Lori Granger, , M.S., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and director of The Center for Mindfulness in Fresno, specializes in mindfulness-based psychotherapy. Her work marries the practice of mindfulness meditation with cognitive skill building to help relieve anxiety, depression, addictions, emotional eating, multi-task stress, and obsessive thinking as well as relationship challenges. Lori is a Zen lay practitioner ordained in the Soto Zen tradition. She teaches various Mindfulness Workshops including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She has participated in numerous trainings with Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield, John Welwood and Tara Brach. Lori is adjunct faculty at California State University Fresno, teaching courses in Counseling and Psychotherapy. www.thecenterformindfulness.com

Awakening to Mindful Awareness: Cultivating a Peaceful Mind and Open Heart
Lori Granger
July 1 - July 5, 2009

Program fee $90

Mindfulness meditation brings us into contact with the richness of this present moment. Mindful awareness steps back from the chattering mind, and guides us to a vantage point from which to observe our inner experience with curiosity, openness, acceptance and love.

In the midst of the magnificence of the Sierras we will practice formal sitting and walking meditation, mindful yoga and qigong which will facilitate the cultivation of a peaceful mind and open heart. Declaring peace in the battle with internal voices and opening our hearts to ourselves with compassion for our unique personal struggle, helps remove barriers to healing and happiness in the present moment.

The opening of the heart-mind through mindfulness practice can facilitate life-long resiliency as the tools of breath-body awareness and integration help us maintain balance in times of high stress and confusion.