"Spiritual Beans" at Monsoon Roastery
Join us at Monsoon Coffee Roastery at 250 Albany Street, Springfield, MA from 1-2 PM for an afternoon of gratitude, mindful drinking, meditation, and cool people in a cool space.
The $10 entry fee gets you a hot or iced coffee, as well as two guided practices -- mindful drinking and a formal meditation. Register in advance and tell a friend! |
The Warrior's Code:
Meditation in Law Enforcement
In Ancient Japan, the Samurai viewed "meditation and other mindfulness practices as an important part of their training and way of life," and as part of the Samurai's Bushido Code, they used these techniques to "develop a calm and clear demeanor, cultivate inner strength and resilience, and maintain their mental and emotional well-being."
This was not unique to the Samurai, however, as warriors in the Hindu Epics espoused meditative and yogic practices, and stretching to modern times, meditation, mindfulness, and breathing techniques are used by US Special Forces and taught at the country's most prestigious military academies. Unfortunately, meditation remains under utilized among law enforcement -- a profession suffers from insomnia, depression, alcoholism, PSTD, and other mental health issues at significantly higher-than-average rates, and furthermore, has among the highest suicide rates of any line of work, with more police offers dying by suicide than in the line of duty. Luckily, this is not the end of the story, and in this four-week program, participants will learn the science and application of these practices, discovering the utility of meditation for the benefit of themselves, their communities, coworkers, and loved ones. |