Tag Archives: cenla

365: A Year to Live Cohort

We should live every day as though it were our last, being as fully present for each moment with loving-awareness as much as possible, but life happens… until it doesn’t. One way to become more mindful of every moment is to cultivate awareness through intention, action, and community support.

In 2024 we will be offering a hybrid learning and practice opportunity following Stephen Levine’s book “A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as Though It Were Your Last.” Beyond just another book study we will dedicate the first Mindful Monday of each month to this practice, have an online support group and other resources, as well as pairing up with a death buddy for accountability and support throughout the year of practice together. If you decide to join the cohort for 2024, you will need to commit to attend at least one Mindful Monday practice each month (livestream accommodations will be made for folks out of town), regular check-ins with your death buddy, purchasing a copy of the book, a small monthly donation to support the work of facilitating and to hold yourself accountable (no one will be turned away for inability to contribute), doing the work, and showing up for yourself and your buddy.

This type of work isn’t for everyone, but if you’re interested in going deeper in your own meditation practice and personal journey into more heart-full living this could be a great opportunity for you. The group will be organized from now till mid-December and begin January 1, 2024 and run through the end of the year. Email Lyndon@cenlameditation.org with questions or to register for the cohort.

Snow Moon Satsang

A sacred gathering of friends to bring the many different spiritual communities in Central Louisiana together for a Full Moon celebration on Sunday, February 5th at 5 pm at the Yoga & Youth Center at 485 McKeithen Drive in Alexandria, La. Featuring a Drum Circle, Kirtan, Dancing, Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation. (Bring your own drum or shaker/rattle if you want to join in the drum circle.) Sponsored by Art of Living and Cenla Meditation Group. Free to attend. No reservations necessary. Vendors interested in having a table or other groups interested in being on program lineup should contact us ASAP.

Be Still & Know Retreat

Saturday, February 29, 2020
Chicot State Park
9:00 am – 6:00 pm

A Lenten introduction to Contemplative Christian Spirituality for Seekers, Doubters, Rebels, and Ragamuffins. Together we will spend a day of prayer and silence exploring classic Christian practices such as: Celtic Daily Prayer, Centering Prayer, Prayer Walking, Chanting, Lectio Divina, and other disciplines. This is an ecumenical gathering of friends where all are welcome as they are, no one is excluded for any reason. This will be a silent retreat with dedicated times for discussion and sharing.

We will practice at the Chicot State Park Meeting Room on the secluded east side of Bayou Chicot Lake with meal provided and opportunities for afternoon hiking and evening campfire to close out the day. You are welcome to leave earlier in the day if needed.

Must register in advance through Eventbrite as space is limited. $40 registration includes meal. No additional registration fees. Cancellations allowed up to 7 days prior to the event.

Register Here

Leaning Into Fear


Throughout the month of October we will be using our weekly meditation to work with the scary stuff in our lives in a different way. In light of recent events we will begin the series with our response to trauma and transmuting fear into compassion and action. 
We meet every Tuesday at River Oaks Square Arts Center, 2nd floor, doors locked at 6:30pm. All are welcome. Free to attend. No experience needed.

We’re Moving 

Due to unforeseen circumstances Cenla Meditation will not meet this Tuesday, May 9th, and will be returning to River Oaks Square Arts Center beginning Tuesday, May 16th, at our original time of 6:30pm. Sorry for any inconvenience this week. Look forward to practicing with you next week. Many thanks to Body Tao Spa for hosting the group these past few months. It’s been a great experience for us to grow. We are also grateful for the hospitality of River Oaks Square Art Center and the opportunity to remain a part of the local downtown community.

Open Your Heart Retreat

 

Photo Dec 10, 10 07 26 PM

Open Your Heart
Yoga & Meditation
One-Day Retreat

Bayou Chicot State Park
Ville Platte, Louisiana

Valentine’s Weekend
Saturday, February 13, 2016
9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Kundalini Yoga with Bill Savage
Qi Gong with Paul Nettles
Meditation with Lyndon Marcotte
Yoga Tao with B. Hedrick

You can send the $40 registration via PayPal to info@cenlameditation.org, or download the Printable Registration Form and mail it in with payment. Space is limited. If you are interested in providing a vegetarian dish to share for lunch, please email us for availability.

Bodhi Day Celebration

 
Ease into finals week and the holidays with us this evening, December 8, as we commemorate the traditional day in 596 BC that Siddartha Gautama experienced enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree by gathering for a brief Loving-Kindness meditation to foster mettā – goodwill, friendliness, and compassion. This will be followed by a short celebration with hot tea and sweets. You are invited to join us at River Oaks Square Arts Center at 6:30pm on the 2nd floor. As always, this is a free event, and no meditation experience is necessary.

Connectedness to One Another

I have been interested in meditation for many years but have always struggled with concerns about not doing it “right”, lacking commitment to practice, and choosing a direction. There are so many varieties of meditation. I would read and practice an array of styles of meditation but never felt like I was getting any traction in developing continuity or maturity in my practice.

I heard about the Cenla Meditation Group and started attending regularly. There are specific factors that I encountered in this group that have helped to grow my understanding and practice. Those factors are implemented every time that we meet together and include the following: teaching and guidance, meditation practice together as a group, discussion, and fostering a sense of loving kindness toward ourselves, one another, and the world.

Meeting weekly helps to develop a sense of accountability and connectedness to one another. Meditating with others does not erase the challenges of practice, but it has changed the way that I relate to meditation.

– Regina Irvin