Welcome to Meditation Mondays – A Space for Mindfulness & Healing (a pilot)
When: Every Monday (except holidays), 9-9:30am ET | 8-8:30am CT | 7-7:30am MT | 6-6:30am PT
Who’s it for: People living with myositis and their care partners
What we’ll do: We’ll come together for a guided meditation session that includes brief exercises, followed by reflections. These exercises will be led either by a special guest, a member of the group, or through a pre-recorded exercise. Each week, we’ll explore different types of guided mindfulness exercises, and people of all levels of experience are welcome. Whether you’re just starting your mindfulness journey or have been practicing for years, you’re welcome here.
To join us, please fill out the interest form to receive the link for the session.
Please note this group will not meet on Memorial Day – May 26, 2025, Labor Day – September 1, 2025, Indigenous Peoples’ Day – October 13, 2025 and will take a winter break from mid-December to mid-January.
The Benefits of Meditation for Chronic Illness:
Meditation is an accessible tool for enhancing emotional and physical well-being, especially for individuals living with chronic illness. Here’s how it can be transformative:
- Stress Reduction: Chronic illness often brings ongoing stress and uncertainty. Meditation helps to reduce the body’s stress response, which can lower inflammation, improve immune function, and reduce the impact of chronic symptoms.
- Pain Management: Mindfulness techniques, such as body scan meditation or breath awareness, can help shift your focus away from pain, reducing its perceived intensity and improving your overall sense of comfort.
- Improved Emotional Resilience: Meditation nurtures emotional balance, providing tools to navigate the complex feelings of frustration, grief, or isolation that often accompany chronic illness. This resilience can improve your overall mental health and coping strategies.
- Better Sleep: Regular meditation can promote better sleep by calming the mind and body, creating a restorative environment for rest, which is vital for those managing chronic conditions.
- Enhanced Focus & Clarity: Chronic illness can make concentration difficult, but meditation helps clear mental fog and enhances clarity, allowing you to focus on what matters most in your daily life.
Common Misconceptions About Meditation:
There are some common misconceptions that may discourage people from trying meditation. Let’s clear them up:
- “Meditation requires a completely quiet mind.”
This is one of the biggest myths! Meditation is not about stopping thoughts entirely, but about learning to observe them without judgment. Your mind might wander, and that’s completely okay—just gently bring your focus back. - “Meditation is for spiritual or religious people only.”
While meditation can be practiced in many spiritual contexts, it is not limited to any one belief system. You don’t need to be spiritual or religious to benefit from meditation. - “Meditation takes too much time.”
Even short sessions can bring meaningful benefits. You don’t have to meditate for hours a day to experience the positive effects. Starting small is perfectly fine. - “You need to sit cross-legged on the floor to meditate.”
Meditation can be done in any comfortable position. Whether you’re sitting on a chair, lying down, or even using a cushion, find what works best for you.
Join Us on This Journey!
No matter where you are on your meditation journey, this group is here to support you. Each session will start with a brief mindfulness exercise, followed by time for reflection and sharing, providing you with tools to deepen your practice and enhance your well-being. We look forward to meditating with you on Mondays!
To join us, please fill out the interest form to receive the link for the session.