Have you noticed that life continues to present its challenges? This Covid-19 pandemic is certainly one challenge we are all facing these days. Then there are the myriad other social and personal stresses in our day to day lives-- relationships, jobs, families, health, finances, politics, environment, etc. Wouldn’t it be valuable to learn ways to be more resilient, to be able to care and heal ourselves, and to be able meet whatever challenges come our way with wisdom and compassion.
In this workshop, FCM mindfulness instructor, Marilyn Warlick will introduce us to the work of James Gordon, MD, founder of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC, who has worked for decades empowering people in their own self-awareness, healing and care. He’s worked with victims of war, natural disasters, homelessness, and abuse, and he teaches easy meditation practices that anyone can use, whether they have experienced significant trauma or just trying to cope with the everyday stresses of modern life.
In the workshop Marilyn will introduce us to three types of meditation as described by Gordon: concentration (soft belly breathing to calm and relax oneself in any situation), mindfulness (awareness of present moment experience) and expressive meditation (mindful movement, dance and art) as practices to help us all care for ourselves, find healing and wholeness, and help us meet the challenges, whatever they may be, as opportunities for personal healing and growth.
This workshop is for beginning meditators, experienced meditators, and for those interested in helping others learn these simple techniques for self awareness and care.
Marilyn Warlick, LCSW is a retired social worker working in the VA Health Care System, with focus on various areas: Homelessness, Substance Abuse, and Clinical Coordinator for Programs to serve returning Veterans from their combat tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition she worked in areas of End of Life Care, serving as coordinator of the Hospice and Palliative Care Program. Her involvement with Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM) began in 2000. During her years of involvement, in 2009, she completed a pilgrimage with her FCM teacher and other members to India, Following the Footsteps of the Buddha, to deepen her understanding of the Buddhist teachings. In 2010 she received ordination in the Order of Interbeing. In August 2012 Marilyn and Sam, her husband, moved from their home in NC to join the Tampa FCM community, helping in the remodeling and development of a Center for further growth of this Mindfulness Community. Currently, Marilyn shares her selfless service time with FCM within the Programs for Mentoring, Death and Dying and the Mindfulness In Recovery Program (MIR).
