Forty-Day Meditation Experiment under the banner of #Zensperiment uniting participants within the Community
Last Saturday, the author, along with Jordan and Sophie, attended an outdoor yoga event led by Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman at Yoga in the Park. This was Week 4 of a 5-week meditation series by Shana Lebowitz, titled #zensperiment.
As the event commenced, there was minimal hesitation and awkwardness during the hugging and meditation. The people in the class were drawing strength from each other, and the author could almost feel the simultaneous excitement and calm that was sweeping over the crowd.
The class involved a chant asking for help living in a world that isn't always kind. This prompted the author to reflect on the concept of community and how meditation is helping them find their place in the world. At that moment, community didn't feel like something the author had found, but something that was there.
During the event, Rodney Yee, a leader at Yoga in the Park, told the participants that they were not alone. This sentiment resonated with the author, who typically shies away from vague directions in yoga and meditation classes.
The event offered free swag including a yoga mat, water bottle, and pedometer. Although Jordan and Sophie were there to commune with nature and fellow yogis, the author was primarily interested in the free items. However, the author left the event with more than just material possessions.
The author felt a bittersweet realization that the crowd was filled with good-hearted people. This was evident in an encounter with a stranger during which they hugged and smelled shampoo in her curls. The stranger's name was not mentioned, but the encounter left the author with a sense of connection and belonging.
Previous weeks of the series focused on reasons for learning to meditate (Week 0), meditating in real life (Week 1), challenges of meditation (Week 2), and meditating in groups (Week 3). This week's session seemed to bring everything together, reinforcing the idea that everyone in the class was seeking peace.
As the author reflects on the experience, they wonder if meditating exclusively in classes will help them find their place in the world. One thing is certain: the author has found a new appreciation for the power of community and the transformative effects of meditation.
There is no specific information available about Jordan and Sophie participating in a yoga trip on the Hudson River. Regardless, the author is grateful for the shared experience at Yoga in the Park and looks forward to continuing their meditation journey.
