2024 Virtual Classes & Offerings
Classes
Compassion, Clarity, Connection & Courage:
Cultivating the Heart and Mind for Difficult Times
A 4-week virtual Class for Women
Class Details
Fall session #1
September 9 – October 7 (no class 9/16/24)
Mondays 6:00-7:30 pm MST
—-
offered Online via Zoom
Fall session #2
October 21 – November 11, 2024
Mondays 6:00-7:30 pm MST
—-
offered Online via Zoom
Course Description:
It is an extraordinary time to be alive as we are on the cusp of what can feel like collapse, with social, political, economic and ecological systems destabilizing. As Clarissa Pinkola Estes says “we were made for these times.” Collapse can be transformed into creation through a mix of clarity, compassion and courage. Courage is described as “the ability to do something that frightens one” and “strength in the face of pain or grief.”
We are deeply supported and nourished when we gather together with others holding a shared intention for presence and kindness as we face the challenges before us. And there is something particularly powerful about women gathering to practice together that allows us to access feminine wisdom and to invite disconnected parts of ourselves back into wholeness.
This 4-week online class will offer a chance to cultivate sangha and to build resilience through the practices of mindfulness and compassion. We will co-create a nourishing community of women, emphasizing connection and support. Topics to be explored include: cultivating presence, befriending ourselves in difficult moments, the body as an anchor, grief and gratitude, joy and resilience, and how to bring wise action to the many complexities of the world right now. This series will build upon the previous 4-week series, and also works as a stand-alone class. Suitable for both beginners as well as those with an established practice.
Investment: $200
This is a suggested payment. If you cannot afford this suggested rate, pay what you can. If you can pay more, I welcome your generosity, as it will help support me, and those who are struggling at this time.
To register:
Download and complete the Participant Information Form & Informed Consent (one document) and e-mail it to jeanleonardphd@gmail.com
Payment can be made via Paypal or Zelle: send money to jeanleonardphd@gmail.com. Thank you.
Your space in the class is not reserved until I receive both your application (Participant Information Form and Informed Consent Form) and payment. Refunds are not available once the class has begun.
____________________________________________________________________
Retreats
Cultivating the Courageous Heart
A Women’s Residential Retreat
With Jean Leonard and Sarah Heffron
- Tuesday September 17 – Sunday September 22, 2024
At Rocky Mountain EcoDharma Retreat Center | Ward, CO - Register soon through the RMERC website.
- More details about the retreat can be found here.
Retreat Description:
Daily we are faced with our growing vulnerability and the challenges of being alive in this complex world, as well as possibilities for transformation, personally and collectively. More than ever, we are seeing our common humanity and how interdependent we are with each other and the more than human world. This is an opportunity to meet the moment, ourselves, and one another with care, clarity and compassion.
Courage is described as “the ability to do something that frightens one” and “strength in the face of pain or grief.” Cultivating the Brahma Viharas – the heart qualities of kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity – develops the inner resources and resilience needed to consciously engage with suffering.
Finding deep refuge in the beauty and wisdom of the land and the teachings, we will rest and replenish, tend our nervous systems, and cultivate the courageous heart through silent meditation, nature-based practices, sharing and ritual. We welcome all who self-identify as women and both seasoned practitioners and those relatively new to practice.
______________________________
MSC CLASS
The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion (SC- MSC)
SUMMER CLASS
TBD
—-
offered ONLINE via Zoom
Course Description
The Short Course in Mindful Self-Compassion (SC-MSC) is a 6-week adaptation of the empirically-supported 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program designed to begin the cultivation of the skills of self-compassion. SC-MSC was developed by Kristin Neff, PhD, the pioneering researcher in the field of self- compassion and Christopher Germer, PhD, a leader in the integration of mindfulness, compassion and psychotherapy. The SC-MSC 9-hour program was developed to allow participants to begin to learn a targeted set of MSC practices with less initial time commitment than the full 26-hour MSC program, and is a particularly helpful format online.
Most of us feel compassion for our close friends when they are struggling. What would it be like to receive the same caring attention from yourself when you needed it most? All that’s required is a shift in attention—recognizing that as a human being, you, too, are a worthy recipient of compassion. Self-compassion involves the capacity to comfort and soothe ourselves, and to motivate ourselves with encouragement, when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate. Self-compassion is learned in part by connecting with our innate compassion for others and including ourselves in that circle of compassion. The practice of self-compassion also helps to grow and sustain our compassion for others.
The SC-MSC program draws on the skills of mindfulness and focuses on developing the resource of self-compassion to enhance our capacity for emotional wellbeing. Burgeoning research shows that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional wellbeing, coping with life challenges, lower levels of anxiety and depression, healthy habits such as diet and exercise, and more satisfying personal relationships. It is an inner strength that enables us to be more fully human—more fully ourselves.
Fortunately, self-compassion can be learned by anyone, even those of us who did not learn these skills as children.
MSC Objectives
At the completion of the short course, participants should be able to:
- Articulate the basic theoretical underpinnings and research findings related to self-compassion
- Develop and apply self-compassion practices to motivate themselves with encouragement rather than self-criticism
- Develop the capacity to contend with challenges and difficulties through awareness of self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness.
- Apply core self-compassion practices into daily life
This program is designed for members of the general public, based on the values of equity, diversity, inclusiveness and belonging. Meditation experience is not necessary to participate in SC-MSC. All are welcome!
Program activities include short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices. SC-MSC is an opportunity to explore how we typically respond when difficulties arise in our lives and to learn tools for becoming a warm and supportive companion to ourselves.
MSC Short Course Investment: $275
A limited number of partial scholarships available.
To register:
Learn more about the class by viewing the MSC-SC information sheet
- Download and complete the MSC Registration Form and e-mail it to jeanleonardphd@gmail.com
- Payment can be made via Paypal or Zelle: send money to jeanleonardphd@gmail.com. Thank you.
- Your space in the class is not reserved until I receive both your application (Participant Information Form and Informed Consent Form) and payment. Refunds are not available once the class has begun.
—————————-
Wednesday Lunchtime Drop In Meditation
Wednesdays, 12-1 pm MST
On pause – date for restarting TBD
by donation
Includes a guided meditation, a brief talk and optional small group sharing.
Details about how to access the weekly zoom session can be found here.
This Wednesday group is offered on a dana (donation) basis. Dana is the Pali word for the practice of generosity. These teachings are a priceless support, now more than ever, and I am delighted to share what has been shared with me over so many years by so many teachers. You can learn more about the practice of dana here. If you feel moved to offer a donation in appreciation for the group, you can offer your gift via Paypal or Zelle by using my e-mail, jeanleonardphd@gmail.com. Thank you for being part of the stream of generosity.
It has been a challenging few years with the pandemic, social/economic/political instability, the shootings in Boulder and the recent fires in Louisville. Please join this ongoing cyber-sangha (community), a place to safely gather in these uncertain times to practice and connect with others who share a commitment to kindness and presence.
2024 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Teaching Schedule
not scheduled in 2024
Likely offered online via Zoom
Come see if MBSR is right for you.
Strengthening Your Practice Class for MBSR and MSC graduates
Program Description:
This class builds on the teachings and practices from the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Foundations course and the Mindful Self-Compassion class and is designed to support you in deepening and strengthening your mindfulness and compassion practice. Are you seeking more capacity to navigate challenges and stressors? Are you wishing for more vitality and joy in your life? Do you feel your practice has grown stale or is faltering without the support of a structured class or community? If so, then this class might be for you. Come refresh your practice, bringing the curiosity of beginner’s mind as we dive deeper into some familiar practices from the MBSR Foundations and/or MSC classes, and explore new practices focused on more fully meeting difficulty and opening to delight. The more we practice, the more we learn about the habits of our own mind and heart, opening up possibilities for skillful action that can help us surf the waves of life with more ease and compassion.
Not offered in 2023
Investment for SYP class: $560 (includes 27 hours of classroom time, and all support materials including a program manual, book, and guided meditations)
Request Info/Register for SYP grad class
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 8-week Foundations Classes
TBD – 2024
Likely offered online via Zoom
Investment for Foundations Classes: $560
MBSR flyer
2024 Mindful Self-Compassion Teaching Schedule
MSC Free Introductory Session (RSVP requested)
——–
Offered online via Zoom
MSC CLASSES
In person 8-week classes on hold for now
Presentations and Workshops