classic American autobiography. In 1998, Time named the Autobiography of Malcolm X as one of ten required reading nonfiction books. James Baldwin and Arnold Perl adapted the book as a film; their screenplay provided the source material for Spike Lees 1992 film Malcolm X.

One could call it one of the great American spiritual narratives. If you havent read the Autobiography, you might find it worth while doing so. It is an indictment of white America. Brutally honest, with both himself and the world he found himself in. And at the same time the Autobiography sings a deep and authentic song of hope.

Because of his death people can speculate without consequence as to where his spiritual and political journey would take him. Me, I like to think he would have found Sufism. There are aspects of his spiritual journey that suggest it could have been the culmination of the journey.

But, of course, only a fond fantasy. Malcolm Xs life becomes one of those great ifs.

Kind of like ours at this moment. Where this choice or that dictates a whole different story going forward. Doors opening and closing, all depending on what we, that is you and I choose to do.

May we choose wisely

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Malcolm X: A Meditation - Patheos (blog)

Many of us dont look at peoplesitting motionless on cushions with their legs crossed meditating and associate that scene with joy and happiness. Weve been conditioned by daily exposure to advertising to associate joy with a fizzy soft drink, a delicious looking alcoholic beverage in a glass with a long stem, a slim model wearing glamorous clothes, a tropical beach gently caressed by clear blue water bordered by a shady grove of palm trees, a brand new sports car with the top down cruising along Californias route 1 toward San Francisco and a penthouse apartment that looks out over New Yorks Central Park at sunset. These are the paths to joy and happiness we crave, not being bored watching the breath come in and out.

I remember bringing an optimistic but grim attitude to my first week long meditation retreat over thirty years ago. I knew Id be expected to sit very still for up to an hour at a time, then alternate that with very slow walking meditation from early in the morning until late at night. I was ready for meditation boot camp. I knew my body would ache, my knees and back would be sore and my mind would want to run away. But I hoped that if I could survive the first few days, then maybe Id get some joy out of it. Sort of like the enjoyment I might get when I stop hitting my head against the wall.

I did hit a different sort of wall at my second meditation retreat about a year later. I had been pushing myself very, very hard to excel at meditation. After about five days I was exhausted and in agony. There was a painful knot in my shoulder I just couldnt make go away no matter how hard I tried to relax. I finally gave up and let the knot win. Defeated, I returned to the basics of the meditation practice and started all over again. And a few minutes later, it changed and let go. And in that moment I suddenly realized the goal of meditation practice. And then I tasted an exquisite kind of joy that has deeply changed me.

Many people build their lives around serial experiences of pleasure. We look forward to attending the next game, the next concert, the next date, the next trip. These are the moments we prepare for hoping that well experience exuberant joy as our team wins, the stimulation of the concert washes through us and transports us, bodies touch releasing intense flows of intoxicating hormones, and exotic food delights our taste buds. All these experiences have to be arranged so the intense stimulation comes from the outside of our bodies to generate feelings of joy and pleasure inside our bodies.

The joy and pleasure I experience at a meditation retreat can be a little different. As I am sitting quietly watching my breath or walking slowly feeling the soles of my feet, I notice things that spontaneously bring me joy and pleasure. I notice a feeling of warmth as sunlight touches my skin; a cool breeze that strokes my arm; the bright color of a flower on a table in a vase delights my eye; the sound of gurgling water in a stream or the wind softly rustling leaves in a stand of trees soothes my ear. Simple foods can be ecstatically pleasurable as I taste them with undivided attention even oatmeal! Ordinary, daily experiences become extraordinarily enjoyable. The only difference from normal life is the level of peace in my mind and of continuous attention to each moment.

Spending a few days quieting the mind and body and developing greater moment to moment attention cultivates a quality of consciousness that is commonly referred to as mindfulness. It is a very familiar kind of consciousness for most of us that arises when we have self-awareness or self-knowing. I feel my fingertips and I know that what I am doing in that moment is experiencing sensation in my fingers. This is a different experience from tapping my fingers on the table absent mindedly while being distracted thinking about dinner plans or organizing a to-do list. We go in and out of this self-knowing experience. At a meditation retreat, the goal is to develop a continuous experience of this self-knowing which can bring big shifts in our experience. The mind becomes much clearer, more present, and more responsive to what is happening in each moment.

When we are attentive to the interface between our minds and bodies and the world and let go of trying to control, add to or remove from that interaction but just sit still and watch it, gaps appear between our desires, aversions and distractions. In those gaps, there are unanticipated and unexpected moments of peace that have a sense of joy and heart opening that spontaneously arise. Suddenly there is the experience of joy and peace without being cultivated, planned or plotted out.

Knowing that the joy and peace I seek isnt someplace else to be sought out and collected but right here under my nose and available in any moment has been deeply liberating. It has progressively freed me from thinking there are some external or internal conditions that need to be satisfied for me to be happy. There can even be joy in the grip of great pain and discomfort.

The conditioning of our minds stands in the way of this liberating experience of joy. The belief that satisfying desire, avoiding discomfort and distracting the mind from the present will bring enduring joy is a delusional error perpetuated by our culture to enslave us and future generations. The path to liberation is already right here, right now and instantly available.

We just need to change our minds and begin knowing it.

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The Joy of Meditation - Albany Times Union (blog)

FRIDAY, May 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can come with a lot of anxiety, depression and other symptoms that affect quality of life. But mind-body therapies, such as yoga or meditation, may help ease these troubling concerns, a new study suggests.

The researchers reviewed previous studies done on 80 integrative therapies.

"We have good evidence that [some] mind-body therapies -- such as meditation, yoga, relaxation -- can provide benefit to breast cancer patients during and after treatment," said study researcher Heather Greenlee. She's an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.

"And we do have evidence that acupuncture is very useful in managing pain," she added.

Evidence about dietary supplements and botanicals, however, are lacking when it comes to helping symptoms and side effects, she said.

Greenlee and her colleagues conducted the study to update clinical guidelines for the Society for Integrative Oncology. Greenlee is past president of the society. She said that past research indicates that as many as eight in 10 people with cancer turn to complementary or integrative therapies at some point.

The study looked at complementary and alternative therapies, defined as those outside the range of conventional treatments. Complementary treatments are those used along with conventional care, she said. Alternative treatments are often used instead of conventional care. She prefers the term integrative therapy, which describes the use of non-conventional treatments in conjunction with conventional care.

The researchers limited the study to integrative therapies for breast cancer patients. Use of these treatments is popular among women with breast cancer, and there is evidence for some treatments.

The research didn't include information on any potential survival benefits, because the studies are lacking that evidence.

The integrative therapies were graded. An A grade indicates there is strong evidence in favor of that treatment, and B is moderate. C represents preliminary evidence. D means the evidence suggests the treatment is not effective. H means the treatment has the potential to be harmful.

Meditation got an A. This therapy was found to have the strongest evidence, recommended for lessening anxiety, improving depression and quality of life. Yoga and music therapy got a B for lessening anxiety and improving mood. Yoga also got a B for improving quality of life. Yoga, acupuncture and hypnosis got a C on fatigue improvement.

Acupuncture and acupressure, when added to conventional drugs for lessening chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, got a B.

One supplement, acetyl-L-carnitine, can cause harm, the study found. This supplement is used by breast cancer patients to help with fatigue or with nerve problems associated with chemotherapy, according to the study. But the investigators found the supplement was ineffective for fighting fatigue, and could worsen nerve problems.

The new guidelines are welcome news, according to Matthew Loscalzo. He's a social worker and the executive director of supportive care medicine at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, Calif.

Loscalzo's program includes mind-body and other treatments with conventional care, and he said the treatments recommended by the guidelines do help reduce stress and other symptoms. He also agreed with the finding about supplements.

Loscalzo said that his biggest concern is patients who turn to the unproven supplements and don't seek conventional medical care. "I have women coming in with cancers that would have been cured a year ago," he said, if they hadn't chosen to seek only alternative treatments.

In particular, Loscalzo said that he especially cautions people to avoid St. John's wort, used for depression, and mega doses of supplements. Some treatments can interact with chemotherapy, he explained.

But mind-body therapies are helpful for treating emotional stress and other problems that can accompany a cancer diagnosis, Loscalzo said.

Patients need to start with their doctor when considering a non-conventional therapy, he suggested. "Your doctor should be able to direct you," Loscalzo advised.

The guidelines were published online April 24 in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

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Yoga, Meditation May Ease Some Breast Cancer Symptoms - Arizona Daily Star

Amy Sowder, For The Journal News Published 6:06 a.m. ET May 19, 2017 | Updated 9 minutes ago

The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, NY, April 30, 2017. Video by Adam McIe for lohud

Amy Reyer, who leads meditation classes at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, is pictured at the top of the "Holy Mountain" on the property April 25, 2017.(Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)Buy Photo

Next Saturday, you could find yourself staring up at a 55-foot ivory Buddha as you chant, barefoot and perched on a floor cushion.

You might be slamming a tennis ball with all your might at a former adult summer camp or inhaling to a count of three and exhaling to a count of three from a mountaintop as your gaze drifts over the Hudson River Valley.

All of these activities are within reach in an hour or two at meditation getaways that last a day, a weekend or much longer, if you have time.

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Your meditative moment could be contemplating the sparkling river from a gazebo atop a bluff, meandering a lush garden labyrinth, sweating in a woody sauna, folding yourself into a downward-dog position, going for a meditative kayak journey, or learning how to run in a meditative state.

Its a self-care kind of vacation, but it involves internal work with long-lasting payback suited for spiritually minded people as well as secular souls.

You dont have to have your eyes closed and sitting on a cushion to exercise these tools. Thats good, but what makes meditation practice great is what it does for us the rest of the time, says Amy Reyer, mindfulness and meditation educator.

Shes the founder of the Art of Living Slowly and leads a compassion meditation class in Croton-on-Hudson. She also leads a meditation class at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison using the Tergar philosophy, which translates the ancient practice of meditation for a modern world for people of all backgrounds.

But you dont have to be a teacher or go out of state to take a breather in Buddhist monk fashion. You can reap the benefits of meditation anywhere in everyday life.

It's not about getting away from real life but making friends with yourself so you can be more present in your life, says Ethan Nichtern, a shastri (or senior teacher) in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition, and an award-winning author. He leads weekend retreats at the Shambhala Center of New York, where theres no cloistering away from reality.

An urban retreat is a good middle ground between a 10-minute practice in the morning at home and a full-on, deep retreat in which silence and no cellphones is enforced. It's not that people are trying to be yogis living in caves and all that. But we want to learn how to apply compassion and mindfulness in everyday life, Nichtern says.

Anuruddha Thera is a cousin of the Buddha and one of the five head disciples of the Buddha. He ranked foremost among those who had obtained the divine eyes. Being an affectionate and loyal monk, he was foremost in consoling the monks with divine eyes. He was photographed at The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, April 30, 2017. (Photo: Carrie Yale/The Journal News)

Joy Baum has been a contemplative educator for many years and continues to teach and practice in the Hudson Valley, throughout North America and abroad. Shes running a retreat at the Garrison Institute this summer, as part of Inhabit Retreats, which is a fabulous opportunity to engage in the meditative and contemplative experiences of an immersion retreat, Baum says.

For an experience closer to monastic living for a few days, that is thats available at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, the Shambhala Center at Sky Lake in Rosendale, and Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper. Those who are really serious can take a year-long residency at Zen Mountain.

But if youre just starting out, you may want to try an evening or a day at one of these retreats:

Steps leading up to The Sanctuary, a quiet space for contemplation and daily meditation classes at Omega.(Photo: Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, New York, eOmega.org)

Offerings: Choose from more than 390 workshops, retreats and professional training opportunities in 2017; the curriculum spans six learning paths: Body/Mind/Spirit, Health & Healing, Creative Expression, Leadership & Work, Relationships & Family and Sustainable Living; there are at least 20 programs specific to meditation and mindfulness, but hundreds of the workshops offered have a meditative component within the program; attend a workshop or visit as getaway for a rest & rejuvenation retreat; there are daily open (optional) classes in meditation, yoga, tai chi and movement; there will be four silent retreats in 2017.

Choose from dozens of meditation workshops at Omega from beginners courses, to advanced professional training.(Photo: Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, New York, eOmega.org)

Did you know?Founded in 1977, Omega Institute is celebrating 40 years; more than 23,000 people visit each year; most people stay for a weekend retreat or a five-day weekday retreat, but commuting is possible.

Accommodations: A former summer camp, Omegas 250-acre campus restored the dining hall, main halland guest lodging, adding a library, wellness centerand sanctuary; lodging ranges from cabins with private baths to camping sites with shared baths.

Find your seat and center your mind inside Omega's Sanctuary; a space for contemplation and daily meditation classes.(Photo: Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, New York, eOmega.org)

Prices and packages: Overnight rates range from $236 for camping two nights to $1,883 for a single room in Cabin A for seven nights, which includes three meals a day, open classes, the sauna, lake (in season), basketball and tennis courts and trails; in May theres a special R&R getaway deal including a free massage and discounted rates.

Go:Address: 150 Lake Dr., Rhinebeck,877-944-2002, eomega.org

The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, photographed April 30, 2017. (Photo: Carrie Yale/The Journal News)

Whats there: Great Buddha Hall, Kuan Yin Hall, dining hall, gift shop, Thousand Lotus Terrace, Seven Jewel Lakes, Garden, and Woo Ju Memorial Library.

Offerings:Meditation & Dharma Talk with Venerable Suddhaso, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 21, at Kuan-Yin Hall; 10-Day Insight through Satipatthna Meditation Retreat, in which you must follow the eight traditional precepts including silence, vegetarianism, abstaining from food after the midday meal and more; Summer Camp starting June 30, for adults, teensand children who are able to maintain silence.

The Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, photographed April 9, 2017.(Photo: Adam McIe for The Journal News)

Did you know?This Buddhist temple is home to the largest indoor statue of a Buddha in the western hemisphere. Its 55 feet tall, including the pedestal and base.

Accommodations:Expect monastic accommodations; bring a sleeping bag, toiletries, and loose, modest clothing with long sleeves and long pants/skirts, shoes with no laces, and warm outerwear. Bring no valuable jewelry, cellphones, or other electronics.

Cost:The May 21 class has a suggested $15 donation; donations are accepted also for other programs; registration for overnight retreats is dependent on acceptance as space is limited; register for summer camp before June 11.

Hours:Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 1 to Dec. 31; library is open 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Go:2020 Route 301, Carmel,845-225-1819, http://www.baus.org/en/visit/chuang-yen-monastery/

Offerings: Learn to Meditate classes for beginners are 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and noon to 1 p.m. Sundays; Public Sitting Meditations are drop-in, silent, sitting meditation sessions typically hosted by a timekeeper, interspersed with brief periods of walking meditation 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, 6 to 7 p.m. Fridays and 9 to 11:45 a.m. Sundays; Weekly Dharma Gathering at 7 p.m. Tuesdays involves a group meditation practice, a talk by a senior teacher, discussionand a light reception; meditation instruction is also provided; there are also Shambhala Training Weekend retreats with various themes, led by different shastras Friday night, all day Saturday and half of Sunday.

Accommodations: No overnight stays are available in New York City.

Cost: Dharma Gatherings are $10 for general admission and $5 for students; Learn to Meditate has a suggested $10 donation; other sessions are by donation; Shambhala Training Weekend retreats range from $180 to $330, with a generosity policy for those with financial hardship who make advance arrangements.

Go: 118 West 22nd St., 6th floor, New York,212-675-6544,ny.shambhala.org; info@shambhalanyc.org

Offerings: Located in the Shawangunk Mountains, Sky Lake is the the rural sister retreat to New York center and offers meditation, arts and mindfulness retreats. Guests can walkin the woods, hike trails at nearby Mohonk Preserve, scale the Gunks or take a stroll around the spring-fed pond.Meditation instruction is available, from free introductory instruction and follow-up instruction to guided programs that incorporate nature such as a Mindfulness Kayaking program (May 24-25). The center'sSpring Kado Retreat: The Way of Flowers (June 2-6) is an an intensive 4-day program including flower arranging demonstrations, sitting, Dharma talks, Kado practice, outside walksand evening events.

Accommodations:There are a few different overnight options including a few private rooms, shared room, shrine room or tent camping in summer.Rates are per person and include three meals a day for 1-2 week programs and breakfast and lunch only for Shambhala training weekend programs. Rates differ for each program.

Go:22 Hillcrest Lane, Rosendale, 845-658-8556, skylake.shambhala.org

Amy Reyer, who leads meditation classes at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, is pictured with the historic St. Francis Chapel on the property April 25, 2017.(Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

Offerings at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center: Discover days of renewal and recollection, meetings, events, conferences, retreats and mini-retreats; there are a bunch of themed retreats such as addiction recovery, women-only and men-only; Tergar-philosophy guided meditation classes are held 7 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

Offerings at Garrison Institute: Many themed retreats are available, like the Personal Retreat Weekend July 14-16, a silent, unstructured personal retreat for meditators with a developed practice and those seeking renewal in the serenity of a contemplative environment; many 2017 retreats focus on the arts and The Atlas of Emotions.

Did you know?Garrison Institute is a castle that was the former Capuchin monastery overlooking the east bank of the Hudson River across from West Point. Its on 95 acres of Glenclyffe property, formerly the estate of Hamilton Fish, New York governor and President Grants secretary of state.

Accommodations: Located on a mountaintop overlooking the Hudson River Valley, Graymoor is open to the public dawn to dusk year-round. It hasmiles of picturesque grounds with trails and a labyrinth. Meals are included for retreats; Garrison institute offers single and double bedrooms, along with vegetarian meals, walking trails, a gazebo, gardensand a labyrinth.

Prices and packages: Graymoor has one-day mini retreats 8:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m. Saturdays for $35, weekend retreats with two-night stays and five meals vary, but can be between $150 and $225; at the Garrison Institute, rooms are $290 to $330 with partial scholarships available.

Go: Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, Kennedy Lounge, 4th floor, 1320 Route 9, (40 Franciscan Way for GPS navigation) Garrison; and The Garrison Institute, 14 Mary's Way, Route 9D at Glenclyffe, Garrison. inhabitretreats.com; for Graymoor, 845-424-2111, garrisonistitute.org.

Offerings: All programs fall into the monasterys training schedule, which is highly structured; the Sunday morning program is a good way to first experience the monastery, learn to meditate and discover the offerings. There is no need to pre-register, but arrive by 8:45 a.m. for the chanting and bowing service, then beginner instruction in zazen (Zen meditation), formal discourse, and then lunch until 1 p.m.; wear loose, comfortable, modest, non-bright clothing; no shorts, leggings or tanks; then there are weekend, weeklong, one-month and year-long residential retreats. Themes vary from Running as Meditation and Family Camping and Storytelling Retreat to Dreaming to Wake Up and Introduction to Zen Meditation.

Accommodations: Dormitory bedrooms are separated by gender with bunk beds for six to eight people; bed linens are provided and vegetarian meals included, as well as coffee and tea in the early morning.

Cost: $5 suggested donation for the Sunday session; prices vary for retreats, but for example, one weekend retreat is $250; financial assistance is available.

Go: For GPS navigation, search for the intersection of Plank Road and Miller Road in Mount Tremper; it should take you to the monasterys front gate. 845-688-2228, zmm.mro.org.

Amy Reyer, who leads meditation classes at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, is pictured at the top of the "Holy Mountain" on the property April 25, 2017.(Photo: Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

Why bother with this anyway?

Meditation reduces stress, depression and anxiety. It improves your health, well-being and resilience to the struggles life throws at you, says Chrissa J. Pullicino, external communications manager at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck. Oh, is that all?

Of course theres more.

There are four components of well-being supported by neuroscience in the 2015 World Happiness Report a document backed by institutions such as Columbia University. The components a positive outlook, rebounding from negative emotion, mindfulness and mind wandering, and caring for others can be developed and improved with training and experience. Happiness and well-being are best regarded as skills that can be enhanced through training, according to the report.

Yes, you can train yourself to be happy and feel a sense of well-being (most of the time).

Meditation is the training, and it can take many forms: Breathing, visualization, chanting, sound, compassion, moving, gratitude and mantras. Its really a matter of taste and finding what suits you.

And where it suits you.

I feel most drawn to nature mediation. I feel most connected and alive when Im in the beauty of nature, Pullicino says. I find having a gratitude practice can be really helpful. On your commute to work, or before bed at night, even on your worst day, theres always some blessing in your life you can feel thankful for.

I genuinely do feel more of a sense of well-being and trust in life that everything will work out.

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Forbes

Meditation for Procrastination Forbes Although I teach and study mindfulness .. we all have our moments. I just gave the biggest speech of my life, for TEDx Athens, and .. I procrastinated on writing it. I procrastinated so much I finished a 33-page book proposal instead of writing the ...

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Meditation for Procrastination - Forbes