The Sanctuary is marking World Mental Health Day on October 10 with an entire month of self-care meditation practice.
The 31 Day Challenge will commence on Friday October 1 and you can enrol today at https://www.sanctuary.ie/the-sanctuarys-31-day-meditation-challenge-this-october/
What does it entail?
You will receive one 20-30 minute meditation each day that you be able to watch, listen to and download. The goal is to meditate every day for the month of October. That’s the only rule! You decide on the time and the place.
You will receive an email and gain access to our online platform that holds a guided meditation for each day. These meditations have been recorded specially by The Sanctuary’s own experienced teachers in Mindfulness and Meditation, such as Sr Stan Kennedy, Dr Tony Bates, Jane Negrych, Mary Jennings, Barry Lee, Dominic Cogan, and more.
Trudy Goodman will be joining us in leading this year. Trudy is the founding teacher of InsightLA and cofounder of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy in Cambridge MA. She has taught at universities and retreat centres worldwide for 25 years. Trudy has trained in mindfulness and Zen since 1973, holds a graduate degree in developmental psychology from Harvard, and is one of the senior Buddhist teachers in the US. She is married to Jack Kornfield, renowned Buddhist author and cofounder of the famous Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts. She delivered the first MBSR with Jon Kabat Zinn.
To register, a minimum donation of €30.00 for the An Cuan programme is kindly requested.
The An Cuan programme is designed to break down barriers and make the activities of The Sanctuary accessible to all, with an emphasis on anyone going through a vulnerable period in their life.
The programme has been running since 2005 and we have worked with those recovering from and/or suffering with mental illness, unemployment, addiction, homelessness and people with physical/ mental disabilities.
“The Sanctuary‘s 31 Day Challenge embodies all that The Sanctuary stands for. Through the meditations, we nourish our own personal growth, all the while creating social impact through raising awareness of the stigma that surrounds mental health.
“The 31 Day Challenge invites us to come together as a global community for World Mental Health Day in the fight against mental illness. In joining us, you are also supporting the Sanctuary which brings mental health resources, healing and hope to thousands of people, including frontline workers,” Sr Stan Kennedy stated.
“One of the most exciting moments in our year at The Sanctuary is the October 31 Day Challenge that coincides with World Mental Health Day. It provides the opportunity for all people everywhere to come together and challenge themselves through meditation to really look after their own mental wellbeing, while advocating for those struggling with mental health issues. It also provides the opportunity to help break down any stigma that surrounds mental illness,” Jane Negrych, MD, added.
Over the last year, in the response to the rising need for mental health supports, The Sanctuary have introduced free community online meditation sessions, a selection of live broadcasted wellbeing courses, self-care resources as well as a Befriending Programme offering phone calls to people who are lonely or isolated during this time.
The response has been unprecedented for these online services, almost 2000 people registered for their free online community meditations sessions and each week they are providing support to over 500 people who attend these free online community meditation sessions with attendees reporting reduced isolation and a feeling of community that has been a refuge for many.
