Category Archives: Mindfulness

Peace Gathering Reminder

Just a reminder, Sunrise Meditation and Counseling is offering weekly Ecumenical Contemplative Peace Gatherings on Thursday evenings.  The gatherings begin at 6:00 pm and last less than an hour.  The format includes a time of gathering, a time of sharing brief inspirational thoughts and readings, a time of contemplative silence, and a time for closure.  There will be no cost for attending, but donations will be accepted.

logolargerChristian Tantric Meditation workshops are now available for groups or individuals by appointment, so please call for more information.   This is a four class program that introduces several meditation techniques, including breath centered mind stabilization, self emptying, Divine Communion as a form of guru yoga, and Compassion outreach meditation.

For more information or to register for a Workshop or an Individual Therapeutic or Spiritual Discernment Session, visit our Contact and Registration page  or call 678-358-8775.

Meditation and Recovery Workshops Announcement

Meditation Workshops:

Sunrise Meditation and Counseling, located in Sautee Georgia in the North Georgia Mountains, is happy to announce that we will be providing a series of four Christian Tantric Meditation classes begin Saturday March 4th 2017, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.  Our location is in Sautee Georgia which is near Helen Georgia, about an hour from Gwinnett and about 1.5 hours from Metro Atlanta.

Our workshops cost 25.00 each, and a 20.00 discount is available for registering and paying for all 4 classes in advance.

For more information or to register for a Workshop or an Individual Therapeutic or Spiritual Discernment Session, visit our Contact and Registration page  or call 678-358-8775.

Our Meditation Workshops are helpful for Managing Stress, Releasing Barriers to Growth, Increasing Spirituality, and increasing Compassion for self and others.  We teach techniques that have been in practice for thousands of years, presented in a manner consistent with Judeo-Christian Scripture and Practice, with proven therapeutic benefits. 

Recovery Workshops:

Sunrise Meditation and Counseling, located in Sautee Georgia in the North Georgia Mountains, is happy to announce that we will be providing a series of eight weekly addiction recovery classes starting Thursday February 2 2017 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.  The curricula of the classes will include education regarding addiction and recovery, emotions management, codependency, and long term recovery strategies.  People in recovery, families of people in recovery, and people seeking knowledge regarding the challenges involved in recovery are welcome.

Classes will cost 25.00 per person per week.  A $40.00 discount will be available for advanced registration and payment for all 8 classes.  Upon completion of the classes, a certificate of completion will be provided.

These classes are intended for people actively involved in recovery and people affected by addiction, including family members.

Our Recovery Workshops include Education and Tools for establishing and maintaining physical, emotional, and Spiritual health. We provide tools for increasing Self Awareness, promoting Emotional Stability, encouraging Healthy Relationships, and building personal long term recovery strategies.  All recovery workshops include mindfulness oriented meditation instruction.

For more information or to register for a Workshop or an Individual Therapeutic or Spiritual Discernment Session, visit our Contact and Registration page  or call 678-358-8775.

Breaking Destructive Cycles

Life is full of cycles.  Yearly cycles of seasons, seasonal holidays and cycles of learning and growth, graduation, and then beginning again to learn more.  And there are monthly cycles of bills to pay, full moons, and fertility.

blossom-918453_960_720While some cycles are natural and can be comforting and even inspiring, other cycles can be painful and destructive.  Cycles of anger, codependency, depression, and addiction for example.

All destructive cycles have certain characterizing words in common, words like triggers, breaking points, regret, so called “honeymoon periods,” and periods where emotions builds again.  Some destructive cycles can be very short, repeating weekly or even daily, and some can be much longer, repeating monthly or even longer.

Consider anger for example, and its partner codependency.  In the anger cycle, tensionsurreal-402830_960_720 builds, a trigger causes a break when yelling and breaking of things may occur, followed by regret and a period of calm.  Meanwhile,  a more passive or passive aggressive partner might try to be “nice” for awhile, but eventually attempts to exercise some form of rebellion or self care, which changes a usual routine.  This break from routine may “trigger” an argument or angry outburst, and the cycle repeats.

Even depression can have an identifiable cycle, moving from self care, to self isolation, and self neglect.

Every close relationship experiences disagreements, everyone gets angry or unhappy at one time or another, and many people have occasional alcoholic beverages without embarrassing or hurting themselves or others.  How can people recognized they are getting “trapped” in a cycle?

1338259321When life or livelihood gets interrupted, especially on a routine basis, it is time to consider making some meaningful changes before someone gets hurt.  The monthly arguments that always escalate into loud conflict, damaged property, or bruises, the occasional drinking or prescription drug use that turns into every weekend and eventually creeps into the work week, the mood swings that lead to either avoiding friends and family or erupt in conflict with coworkers or customers.

The good news is that recognizing these cycle traps is the beginning of healing.  Developing self awareness about triggers, addiction, anger, general anxiety and depression levels, and codependent complacency behaviors can help us to break out of cycle traps before they reach a critical “blow up” or “melt down” stage.

How do we develop self awareness?  Tools like journaling, taking note of our state of mind, recognizing the repeated events that lead up to “breaking points”, becoming aware of words or events that trigger impulsive outbursts or depression or drinking or drug use can be of great help.

Coupled with developing self awareness are development of tools for altering thinking or feet-538245__180behavior patterns.  Techniques like deep breathing, grounding, calling a friend or sponsor, or just walking away can be helpful.

This is where taking part in therapeutic groups dedicated to emotions, alcoholics, narcotics, or codependency, can be helpful.  Engagement in one on one counseling with a trusted professional can be helpful also.

Meditation practices are a natural form of self care.  Meditation can lead to increased awareness and compassion for self and others, while the relaxation and breathing associated with meditation can be a helpful tool in letting go of the some of the thoughts and feelings that feed the cyclical traps.

With this in mind, Sunrise Meditation and Counseling  are happy to announce another “Meditation Day Retreat”  in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains on Saturday April 30th.  Our location is in Sautee Georgia which is near Helen Georgia, about an hour from Gwinnett and about 1.5 hours from Metro Atlanta.

logolargerPeople who attend our classes learn skills for developing self awareness, dealing with stress, and increasing enjoyment of life and personal freedom through letting go of negative thoughts and emotions.  More advanced classes explore increasing Spirituality through Divine Communion practice, and exercising Compassion with healthy boundaries for self and others.  People who are new to meditation and people who are experienced with meditation find our classes helpful.

Our Saturday morning class from 10:00-11:30 teaches basic meditation skills including breath centered mind stabilization and mindfulness.  Our afternoon class from 1:00-2:30 explores more advanced skills designed to Open our Consciousness.  Our classes generally include about 20-30 minutes of instruction and discussion, and 20-30 minutes of meditation skill practice.

To register, visit our Workshops page and sign up on line, or call 678-358-8775.  Our rates are very reasonable, 25.00 for a class or 40.00 for signing up for two classes or bringing a friend.

Meditation for Healthy Mind, Body, and Spirit

“So, Tammy, I hear that you have taken up meditation. Why would you do such a thing? It seems like a big waste of time to me.”

“Well Carla, work and life were getting stressful, I was drinking more than I wanted to, and I was gaining weight.”

“Gaining weight? You took up meditation to lose weight? How does that work?”

meditation-1087851_640“Meditation helps me to become more aware of myself, from my own stress and emotions, to the way I react to stress. Eating and drinking were my ways of dealing with stress, and I didn’t even know it.”

“Now that you mention it, it does look like you’ve lost weight. Are you working out?”

“Well, yes, since I’ve become more aware of myself, I’ve also started taking better care of myself. I’m walking more and taking time to get to the gym a couple times a week.”

“How are Mark and the kids? Weren’t you and Mark having some difficulties?”

“We’re all doing well. I can’t say that my meditation has changed Mark in any way, but I have become more patient and I try to be kinder when we talk about stressful things. We’re both enjoying being together more.”

“Well that’s great, I’m happy for you.”

“Hey Jerry, How’s it going?”

“Good, good, Sam, how about yourself?”

“I’d doing OK.”

“You look good, to be honest I usually avoid saying hello because I never know what mood you’re going to be in. Do still have that world famous temper?”

“Actually, I took up meditation a few months ago, and my temper has been a lot less of a problem lately.”

“Really? How come?”

Well, I’m more aware of myself, so I can catch myself before anger becomes an issue. I can even soul-623424_640change my state of mind to see the other person’s point of view when I need to. It really helps when I’m working with difficult customers.”

“I’ll bet it helps at home too.”

“You know it. Martha and I are getting along a lot better lately.”

“Well I’m glad to hear it.”

These are just a couple of the kinds of stories you may hear from people who practice Christian Tantric Meditation. Becoming self aware, letting go of burdens and resentments and fears, and being open to patience, love, and hope can go a long way in adjusting a person’s attitude.

Every action starts with a motivation. Hunger, loneliness, anger, joy and hopefulness, these are all motivators. These feelings turn into thoughts, plans for action to either resolve negative feelings or keep positive feelings going.

After thinking through options for acting on our feelings, we respond with action. We go to the refrigerator, we call a friend, we shout at someone, or we may decide to just take a walk or read a book. Our actions all start with motivations.

It stands to reason that if our underlying feelings are positive and hopeful, our actions will be positive and hopeful also. We will take better care of ourselves, we will be kinder and more patient with others, our relationships will be more satisfying. Challenges can and will continue to happen, but we will be more resilient, able to handle things while maintaining a sense of hope and balance in our lives.

physiotherapy-595529_640Especially at the start of the year, we tend to make resolutions. Our resolutions may include joining a gym or quitting smoking or drinking, or being more social or taking better care of ourselves in general. As a society, we tend to be action oriented, so we make resolutions to adjust our behaviors.

For some, adjusting behaviors can have a positive effect on feelings and attitudes, and action oriented resolutions can help cultivate long term healing and growth in a person’s thoughts and feelings.

For many people, however, taking action isn’t enough. Changes in attitude, in underlying thoughts and feelings are needed. This is where meditation can help.

Meditation is a mental exercise. Just as it takes time to build up physical strength and endurance, it also takes time to build up habitually healthy thoughts and feelings.

We are now opening registration for our next set of introductory meditation classes in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains.  Our next  set of classes will be held Saturday January 23rd.  Our location is in Sautee Georgia which is near Helen Georgia, about an hour from Gwinnett and about 1.5 hours from Metro Atlanta.

People who attend our classes learn skills for dealing with stress and increasing enjoyment of cropped-Sunrise-From-Newfound-Gap-Great-Smoky-Mountains-North-Carolina-606x454.jpglife and personal freedom through letting go of negative thoughts and emotions.  More advanced classes explore increasing Spirituality through Divine Communion practice, and exercising Compassion with healthy boundaries for self and others.  People who are new to meditation and people who are experienced with meditation find our classes helpful.

Our Saturday morning class from 10:30-11:30 teaches basic meditation skills including breath centered mind stabilization and mindfulness.  Our afternoon class from 1:00-2:00 explores more advanced skills designed to Open our Consciousness.  Our classes generally include about 20-30 minutes of instruction and discussion, and 20-30 minutes of meditation skill practice.

Registration is open from 10:00 to 10:30 AM, or visit our Workshops page and sign up on line, or call 678-358-8775.  Our rates are very reasonable, 25.00 for a class or 40.00 for signing up for two classes or bringing a friend.

See you there!