Mindfulness meditation can help with pandemic transitions

A person in meditation pose

Students, staff and faculty are invited to start the fall season with a mindfulness meditation clinic hosted by the York University Psychology Clinic.

The eight-week clinic will help participants navigate the transition from 18 months of lockdowns and deliberate distancing to a more “open” society and way of life.

The series, “Opening Up to Post Pandemic Life and Liberty with Mindfulness,” is being offered on Tuesday evenings (5:30 to 7 p.m.) and Wednesdays at lunch hour (noon to 1 p.m.).

This program is geared to both novice meditators and individuals who practise meditation more regularly in their lives, and will focus on the science and tradition that celebrates aloneness as a way of enriching relationships and daily life. Mindfulness practice, especially loving kindness meditation, integrates a respectfully kind relationship with ourselves with respectfully kind relationships with others.

Based on strong existing evidence, mindfulness assists with better focusing, more peace of mind and lower stress. Evidence indicates that it helps individuals process information more precisely, fluently and with better working memory – that, in turn, aids retention, efficiency and competency.

The sessions include:

Tuesday evening meditation program
Dates:
Oct. 19, 26; Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Dec. 7
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Fee: $200 for the group program; $60 for students with valid ID

Wednesday lunchtime program
Dates:
Oct. 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24; Dec. 1, 8
Time: 12 to 1 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Fee: $150 for the group program; $50 for students with valid ID

These sessions are led by Dr. Paul Ritvo, clinical psychologist, and should be reimbursable through extended health plans that provide coverage for psychological services. Registration forms are accessible online.