Do you live in your thoughts about the past or worries about the future? Do your emotions often cause stress and confusion? Do you get carried away by dramas.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation is a four-week course designed to support the practice of mindfulness, helping us develop the skills and attention to be fully present to our lives in the present moment, and to touch each moment deeply. It is intended for those new to mindfulness and meditation, as well as for those who want to review the basics and establish a more consistent daily mindfulness and meditation practice. The course includes basic instruction as well as an exploration of practical ways to bring mindfulness into daily activities.

Learning Objectives:

• Systematically explore mindfulness of breathing, the body and physical sensations through sitting and walking meditation and the body scan practice.
• Establish and maintain a daily meditation practice.
• Practice mindful meditation to explore the emotions, thoughts, and overall awareness.
• Apply mindfulness to difficult emotions and thoughts to avoid getting caught up in dramas.
• Cultivate daily meditation and mindfulness practices so that mindfulness becomes an integral part of your daily life.

This four-week course will begin on Wednesday, July 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes will be held in-person and online. The cost is $75 for all four sessions. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org.

Class Instructors:

Jacqulyn Schuett stepped on the Path of Dharma in 1999 when she visited Plum Village for her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh. The sign at the entrance, ‘You Have Arrived,’ foreshadowed the sense of home she felt in the intimate environment of this small retreat. Her study with Fred Eppsteiner, through retreats and Intensive studies, began shortly thereafter. In 2015 she was ordained into the Order of Interbeing (OI) and provides support for both the Tampa Practice Center and the St. Petersburg Friends on the Path. Jacqulyn also serves as a mentor and leader of introductory classes.

Mitch Schaefer joined the FCM community in 2016 where he has become an active member- regularly participating in retreats, intensives and selfless service work. Over the past 10 years Mitch has successfully utilized mindfulness and meditation practices to support his healing from a significant spinal cord injury that resulted in multiple surgeries and lingering chronic pain. Mitch took refuge in the 5 Mindfulness Trainings in 2018, and is presently an aspirant for the Order of Interbeing.

Do you live in your thoughts about the past or worries about the future? Do your emotions often cause stress and confusion? Do you get carried away by dramas.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation is a four-week course designed to support the practice of mindfulness, helping us develop the skills and attention to be fully present to our lives in the present moment, and to touch each moment deeply. It is intended for those new to mindfulness and meditation, as well as for those who want to review the basics and establish a more consistent daily mindfulness and meditation practice. The course includes basic instruction as well as an exploration of practical ways to bring mindfulness into daily activities.

Learning Objectives:

• Systematically explore mindfulness of breathing, the body and physical sensations through sitting and walking meditation and the body scan practice.
• Establish and maintain a daily meditation practice.
• Practice mindful meditation to explore the emotions, thoughts, and overall awareness.
• Apply mindfulness to difficult emotions and thoughts to avoid getting caught up in dramas.
• Cultivate daily meditation and mindfulness practices so that mindfulness becomes an integral part of your daily life.

This four-week course will begin on Wednesday, September 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes will be held in-person and online. The cost is $75 for all four sessions. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org.

Class Instructors:

Maria Teresa Jaureguizar first took refuge and the Five Precepts from Gyokoko Carlson in 1999 at the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland Oregon. Upon moving to Florida with her spouse, she became a formal student of Fred Eppsteiner in 2012 and was ordained into the Order of Interbeing in 2019. Maria Teresa completed the three-year Dharma Transmission Program in 2018 and has taught various classes related to meditation, mindfulness, and basics of Buddhism. She finds joy in nature, in mentoring those on the meditational path and serving the community. She currently serves as the Community Care Leader. She also works for Hillsborough County Government -Healthcare Services Department.

Carol Meyer met Fred Eppsteiner in 2009 when she was the Director of Southern Dharma Retreat Center in NC and Fred came to teach a 7-day silent retreat.  In June 2012 she received the Five Mindfulness Trainings, joined Florida Community of Mindfulness, and became Fred’s student.  Carol was ordained in the Order of Interbeing at Magnolia Grove in September 2017 and currently serves in the role of FCM’s OI Leader.  She has also served as a member of the Board, Board Secretary, and co-author of key FCM documents, such as FCM’s Organization Manual and Sangha Harmony Guide.  Carol currently also serves as Solitary Retreat Coordinator and is a Facilitator in the Meditation in Recovery program.  Her professional experience includes teaching as an MIT faculty member, design and development of employee training programs, and 15 years of service as a Unitarian Universalist parish minister giving sermons and leading adult religious education programs. 

Do you live in your thoughts about the past or worries about the future? Do your emotions often cause stress and confusion? Do you get carried away by dramas.

Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation is a four-week course designed to support the practice of mindfulness, helping us develop the skills and attention to be fully present to our lives in the present moment, and to touch each moment deeply. It is intended for those new to mindfulness and meditation, as well as for those who want to review the basics and establish a more consistent daily mindfulness and meditation practice. The course includes basic instruction as well as an exploration of practical ways to bring mindfulness into daily activities.

Learning Objectives:

• Systematically explore mindfulness of breathing, the body and physical sensations through sitting and walking meditation and the body scan practice.
• Establish and maintain a daily meditation practice.
• Practice mindful meditation to explore the emotions, thoughts, and overall awareness.
• Apply mindfulness to difficult emotions and thoughts to avoid getting caught up in dramas.
• Cultivate daily meditation and mindfulness practices so that mindfulness becomes an integral part of your daily life.

This four-week course will begin on Wednesday, October 5, 12, 19 & 26 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Classes will be held in-person and online. The cost is $75 for all four sessions. If you have questions, please contact us at info@floridamindfulness.org.

Class Instructors:

David Braasch has been a student of mindfulness and meditation at the Florida Community of Mindfulness since 2015. He has taught Introduction to Mindfulness and Meditation, Buddhism: The Basics, and Mindfulness for Educators. David is currently Senior Faculty in the English Language Program at USF, where he regularly runs workshops, classes and training on mindfulness for students and teachers.

Nina Hatton has been a member of FCM since January, 2017. She took refuge in the Five Mindfulness Trainings in In Plum Village in July, 2003, and was ordained in the Order of Interbeing in Plum Village’s first online OI ordination in May, 2021. Nina has participated in numerous intensive and retreats, a Spiritual Friends group, Death Cafe, an FCM listening circle on racism, and has recently facilitated an FCM book club discussion group. She is deeply appreciative of having found FCM and her teacher Fred, and is enthusiastic about being of service to others along the path.