Meditation
Meditation practice has ancient origins.
I learned about meditation in the late 1990's, first in Yoga classes, and then through deeper study at the Himalayan Institute and the teachings of ParaYoga. Both these paths include meditation as an aspect of Tantric Hatha Yoga, from the Himalayan tradition of Sri Vidya. The scope of this Yoga is a vast umbrella, a weave of the right hand path of Tantra, Patanjali (or classical) Yoga, and Ayurveda. This style of Yoga includes other types of Yoga, such as Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin, Restorative, Nidra, Power, Power, Bhakti, traditional Hatha, Meditation, Kriya, Pranayama, Mudra, and more. The underlying philosophy is that each practice may unfold specific kinds of results and is a specific type of medicine. There are generally two categories -- ascendant / developmental / evolutionary and descendant / embodiment / integration. The two types complement each other, and ideally function in a dynamic balance.
Even as a kid, I stumbled into meditation practice, although it wasn't called that. I grew up in a Protestant family, where for some years I was at our Methodist church three times per week. This was a good experience for me, and I enjoyed reading the bible, and praying in a way that I would now refer to as devotional meditation.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali contain many gems, and one of them is a meditation practice called Samyama. Samyama meditation became the basis for many aspects of my work, including the way I organized Dance Journey.
All this is to say that there are many types of meditation practice, including more modern day approaches such as mindfulness, each of which supports different intentions and outcomes, and each of which require specific capacities and approaches to practice. None of the approaches is better than the others - each can be beneficial in different situations. When we understand ourselves and what we need, and learn about the specific quality that each practice yields, we can do the right practice in the right way at the right time to support ourselves. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to have a conversation about this.
I learned about meditation in the late 1990's, first in Yoga classes, and then through deeper study at the Himalayan Institute and the teachings of ParaYoga. Both these paths include meditation as an aspect of Tantric Hatha Yoga, from the Himalayan tradition of Sri Vidya. The scope of this Yoga is a vast umbrella, a weave of the right hand path of Tantra, Patanjali (or classical) Yoga, and Ayurveda. This style of Yoga includes other types of Yoga, such as Kundalini Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin, Restorative, Nidra, Power, Power, Bhakti, traditional Hatha, Meditation, Kriya, Pranayama, Mudra, and more. The underlying philosophy is that each practice may unfold specific kinds of results and is a specific type of medicine. There are generally two categories -- ascendant / developmental / evolutionary and descendant / embodiment / integration. The two types complement each other, and ideally function in a dynamic balance.
Even as a kid, I stumbled into meditation practice, although it wasn't called that. I grew up in a Protestant family, where for some years I was at our Methodist church three times per week. This was a good experience for me, and I enjoyed reading the bible, and praying in a way that I would now refer to as devotional meditation.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali contain many gems, and one of them is a meditation practice called Samyama. Samyama meditation became the basis for many aspects of my work, including the way I organized Dance Journey.
All this is to say that there are many types of meditation practice, including more modern day approaches such as mindfulness, each of which supports different intentions and outcomes, and each of which require specific capacities and approaches to practice. None of the approaches is better than the others - each can be beneficial in different situations. When we understand ourselves and what we need, and learn about the specific quality that each practice yields, we can do the right practice in the right way at the right time to support ourselves. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to have a conversation about this.
Meditation Classes
On Thursday mornings at 9:30am, I am offering a weekly drop-in class which is half gentle Yoga and half Guided Meditation. Check out the calendar page for zoom links, and contact me for the password.
On Thursday mornings at 9:30am, I am offering a weekly drop-in class which is half gentle Yoga and half Guided Meditation. Check out the calendar page for zoom links, and contact me for the password.
"Sometimes everything has to be inscribed across the heavens so you can find the one line already written inside you."
-- David Whyte
-- David Whyte
TESTIMONIALS - Transformation Playground Coaching
I've done years of therapy, read books, looked to religion, tried meditation, and practiced yoga, but until coaching with Rhonda, I never realized how many of the answers were already under my nose- and throughout my body. We are amazing creatures with so much wisdom and we don't even know it! Give yourself one of the best gifts you will ever receive and spend some time with Rhonda. It is empowering, exciting and FUN! In addition to wisdom, we are full of joy and this is a chance to reconnect with it. -- Sarah H.
"Rhonda is a brilliant all out life player and wonderful at inviting an exploration of experience through movement!" -- Mari H.
We did our coaching session via Skype & I loved that I could be in the comfort of my own home as Rhonda walked me through emotional and physical practices that helped me work on developing more flow of energy in my body and to trust my intuition and honor my emotions. Rhonda really knows how to approach difficult, personal issues with kindness and love that I quickly keyed in to wanting to develop that in myself as well. I still daily use her techniques she taught me, particularly "Yes Breath" and asking myself "wonder questions" when dealing with stressors in my life. I feel like I have a new lease on my life and that I can approach every day with a sense of wonder and discovery. -- Megan H.
"Rhonda Mills is one of the most joyous free spirits on the planet. Her heart is wise, open, and widely connected--and she brings to her client work not only a truly impressive and holistic skill set and years of experience, but also the exquisite freshness of her very being. Working with Rhonda is like traveling to the underworld on butterfly wings: even the scariest parts of my life become translucent when I talk and sing and dance them out under her expert guidance and care." -- Lynnea B.
"What I love most about Rhonda's coaching work is her ability to lead me to discover my own truths. I found the process to be liberating to know that the answers we seek are within ourselves. Rhonda's intuitive wisdom was very supportive - guiding, witnessing and validating my process, as I realized what I wanted and what needed to be done to live to my highest potential!" -- Michelle G.
TESTIMONIALS - Dance Events
"Dance Journey is completely freeing and self-expressive. I’ve discovered things about myself I have not discovered in any other way. You come and you move your body in any way you want, responding to the various and incredible sounds of music … the release that happens through this kind of experience is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Dance Journey is a time to be authentic to yourself –discovering who you are so you take that home with you. You’re with other people where they are all expressing themselves in their individual way, and you interact if you choose, you slow down if you choose, you speed up if you choose, you skip if you choose, you stop if you choose. It’s amazing the experiences you move through in the short period of time by being coached and invited to be your authentic self. Dance Journey is absolutely incredible and life-changing!" -- Joan Marie
“I’ve always wanted to go dancing with others, however I don’t have the desire to go to nightclubs. Fortunately, Dance Journey on Friday nights provides the perfect opportunity of satisfying my dancing needs and fellowship. And on top of it, the music selection is great! I don’t have to worry about being a good dancer, because the environment is so accepting. I leave feeling a greater sense of happiness. What a great time. I felt so free! It was so easy to be authentic! Dance Journey is awesome!" -- Susan R.
"I am always amazed at how powerful and deep the shifts are with dance journey!" -- Michelle G.
I really benefited the first night I attended Dance Journey. Rhonda welcomed me and provided a safe, sweet & nonjudgmental space for me to explore my intuition & how my body speaks to me. I loved the dance sequence we were spontaneously allowed to create based on her guidance & lesson based on Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey". I left class with a new inner awareness & energy. As Walt Whitman once wrote: "I sing the body electric." Rhonda has a gift to help you learn that song. -- Megan H.
