Kelseyville >> Kindness and Generosity Scholarship Fund application period is open for the upcoming compassion-based “Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom” courses, which begin on Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Clear Lake Riviera Community Association Room at 9689 Soda Bay Road. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 4.
“The prices of the course have recently been lowered to help increase opportunities for Lake County residents to participate, but the scholarships are invaluable to some,” mindfulness teacher and life coach JoAnn Saccato said. “We’ve had over nine full scholarships and many partial scholarships awarded since the fund started,”
Mindfulness is a body-based practice that invites one to purposefully pay kind, non-judgmental attention to direct experience of senses, thoughts and emotions. Studies indicate that mindfulness practices can help reduce stress and stress-related illnesses; increase focus and attention; decrease incidences of and relapses with, depression; help reduce anxiety; aid the immune system; and aid in sleep and digestive disorders. As well, mindfulness has been shown to help with addictive and compulsive disorders.
Saccato said, “Besides reducing stress, compassion-based mindfulness and the supporting tools I teach in the eight-week course help participants gain deeper clarity, a new vitality and sense of freedom in their lives.”
The course includes work with journaling and setting intentions, “giving a well-rounded set of tools to help navigate life, increase satisfaction, reduce stress and gain resiliency,” said Saccato, who is the author of “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice” and her forthcoming book, “Compassion-based Mindfulness for Peace, Clarity and Freedom.”
Scholarship are awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Full information on the course and links to the scholarship application can be found at http://www.compassion-basedmindfulness.com/courses.html or by calling 707-350-1719.
