Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness is an excellent antidote to the stresses of modern life. It is the art of paying attention to present moment experiences with openness and curiosity and a willingness to be with what is…

Diana Winston, Director of Education,

Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) Classes Overview

Please see  Events page for current class schedule.

Mindful Awareness Practices classes offer a comprehensive introduction to secular-based mindfulness. MAPs is  a UCLA affiliated course, following the format and curriculum designed by the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center. This six-week class series is open to the public and can be of benefit to a full range of individuals, from total beginners and those with previous experience with mindfulness and/or other meditative practices. The classes lay the foundation for students to understand basic principles of mindfulness, develop a personal meditation practice, and to apply the principles in their daily life on an ongoing basis.

Each class is a combination of lecture, practice, and group feedback and discussion. MAPs is taught in a context of a supportive community environment. The group support is one of the most helpful and inspiring aspects of the class.

Valerie Kyoshin Velez has been trained and authorized by the Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center to teach this course.

MAPs classes meet weekly for two hours per week for six weeks. Students will learn Mindful concepts that include: Overview of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of the Body, Obstacles to Mindfulness, Mindfulness to help with Physical Pain, Working with Difficult Emotions, Cultivating Positive Emotions, Working with Difficult Thoughts, and Mindful Interactions.

Youth-Led Podcast on Mindfulness and Self-Care

Through her work with high school students in a peer education program, Valerie had the opportunity to share with them about mindfulness. The link below is to the podcast they created for their peers district wide in the Hemet Unified School District:

Article in the Idyllwild Town Crier Newspaper: ‘Mindfulness is a great tool’