THE MEDITATION GROUP (Submitted by Lolita Hagio)

THE SUN RIVER MEDITATION GROUP WAS STARTED APPROXIMATELY  10 YEARS AGO, MAKING IT ONE OF THE OLDEST GROUPS IN SUN RIVER!  WE ARE A FLEXIBLE  ORGANIZATION: OUR ATTENDANCE FLUCTUATES ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT 6 TO 20 PERSONS AT A SESSION; AND PART TIMERS & SNOWBIRDS COME WHEN THEY ARE IN TOWN. OUR INSTRUCTOR & MENTOR HAS BEEN REV. MAXINE SHUTT, WHO INTRODUCED US TO THE  BASIC TECHNIQUES OF MEDITATION, AND FREQUENTLY CONDUCTS OUR SESSIONS.IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT MEDITATION INCREASES A SENSE OF WELL BEING, MAKES ONE MORE MENTALLY AWARE, AND HELPS ONE TO BETTER HANDLE STRESSFUL SITUATIONS, IE. DIFFUSING CONFRONTATION. THUS, THE MISSION OR PURPOSE OF OUR GROUP IS TO PROMOTE  THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL WELL BEING OF ITS MEMBERS BY MEANS OF THE PRACTICE OF  MEDITATION. SEVERAL PERSONS VOLUNTEER TO CONDUCT A WEEKLY SESSION WHICH MAY CONSIST OF GUIDED IMAGERY, CALMING BREATH EXERCISES, AND OTHER TECHNIQUES. THESE PRACTICES HELP US EMPTY OUR MINDS OF DISTRACTIONS,AND‘BUSY’ THOUGHTS, IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE ON LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. OUR GROUP CONSISTS OF MEN & WOMEN; AND ALTHOUGH RECOMMENDED, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ATTEND EVERY WEEK, IF OTHER OBLIGATIONS INTERFERE..  WE INVITE ALL INTERESTED SUN RIVER RESIDENTS TO JOIN US AT 10:00 ON WEDNESDAYS IN THE CARD ROOM. WE RESUME MEDITATION IN SEPTEMBER.

ONE OF THE MEDITATION’S PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUN RIVER LABYRINTH, LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE DOG PARK, AND THE GOLF COURSE 16TH GREEN. WITH THE HELP OF DONATIONS FROM MEMBERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS, LAMAR MADSEN FROM SUN RIVER DEVELOPMENT, AND ESPECIALLY LANDSCAPER JOHN COSTANZA, WHO ACTUALLY DID THE CONSTRUCTION, THE LABYRINTH IS THERE  FOR ALL TO ENJOY BY  WALKING IT AND REFLECTING ON THE BEAUTY OF OUR SURROUNDINGS. AS FAR AS WE KNOW, WE ARE THE FIRST ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES  TO PROVIDE A LABYRINTH  FOR THEIR RESIDENTS!  WALKING THE LABYRINTH IS REALLY A METAPHOR  FOR THE PATH OF LIFE: FILLED WITH UNEXPECTED TURNS; YET THE CENTER, OR GOAL, IS CLEARLY VISIBLE.  A PERSON USES THE  SAME PATH TO RETURN FROM THE CENTER, AND THE ENTRANCE BECOMES THE EXIT.  IN OCTOBER 2010 CATHY SYLVIA IS SCHEDULED TO CONDUCT A LABYRINTH WORKSHOP FOR SUN RIVER RESIDENTS, TO FURTHER OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS WONDERFUL EXERCISE.