Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation for People with Aphasia

Mindfulness meditation has been practiced for centuries by Buddhists. It took hold in this country in the 1970s. Perhaps the most influential proponent has been Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., who founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic and Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

The course will include explanations of the principles of mindfulness meditation, guided meditations, and discussion. Each week there will be suggested activities to explore, and participants will be encouraged to daily practice short meditations on their own.

The course will be co-taught by Seth Brunner and Kodo Conlin. Seth is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Aphasia Association and a long-term meditator. Seth experiences aphasia as a result of a stroke more than 35 years ago. Kodo has been practicing meditation for nearly 20 years. He has an extensive background in both Zen and Theravada Buddhist approaches to mindfulness meditation, including 10 years of residential training and ordination as a Zen priest. At the San Francisco Zen Center, Kodo currently serves as Director of Hospitality.

The course will meet on Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 – 11:45 a.m. ET. The class will begin on Tuesday September 6 and end on Thursday, October 20.

No prior meditation experience is required but the ability to comprehend the main points will be needed to benefit from the course.

The class is limited to people with aphasia and enrollment is limited. If you have any questions, or to enroll, email Seth at [email protected].