Mindfulness Outreach Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to offering mindfulness meditation retreats and fostering a community of mindful practitioners. MOI Founder and Guiding Teacher:
Johnathan Woodside is an Insight Meditation teacher offering Dharma instruction rooted in the Theravada tradition of ethics, concentration and wisdom. He is a consultant at various locations
in Omaha Nebraska where he encourages greater self-awareness through stillness and dynamic meditation practices. He leads classes and retreats on mindfulness meditation for the promotion of greater health and wellness in the Omaha community. Mindfulness Meditation:
Mindfulness is the special kind of awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally. Mindfulness also has a very important ethical component; it means more than simply recognizing what’s present. It means being aware of what’s present without greed, without aversion, without delusion. Meditation teaches people through their own personal experience how to pay attention and sustain that attention moment by moment. Meditating is an efficient and effective technique that helps us know our mind and relax our bodies, helping to reduce depression symptoms, stress, anxiety, and boost mental health by promoting a harmonious outlook. Class Description:
The practice of meditation reveals inner calm and a deeper familiarity with one's state of awareness and equanimity. Classes introduce students to the fundamentals of meditation while exploring the various methods and related benefits of stillness. Foundational skills are reviewed to promote proper posture and breathing, followed by an introduction and practice period for techniques presented. Workshop Description:
Using lecture, meditation, scientific research, interactive exercises, and discussion, workshops are relevant to the general public as well as to practicing health care professionals.
