Mindfulness: A Pathway to a More Peaceful Life

6-week Course

About this Course

In a chaotic and fast-paced world, finding moments of peace can seem elusive. This course explores mindfulness as a practical and transformative tool for cultivating inner calm, clarity, and resilience. 

Through guided meditation, reflective exercises, and group discussion, participants will learn to:

  1. Develop awareness of the present moment

  2. Respond to stress with greater ease and compassion

  3. Cultivate habits that support emotional well-being

  4. Sustain a daily meditation practice 

Whether new to mindfulness or looking to deepen your practice, this course offers a welcoming space to explore how mindfulness can bring more peace and balance to your daily life. 

Stephanie Swann

is certified as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher through the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, Center for Mindfulness. She teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as well as advanced meditation courses. As a consultant, Dr. Swann trains mental health professionals in the practice of mindfulness-based psychotherapy. She has over 20 years’ experience teaching in universities as well as the community. Currently Dr. Swann holds an adjunct faculty appointment with the Georgia State University School of Social Work. She attends mindfulness meditation retreats regularly and has a daily meditation practice.

  • Week 1: Introduction to the practice of mindfulness

    What mindfulness is and is not
    Carving out space in your life
    Setting a daily intention
    Formal and informal practice
    What neuroscience tells us about mindfulness
    Getting to know the inner critic and learning to make peace with it

    Formal practice: Focused awareness
    Informal Practice: Bringing mindfulness to daily life activities

    Week 2: Mindfulness of the body
    Re-awakening the mind-body connection
    Learning the body scan
    Practicing mindful eating
    Taking a mindful walk

    Formal practice: Body scan
    Informal practice: mindful eating and mindful walking

    Week 3: Mindfulness of the mind
    Making the turn from looking outward to looking inward
    Learning to observe mental activity
    Getting to know the stories we tell ourselves

    Formal practice: Mindfulness of the mind

    Week 4: Mindfulness of experience
    Understanding how experience happens
    The role of feeling in experience
    How craving and aversion in experience leads to suffering

    Formal practice: Choiceless Awareness

    Week 5: Opening the heart through lovingkindness practice
    What is lovingkindness practice
    How open-heartedness leads to greater peace
    Two practices of radiating and repetition of phrases

    Formal practice: Lovingkindness meditation

    Week 6: Closing class
    Check-in
    Review
    Next steps
    Practicing together

  • Tier 1: $450 (helps financially support the tuition of those who without support would not be able to take this class.)

    Tier 2: $400 (covers the cost of this course)

    Tier 3: $350 (subsidized rate for those in need)

    When you register please choose the rate that is possible for you.

    Wondering what to pay or need additional financial assitance? Click HERE.

Winter 2025 Course

Class Dates: Mondays, January 20 - February 24, 2025

Time: 6:30- 8:30 pm

Location: Friends Meeting House, 701 W. Howard Rd, Decatur GA