Happy Holidays from TMI

The Meditation Initiative wishes you a Happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful New Year! We thank you for being a part of this special time, where our community is so open to the benefits of meditation. Thanks for inviting us into your school, office, college, prison, hospital, shelter, temple, military base, church, or anywhere else we have led meditation. We thank you all for your continued support and wish you all peace and happiness!

With Love,

TMI

The Meditation Initiative Video - 2010

Amen Clinics Study on Meditation Using Brain SPECT Imaging – Amen Clinics

Amen Clinics Study on Meditation Using Brain SPECT Imaging – Amen Clinics

Happy Thanksgiving

TMI is so grateful for the opportunity to have worked with everyone this year! We thank you for welcoming us into your school, office, hospital, prison, or wherever you are each day.

It is our hope that everyone takes 5 minutes each day to simply stop and pay attention to their breath. Sometimes, three deep breaths can be the difference in the peace and happiness of us all.

It is our goal to have a new TMI Meditation Studio / Office by May 2011, which will continue to bring us all together in silence.

Happy Thanksgiving to the TMI Community!

Peace,
TMI

Letters from Kids After Meditation - Must Read!

Hello TMI Supporters:

These are letters from kids who attend The Monarch School, which is a school for homeless kids. We are in our third year of leading meditation at Monarch. If anyone wonders if meditation works for kids, let these letters serve as examples, clearly illustrating how meditation impacts the lives of children.

Teacher Training Program & Volunteer Opportunities!

The Meditation Initiative will hold its next Teacher Training Program Saturday December 11, 2010 from 10am - 4pm. 

In addition, we are seeking volunteers for various positions to help expand our organization. This training will provide an overview of The Meditation Initiative and will be beneficial if you would like to get involved in any capacity.

Starting in January of 2009, TMI has led meditation for over 3,700 people. We rely on volunteers to continue to expand our Meditation Outreach Program.

If interested in attending, please email peace@meditationinitiative.org for more details.

Peace,
TMI

TMI Teacher Training - August 2010

New TMI Blog

The Meditation Initiative has a new blog! Make sure to follow us for the latest on meditation tips, newsletters, meditation teacher trainings, and where you can find us in the community! 

Remember, meditation is free!

Mission

The Meditation Initiative provides free meditation classes for children, adults and seniors to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and attention, and share tools for anger management while improving overall health and well-being.

We provide free community outreach to K-12 Public Schools, Colleges, Hospitals, Prisons, Diabetes Patients, HIV Patients, Senior Centers, Homeless Teens, Sober Living Homes, United States Military, At-Risk Youth in Tijuana, and Group Homes for Victims of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking.

San Diego Meditation Clients

The Monarch School

US Military Wounded Warriors

King Chavez High School
The Braille Institute
UCSD Medical Center
Morse High School
Crawford High School

Temple Emanu-El

KPBS

Christies Place

San Diego City College
IHSS Public Authority
UPLIFT Christian Group
Kids for Peace

Scripps Hospital

Jewish Family Services

Catholic Charities

Keeney, Waite & Stevens

Albert Einstein Academy

    Congregation Beth Israel                    

College Avenue Seniors Center

    Veterans Home of California                             

San Diego Central Jail

    New Alternatives Teen Group Home                   

US Navy Medical Center

    South Bay Community Services                  

La Jolla Recovery Sober Living

                      Tijuana Juvenile Facility                              

The Monarch School

TMI Mission Page

Please consider making a donation to support our effort in the community!

Will You Lead Meditation Before My Math Test?

The Meditation Initiative was invited to the 16th Annual Taking Control of Your Diabetes Health Fair. The event was held at the San Diego Convention Center. Meditation was one of the afternoon sessions which brought in about 100 people. Of all the questions asked, one clearly stuck in my mind.

A 16 year-old high school with Diabetes asked what it would take to come into his classroom and lead meditation before a test. He said teachers are always telling them to sharpen their pencil, finish on time, not to cheat, and how important this exam is for their final grade. He went on to tell me that they never tell them to relax and take a deep breath before they begin.

The kid continued to tell me how much emotional stress he is under with Diabetes and simply just being 16. He wanted to know why is it that so many kids have emotional issues and suffer from depression. I simply shared thoughts on meditation and how it might help.

There were other questions such as a school teacher asking how to calm down and not yell at her 1st grade students, an 88 year old man asking if meditation will replace his meds (i said no, but they will help), and various other questions about stress.

I thank TCOYD for allowing TMI to be a part of this special event!

Peace,

TMI

Meditation Outreach Program - 8 New Trained Volunteers

THE MEDITATION INITIATIVE NAMES MEDITATION LEADERS FOR KEY ON-GOING OUTREACH PROGRAMS

The Meditation Initiative has named eight trained, experienced meditation leaders to conduct its meditation outreach programs at key organizations throughout the San Diego area.

According to TMI Executive Director Jeff Zlotnik, the new outreach meditation leaders and the organizations they will serve include:

• Luis Martel, KPBS Public Broadcasting for San Diego
• Mia Carlstrom, College Avenue Seniors Center
• David Viafora, Monarch School and King Chavez High School
• Sunshine Palmejar, La Jolla Recovery Sober Living Home
• Gail Braverman, The Braille Institute of San Diego
• Donna Pinto, Kids For Peace
• Joyce DiCicco and Joy Smith, Navy Medical Center San Diego



In making the announcement, Zlotnik said these organizations are typical of the diverse range of groups The Meditation Initiative serves. “We conduct free meditation sessions each week for children, adults and seniors to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and share tools for anger management, while improving overall health and wellbeing,” he said. “This includes everything from Catholic Charities to Jewish Family Services, wounded warriors at the U.S. Navy Medical Center, and SDSU, UCSD, San Diego City College and more.” “These new meditation leaders,” he added, “will help us to serve these vital community groups more consistently and more effectively than ever before.”

The Meditation Initiative is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization serving clients that include K-12 Public Schools, Colleges, Hospitals, Prisons, Diabetes Patients, HIV Patients, Veterans Groups, Sober Living Homes and Group Homes for Victims of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking. Please visit our website www.meditationinitiative.org for more information.

The Meditation Initiative

Wounded Warrior Meditation - A Soft Belly

As I sat in meditation yesterday, I could not help but think about what these young men have gone through to protect our country. The rest of their lives will be forever changed based on their experiences. It was the end of an 8-week meditation program for some and the start of 8-weeks for others. One soldier shared that for the first 3-4 weeks he did not enjoy the meditation. He went on to say that once he let go of not liking it, he started to try the meditation and has been amazed at how much it has helped. He shared how many tours of duty he has been on and the intesity of his mission. Now in a big brother type of way, he was telling these other young soldiers to feel their "belly soften". It was clear he did not want to seem that he had lost his toughness and he had not. He had simply gained back some peace of mind and learned a tool that will help him integrate back into civilian life. I am honored to lead meditation and serve the young men and women that serve this country.

Please click here to make a donation and support this program!

Peace,
TMI

The Meditation Initiative

San Diego TCOYD Conference & Health Fair October 30, 2010

The Meditation Initiative will be leading meditation in the afternoon. Please share this event with friends and family you know who may be interested.


San Diego TCOYD Conference & Health Fair October 30, 2010

The Meditation Initiative - Newsletter #1

The Meditation Initiative - Newsletter #1

Meditation and Dealing with Death

After meditation yesterday I was approached by an 88 year old man. He said he was married for 66 years and his wife passed away a few months ago. He said his meditation practice has helped him deal with the loss of his wife.

These stories motivate TMI to continue our effort to provide meditation for free to the San Diego Community.

Meditation Lowers Blood Pressure - Story from Zev

The following is a letter received from Mr. Zev Marcovitz, a man in his sixties who attended a stress reduction workshop, led by The Meditation Initiative at Jewish Family Services in San Diego.

Hi Jeff,
I’d like to share with you an event that I experienced lately. About 2 weeks ago I went to donate blood at the Oceanside Blood Bank. One of the things that they check prior to donating blood is blood pressure, well, to my great disappointment and disbelief, not only that my blood pressure was very high, it actually exceeded the limit allowed to be able to donate blood. The nurse suggested that I sit in the lobby for 10-15 minutes, and than she would recheck my blood pressure to see if there was an improvement. While sitting in the lobby, trying to relax, I exercised some of the techniques you introduced in your workshop “Stress Reduction” at Jewish Family Services in San Diego. After about 15 minutes I was called back in to recheck my blood pressure. Well, I was surprised and delighted to find out that my blood pressure was significantly lower this time, (the nurse thought that the equipment malfunctioned), and I was allowed to proceed with donating blood. I continue to practice meditation almost on a daily basis, and I feel more relaxed and not stressed out as before. So thank you Jeff for the great workshop. Hopefully you’ll have the opportunity to continue leading meditation so other people will benefit as well.

Thanks,
Zev Marcovitz

New Video - The Meditation Initiative

Meditation Student from Jewish Family Services

Hello Jeff,
I attended one of you meditation classes at JFS about one year ago. One of the topics that came up was change. Most people hate change. I watched a retiring County employee practically have be be escorted out by security because she was so afraid of leaving what she was comfortable with. I was the opposite, deciding to leave a job that brought to much stress and suffering two years before my minimum retirement date. The change has been wonderful! I have stopped needing anti-depressant meds, blood pressure meds, quit drinking (12 step just added more stress for me), and feel like I am living for the first time in years. Let people know it is okay to let go! Peace.

Mark

The Meditation Initiative

http://www.meditationinitiative.org/

THE MEDITATION INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE MEDITATION TRAINING FOR HOSPICE STAFF

Meditation In Schools

David is leading weekly meditation sessions at King Chavez Prep Academy. After meditation, one girl shared that at home, she was watching her little brother, who was starting to really annoy her and make her angry. She said she felt like she was going to punch him - then she remembered to take 3 deep breaths - and told him to just go away.

TMI Leads Meditation in San Diego Prisons

TMI led a meditation last month for the Metropoltan Correctional Center (MCC) Crisis Support Team. It was an excellent opportunity to share meditation inside a Federal Prison. TMI also leads weekly classes for inmates at San Diego Central Jail.

Feedback from UCSD Learn at Lunch Meditation Session

Comments:

"I am calm and more open to trying this on my own. My only barrier is myself, and taking time for myself. Thank you for such a simple act with such great benefits: me in the moment and not stressed." UCSD Housing and Dining staff member

"Great presentation! You did a great job of making the philosophy of meditation simple and understandable." UCSD Pharmacology Assistant

"Jeff is an excellent speaker. I like his practical, no fluff approach." UCSD Student Affairs staff member

"Thanks for sharing the (practical) peace!" UCSD Library staff member

"Fantastic! I feel a new sense of calm and peace. We need more programs like this." UCSD Res Life Assistant

"Great explanation. Very personable speaker." UCSD Registrar's Office staff member

"This was great! Let's do it again!" UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography staff member

"Excellent. All the way." UCSD School of Medicine Staff member

Feedback: Wounded Warriors at San Diego Navy Medical Center

Read the latest response we received from a coordinator at the POWER program at San Diego Navy Medical Center that are helping veterans, young and old.

"Hi Jeff,
I just wanted to touch base with you about the classes you have been doing
for the POWER program on Wed. They all love the class, you have had
great reviews of thus far. One of the guys who said he was
"skeptical" about it says he now uses meditation to help him sleep, another
says he uses meditation instead of meds to help w/ his tension headache! The
rest just said they couldn't believe so much time had passed when they were
relaxing! I am very happy all of them enjoy your class & am thankful we have
ya!

JR
C5 Primary Care
Patient Educator"