Mindful Dexter

Mindful Dexter is a wellness initiative of the 5HealthyTowns foundation, offering FREE ongoing opportunities for anyone in the community to practice mindfulness meditation in a safe, friendly group setting. Sessions are guided by experienced mindfulness practitioners/facilitators. The sessions have no religious affiliation and are appropriate for beginners as well as experienced meditators. All are welcome!

Click Here for the Current Mindful Dexter Schedule

What’s a typical session like?
Sessions start promptly and usually include up to 20 minutes of guided meditation, followed by up to 15 minutes of silent meditation. We use the remaining time for Q&A and some brief discussion/idea-sharing around a mindfulness topic.

What is mindfulness meditation?
Mindfulness meditation is the practice of improving our moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, sensations, and our environment. It’s increasingly practiced in schools, healthcare environments, corporate wellness programs, and community settings. For a simple three-minute summary, check out this animated video by Dan Harris.

Why meditate?
It can help sustain cognitive function as our brains age, it can help us step out of wandering or ruminating thought patterns, and it can reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain. In one study, even just a couple weeks of practice helped people improve their focus and memory. Practicing in a group setting is a great way to reinforce skills, connect with others, and learn together – as well as bring a moment of peace and stillness to your day.

Can kids attend?
We welcome youth who are interested in practicing mindfulness. Generally, sessions are best for age 12 and up. Portions of each session
are spent in silence, so out of respect for all attendees, we ask that parents please make sure your youth is okay to sit in relative stillness
for ~15 minutes at a time. Also, please don’t leave children under 12 unsupervised in the library or in the wellness center lobby while you attend sessions.

Follow us on Facebook!
Like our Facebook page to stay connected. We post periodic links and articles about mindfulness meditation, as well as information about other opportunities in the area to practice in a group setting. We’ll also use our Facebook page to communicate about any weather-related or emergency-related cancellations of our drop-in sessions.

Be sure and check the Mindful Dexter Facebook page for weather-related cancellations.