The Meditation Tree

10/14/2024

An Open-Minded Challenge
I’d to address the concept that is one of the bulwarks of a Mindfulness Meditation practice. It is the premise that most of the suffering we experience in our lives can be attributed to the thoughts we think, feel and express.
Admittedly the spectrum of “suffering” is rather broad; and, most often it is interpreted as physical suffering. But in truth, “suffering” also can become self-inflicted emotionally through the negative thoughts we think and the negative words we speak to ourselves. For example, we create our own suffering when we experience anxiety, stress, worry, self-doubt, prolonged sadness and sorrow, when we focus more on that for which we crave and less on appreciating what we already have, when we live to focus on what we want in the future (often creating frustration) rather than focus on doing our best in the present moment.
Through a Mindfulness Meditation Practice, we learn how to become more aware our negative self-talk, how to acknowledge our negative thoughts without becoming attached to them. We learn how to respond to our thoughts rather than detrimentally react to them via our egoic defenses and narratives, with judgment, labeling and self-criticism.
However, to accomplish these changes, we, first, must have a strong willingness to make these changes in our lives; and, secondly, be open to consider new perspectives as to how we can process our thoughts and feelings with a more meaningful and healthy (“less suffering”} construct.
Mindfulness Meditation is not as “wu-wu” as many believe. The Mindfulness approach is nonsectarian. Its success is backed by research in both the Scientific and Neuroscientific community. In the field of psychology, Mindfulness continues to expand and evolve and has become greatly integrated into psychological theory and practice. It is a tool widely used by therapists the world over.
When we feel better about ourselves, when we begin to focus on enabling ourselves to focus on positive and productive thoughts, when we can rid ourselves of so much suffering caused by a lifetime of learned negative thought patterns, we begin to grow and benefit from “change”., we begin to discover our true essence, we improve our overall physical health and we experience more compassion and joy in our lives.
But don’t take my word for it. Find out “firsthand” without any financial obligation. Enroll in a class. Then decide if you just might find it helpful. My next series of Six 90 minute WEEKLY ZOOM classes begins Saturday, Nov. 2nd, 2024 at 10:30 AM (pst). Register at www.themeditationtree.com

10/07/2024

New Zoom Series of Mindfulness Meditation Beginner Classes

08/30/2024

Whenever I tell someone that I teach Mindfulness Meditation, I most frequently hear, “oh, I’ve tried that but I can’t stop thinking” or “that wouldn’t work because I’m constantly thinking”!
In truth, Mindfulness Meditation is not about stopping thoughts. It’s about changing your relationship to your thoughts.
One of the most freeing insights of meditation practice is realizing that the only power thoughts have is the power we give them. -Joseph Goldstein

We need to learn to question our thoughts, to stop reacting to every thought we have as if they are facts or statements of truth. Just because we think someone doesn’t like us or that we can’t handle a given situation or that the worst may happen, doesn’t make it true.

It would be in everyone’s best interest to be aware of our negative self-talk and to understand that we are not our thoughts, but rather that our thought patterns are from an “often subconscious” accumulation of our past experiences with parents, friends and others, from the logic we applied to past emotional events in our lives, from the fears we may have experienced at a given time in our history.

Changing our relationship to are thoughts takes time. It’s more than changing your focus to your breath or to a mantra whenever we experience a circumstance that evokes stress or anxiety. It requires practice. It requires an ability to recognize when a thought stimulates a strong emotional reaction and often becomes a detrimental threat to our total well-being. It’s about awareness and choice…and that’s exactly one of the most beneficial teaching principles behind a daily practice of Mindfulness Meditation.

So, NO….Mindfulness is not going to stop your thoughts from happening, although over time, you may be able to create some “space” or “slowdown” the effects of an incessant “monkey mind.” And there are so many other benefits to be derived from a formal Mindfulness meditation practice.

Curious? Then join us Saturday, September 7th, 10:30 am (pdt) for the first of 6 weekly online Mindfulness Meditation beginner’s classes. Try it! See if it fits your needs at this time in your life. No Obligation. Classes by donation! Private classes also available during the week!
For more details or to register for the class, visit www.thmeditationtree.com. Or email: [email protected] to contact me with any questions you may have.
(Class reviews on Google and website)

“Mindfulness meditation practice will help you discern which thoughts support your goals and well-being and which thoughts are destructive or unhealthy and should be discarded.” - — Benjamin W. Decker

08/16/2024

“Don’t “MYTH” the Point!
Whenever I tell someone that I teach Mindfulness Meditation, I most frequently hear, “oh, I’ve tried that but I can’t stop thinking” or “that wouldn’t work because I’m constantly thinking”!
In truth, Mindfulness Meditation is not about stopping thoughts. It’s about changing your relationship to your thoughts.
One of the most freeing insights of meditation practice is realizing that the only power thoughts have is the power we give them. -Joseph Goldstein

We need to learn to question our thoughts, to stop reacting to every thought we have as if they are facts or statements of truth. Just because we think someone doesn’t like us or that we can’t handle a given situation or that the worst may happen, doesn’t make it true.

It would be in everyone’s best interest to be aware of our negative self-talk and to understand that we are not our thoughts, but rather that our thought patterns are from an “often subconscious” accumulation of our past experiences with parents, friends and others, from the logic we applied to past emotional events in our lives, from the fears we may have experienced at a given time in our history.

Changing our relationship to are thoughts takes time. It’s more than changing your focus to your breath or to a mantra whenever we experience a circumstance that evokes stress or anxiety. It requires practice. It requires an ability to recognize when a thought stimulates a strong emotional reaction and often becomes a detrimental threat to our total well-being. It’s about awareness and choice…and that’s exactly one of the most beneficial teaching principles behind a daily practice of Mindfulness Meditation.

So, NO….Mindfulness is not going to stop your thoughts from happening, although over time, you may be able to create some “space” or “slowdown” the effects of an incessant “monkey mind.” And there are so many other benefits to be derived from a formal Mindfulness meditation practice.

Curious? Then join us Saturday, September 7th, 10:30 am (pdt) for the first of 6 weekly online Mindfulness Meditation beginner’s classes. Try it! See if it fits your needs at this time in your life. No Obligation. Classes by donation! Private classes also available during the week!
For more details or to register for the class, visit www.thmeditationtree.com. Or email: [email protected] to contact me with any questions you may have.
(Class reviews on Google and website)

“Mindfulness meditation practice will help you discern which thoughts support your goals and well-being and which thoughts are destructive or unhealthy and should be discarded.” - — Benjamin W. Decker

The Meditation Tree is a meditation studio/instructor located in Sherman Oaks/Los Angeles conducts Meditation and Mindfulness classes through group and private sessions. The practice teaches moment to moment awareness, how one can recognize self-defeating thought patterns, and how inner stillness ca

06/12/2024

Mindfulness is “tapping into our personal butterfly”

There’s a butterfly within us. But unlike the butterfly that involuntarily changes, the changes that occur within us often come from our choices, our desires to ease our suffering and to ease the many physical and emotional challenges we often bring to bear upon ourselves.

Adapting to a life filled with a sense of joy, a sense of emotional freedom and a sense of fulfillment is a path so much more easily traveled with a practice of Mindfulness Meditation. To those who never had formal meditation training, the idea of such a metamorphic practice is difficult to understand by concept alone. Reading about the delightful lingering taste of a particular food, the sight of a particularly beautiful region in the world, or even just hearing about the spectacular reviews of a particular artist or performer will never be fully appreciated until we experience it.
We can read all about the research that shows stress, anxiety, self-doubt, worry, depression, unhealthy relationships, and our overall physical health (chronic disease, psoriasis, hypertension, IBS, etc.) can be reduced or eliminated by a Mindfulness Meditation practice, but we won’t fully “buy into it” until we experience it by committing ourselves to a month or two of effort.

Change and growth is instinctive to a butterfly, but we, as human beings, need to self-generate desire and determination to learn a more wholesome way to approach a feeling of happiness and fulfilment in our personal lives. We just have to MAKE the choice.

Mindfulness pioneer Jon Kabat-Zinn writes “Meditation is different from all other human activities. Although it takes a lot of work and energy of a certain kind, ultimately meditation is a non-doing.” Mindfulness is about learning to quiet our minds, to find some stillness and stop spending so much time listening to that unproductive, unhealthy, and misleading voice in our head.

When we allow our habits of thought and of the past to dictate our life, we keep feeding our same patterns of thoughts by perpetuating waves of personal destruction that may occur. With Mindfulness we allow spaciousness to arise. And over time, we begin to ease the suffering in our life and eventually find and become that beautify butterfly within us.

Investigate Private ONLINE instruction at www.themeditationtree.com

05/05/2024

I humbly ask your help in letting others know about my classes….especially those of your friends who may be in a “stuck place” dealing with an unhealthy amount of stress, anxiety, self-doubt and worry! (and even if they aren’t stuck) as this training also increases healthier brain functioning and longevity for all). Classes are by donation and I offer them as a way of helping others help themselves to a healthier and more fulfilling life. I thank you!

04/23/2024

More often than KNOT…
More often than knot, we tie ourselves up in a constant myriad of thoughts only to be bound by our own automatic emotional reactions and beliefs. By “buying into” the idea that every thought we have is true or factual, we create stress, anxiety, self-doubt, worry, low self-esteem, and sometimes physical conditions that are detrimental to our well-being. We can learn to untie ourselves from all these “knotted-up” emotional reactions through a tool of self-discovery and insight called Mindfulness Meditation.
Though a daily practice of Mindfulness Meditation, we learn to how to choose between anxiety and calmness, between stress and ease, between self-doubt and confidence, between worry and trust, between self-criticism and self-compassion, and between awareness and oblivion. We can begin to understand that it is we who have control of our thoughts and reactions rather than our thoughts and reactions having control over us.
There is a multitude of studies and research that confirm the effects of how a Mindfulness Meditation practice (for as little as 10 to 20 minutes a day) can have positive effects on our genetic dispositions, our brain, mind, and body, on our moods, our productivity and on our ability to bring more joy into our lives and the lives of those around us.
However, Mindfulness Meditation is not a “cure-all”, but it can kick-start positive change in your life. It will lead you on a path that can only benefit your capacity to gain more insight into all the positive aspects of yourself, to discover that you are a precious and unique compliment to life, and that you are so much more than your struggles, your challenges, and your past.
You are invited to learn the process and technique of Mindfulness Meditation with a new series of SIX weekly 90 Minute ONLINE Classes beginning Saturday, May 11th at 10:30 AM pdt. For more information, details and registration, visit www.themeditationtree.com .
“Engaging in meditative self-reflection and gaining increased control of inner experiences provides a person with a sense of control over fear and trembling and the chaos of life.” ― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

02/20/2024

The Meditation Tree is a meditation studio/instructor located in Sherman Oaks/Los Angeles conducts Meditation and Mindfulness classes through group and private sessions. The practice teaches moment to moment awareness, how one can recognize self-defeating thought patterns, and how inner stillness ca

02/12/2024

What choice do we have?
And do we have choices? One of the primary take-aways from a Mindfulness Practice is the discovery of just how often we do have a choice in how we wish to live our life. We discover this wonderful ability through the development of our awareness of our thoughts and feelings.
Oftentimes, we react so spontaneously to our thoughts with a negative and defensive posture, that we become totally immersed with the emotion of that moment. We lose sight of our state of mind and react so impulsively, we just lash out at ourselves and others. Then, we do and say things, we often feel regret or guilt.
Research has demonstrated that our thoughts and, often times, events, can easily cascade us into an avalanche of emotions. Of course, not all reactions are equal. Some fall into the category of being positive or healthy and others fall into a more negative or unhealthy category.
Mindfulness teaches us to become more aware of our thoughts and reactions and to delineate whether our reactions might be harmful and self-defeating or helpful and supportive of our well-being. We learn to better understand our thoughts, what memories and experiences may trigger them and, even more importantly, whether or not they are really factual or true. Often, we create our own narratives or stories and dismiss the possibility that our thoughts may simply be perspectives than truths.
Science has determined that our brain registers as many as 60,000 thoughts a day and a large percentage of them are classified as negative. A study at Cornell indicated that 85% of what we worry about never happens. Bottom line is that we think and overthink and then automatically react to our every thought. Unfortunately, many are detrimental to our health and to our enjoyment of life.
Mindfulness teaches us to pause, to become aware of the negative messages (thoughts) we send to our brain and train us to say, “stop, I’m not going there”.
We are not defined by our thoughts. We don’t have to buy into every thought as being true. We can learn to accept them without our reacting to them. By learning to become aware of our negative thoughts and feelings the moment they arise, we can refrain from dwelling on them and putting ourselves at dis-ease. A daily practice of Mindfulness has so many other mental and physical benefits, and this is just one of many.
Everything can be taken from a man but…the last of the human freedoms– to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” -Viktor Frankl
ONLINE group and private classes at www.themeditationtree.com

The Meditation Tree” was created to introduce and teach others the ancient practice of Meditation/Mindfulness as an approach to still the mind, relax the body and seek a strong sense of awareness of one's own reactions to life's challenges.

02/06/2024

Here is an opportunity to discover a new perspective on Meditation and to learn all about the scientific research that supports the healthy advantages of starting a practice of Mindfulness! Just try the first class….and then decide whether it can be of benefit to you. No Financial Obligation!

The Meditation Tree is a meditation studio/instructor located in Sherman Oaks/Los Angeles conducts Meditation and Mindfulness classes through group and private sessions. The practice teaches moment to moment awareness, how one can recognize self-defeating thought patterns, and how inner stillness ca

01/11/2024

Just 2 Days Left! A New Year is a great time for new beginnings, to make the changes in our approach to life, and to motivate us to seek an easier and more fulfilling life. “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Walt Disney

01/08/2024

A New Year! A New Start? A New Learning Experience!

01/02/2024

Want to bring some ease into your life? A great tool for 2024!

The Meditation Tree is a meditation studio/instructor located in Sherman Oaks/Los Angeles conducts Meditation and Mindfulness classes through group and private sessions. The practice teaches moment to moment awareness, how one can recognize self-defeating thought patterns, and how inner stillness ca

11/29/2023

An Unusual, Intangible and Meaningful Gift

As you begin your search for Holiday Gifts, you may want to consider what could be one of the most impactful gifts you have ever given to yourself, your family or to a friend. It’s a gift of a (ZOOM) MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES. A New Series of 6 weekly 90 Minute Classes will begin Saturday, January 13th at 10:30 AM PST. A Gift of PRIVATE INSTRUCTION (via Zoom) is also available. And it’s totally refundable, but more about that later.

The benefits of such a gift are substantial. Research and Studies alike have demonstrated both the emotional and physical positive changes that occur when a practice of Mindfulness (as little as 20 minutes a day) is incorporated into one’s daily life.

Mindfulness Meditation is like a “workout” for the brain. Through this practice we learn to become aware of the myriad of thoughts that run rampant through our mind, that often send us spiraling into actions and reactions, which exacerbates our anxieties, stress and feelings of self-doubt and low self-esteem. You will learn how to become observers of your thoughts and how to make healthier choices in your reactions to them, to relax through challenging times, to remain calm and reduce your risk of unhealthy anxiety, stress, and even depression. You will learn to recognize and avoid negative self-talk.

Aside from the phycological benefits, one also begins to experience
the many physiological effects neuro-science has acknowledged.
We know that a daily practice strengthens our immune system, lessens the chances of heart disease, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, helps us better deal with chronic pain and insomnia, can eliminate skin conditions, can relieve digestive and weight issues, and the list goes on. Go online and research it for yourself.

So, as you see, this is a kind and most useful worthwhile gift that deserves a place on your list. So, here’s the deal. All classes are by donation ($20 per GROUP class suggested, $35 for PRIVATE Instruction)). I will provide a gift certificate. Zelle, Paypal, or Venmo me $20 (or $35 for PRIVATE) to reserve a spot, then if you or the recipient decides not to continue after the first class, at your request I will refund you. After the 1st Class, if you or your recipient decide to continue, then subsequent donations will be accepted, either in full for remaining 5 weeks or on a weekly basis. It’s as simple as that.

For the certificate, email me and let me know the name for the certificate. And I will respond with all the details. Email: [email protected]. Class reviews available on Google, Yelp, and website. For further look at my approach to teaching: www.themeditationtree.com Again, next series of classes begins Sat. !0:30 am, Jan 13th, 2024. PRIVATE CLASSES can begin anytime.

Gift yourself or others a most worthwhile and sometimes “life changing” gift!

11/23/2023

Our THANKSGIVING customs are usually imbued with a special time of “giving thanks” to all those who love and support us and for all the things we appreciate having in our lives. Sometimes the ritual comes in the form of a blessing before we feast and sometimes after dinner with our personal expressions of gratitude coming from each in attendance. It is normally a day of gratefulness and an acknowledgement of our gratitude for our family and friends, our health and our good fortune.
But perhaps we need to “kick it up a notch” this time around. Take a few extra minutes and send thoughts of comfort, understanding and compassion for all those who are suffering around the globe. This suggestion is, of course, is precipitated by the events in Israel and Palestine, in Ukraine and in Sudan. And it wouldn’t hurt to visualize and pray for a society free of hatred, religious and racial persecution. Maybe a little hope will eventually change the tide.
Neuroscientists, physicists, both century-old and modern philosophers and scholars affirm the belief that our positive and hopeful thoughts are a form of energy that can create change, not only for ourselves, but for all who suffer (consciously or not). Our thoughts have the power of transmitting compassion and empathy to others…of creating a more positive, peaceful and loving society.
So this Thanksgiving, as our families and friends gather together, let’s observe a minute or two of silence or contemplative meditation (prayer) to send the energy of our caring thoughts to those less fortunate…to those who have lost their homes, their neighbors and loved ones, many of whom have suffered a horrifying death, to those who are suffering the pain of having their children, their family members or friends become victims of war, and finally, to those everywhere who have suffered through all disasters, natural or otherwise.
So, let’s not make this Thanksgiving about us alone. The power of sending our caring thoughts to others can create a dynamic design of universal energy the world over. We can help to lift the suffering, to restore hope and to heal deep hurt, all with the simple and powerful summoning of our caring thoughts.
Let us appreciate and be thankful that with our thoughts we can wrap our arms around those who can use a big hug on this holiday.
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving…and try “kickin’ it up a notch”! Never underestimate the positive power and energy of silent thought or meditation.
“In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy”. - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

10/27/2023

DO NOT TAKE MY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES…

DO NOT TAKE MY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES…
if you enjoy feelings of stress and anxiety in your day-to-day life. Otherwise, a practice of Mindfulness Meditation will teach you how to combat these disruptive unhealthy feelings by showing you how changing your reactions to your thoughts, circumstances and events in your life can eventually help you overcome any stress and anxiety you may currently be experiencing.
DO NOT TAKE MY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES…
if you enjoy worrying about what might or could happen and the potential suffering that could unfold from all the “what if” thoughts coming from that voice in your head. Mindfulness Meditation is a practice that leads you from the future into present moment living. You will learn that you have control over the negative projections that “pop” into your mind and that you can choose to listen or to ignore them….to “let them be”.
DO NOT TAKE MY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES…
if you find comfort in having self-doubts about yourself, negative and depressing thoughts, or feelings of fear and despair that prevent you from enjoying all that life offers us. Mindfulness Meditation can help you find new approaches and perspectives that will lift your spirits. You will discover new ways of processing thoughts. This training can lead you to create a healthier and more positive attitude about yourself and thus lead you to achieving the goals and aspirations you desire for yourself.
DO NOT TAKE MY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CLASSES…
unless you wish to learn about the research, the concept, the benefits and positive changes that a daily Mindfulness Meditation practice can generate in your life. Learn about the positive changes that can occur in your brain, your physical health (including alleviating chronic pain and building a stronger immune system), and your emotional well-being.
BUT IF YOU DO, a new series of 6 weekly 90-minute ONLINE classes begins Saturday, Nov. 4th at 10:30 AM pst. For more details or to register, visit www.themeditationtree.com. Classes by donation!

The Meditation Tree is a meditation studio/instructor located in Sherman Oaks/Los Angeles conducts Meditation and Mindfulness classes through group and private sessions. The practice teaches moment to moment awareness, how one can recognize self-defeating thought patterns, and how inner stillness ca

10/12/2023

09/13/2023

Guided Meditation Versus Unguided Self-Meditation
I often have students come to me, who have relied and limited their meditation experience to recorded GUIDED meditations, yet find little or no long-term satisfaction with the results, especially when they hear about the many benefits of meditation that are touted in all the published research and studies.
As an experienced meditator and mindfulness teacher, (and how I specifically teach Mindfulness Meditation at the Meditation Tree) I reply in the following manner:
Guided meditations can serve them well inasmuch as they provide a temporary escape (and a focus away) from some kinds of emotional turmoil in their lives. And, as a result, they may experience some degree of relaxation and calmness and find some new healthy perspectives to reflect upon. However, in many cases, these benefits are short lived. As soon as they return to their daily routine and are required to manage their constant daily challenges, they are apt to fall back into the emotional thoughts and feelings (stress, anxiety, self-doubt, etc.) that can easily lead them astray and that can be detrimental to their well-being. Guided meditations often “miss the mark” when it comes to learning how to change our self-defeating thought patterns and habits of the mind for the long term.
Many find guided meditations easy because they may be short, easy to understand and are readily available via the internet and apps. However, after listening to the same topic or voice, over and over again, listeners may tend to become less attentive. They also may become more focused on the music and less focused on the words causing their minds to start wandering more frequently or, perhaps, they may tend to fall asleep. Some may even struggle to adjust the natural rhythm of their own breath to the person guiding you.
Again, this not to say that there is little benefit to the many guided meditations accessible to us but we may find them to be far more helpful AFTER we have achieved a more formal self-practice.
Learning how to meditate on your own along with the help of a teacher who can guide or instruct you on a more personal level from week to week will help you reap the benefits that will deepen your meditation practice. You will learn to remain relaxed, calm and more at ease with the ups and downs of life on a daily basis.
You will also learn how take control of how you react to your thoughts, or the thoughts of others. And especially, here at the Meditation tree, you will learn how to tap into the many researched benefits and positive effects meditation has on the human brain and on your own behavioral patterns. With your own practice you will also develop more awareness, the ability to improve your focus and concentration skills. (plus more)

“To meditate means to go home to yourself. Then you know to take care of the things that are happening inside you, (stress, anxiety, depression, anger, low self-esteem) and you know how to take care (learn to be less reactive) of the things that happen around you. “ Thich Nhat Hanh

For information on our ONLINE classes (emanating from Los Angeles) or to register for group or private classes, visit www.themeditationtree.com . Next series of 6 weekly 90 minute classes begins Sat. Sept 23, 2023 10:30 AM