You know that meditation is vitally important to support
your wellbeing and long-term transformation
and…
you’ve struggled to stick to a regular meditation schedule,
or you can’t find a practice that feels right for you.
Welcome. You are in the right place.
Waking Up to Your Life
a beautifully designed online program and intimate learning community that supports you in beginning or deepening a mindfulness practice
This practice will give you a solid foundation for:
• healthier relationships
• more fulfilling work
• meaningful engagement with the world
Waking Up To Your Life runs
January 9, 2023 - March 6, 2023
Registration is now closed
“‘Waking Up’ provided me with the structure to start and, most importantly, continue a meditation practice. I believe the program has enabled me to move through a difficult transition in my life with calmness and openness.”
Guided by Maia Duerr and Lisa Wilson, you’ll embark on a journey with a community of kindred spirits.
Waking Up to Your Life includes support to:
explore different kinds of practices (meditation, yoga, creativity, and more) and learn how they can support you
discover a practice that resonates with you
learn how to create the conditions that will support consistency in your practice
find out what to do when you reach those inevitable ‘stuck’ points
give yourself the gift of a personal retreat day
harvest the insights of your practice and integrate them into your daily life
If you’ve been seeking guidance and accountability for your spiritual journey,
Waking Up to Your Life may be just what you’ve been looking for!
How the Program Works
You can be part of Waking Up to Your Life no matter where you live!
For 8 weeks, we will create a supportive community that will help you to establish or deepen your practice.
Program material is delivered through a combination of an e-book and online videos, group Zoom calls, weekly email messages, a private Facebook group and, for those who choose the Core PLUS option (see more below), individual phone support calls.
What We’ll Cover:
Module I: Preparing the Ground (two weeks)
This module will help you to create the conditions that support a consistent contemplative practice in your life. During these two weeks we’ll focus on: 1) clarifying your intention and 2) creating physical space and time for your practice.
Module II: Planting Seeds of Stability (two weeks)
This module will help you explore ways of slowing down, pausing, and settling. During these two weeks we’ll focus on how to begin a sitting meditation practice, how to maintain a sitting meditation practice, and how to work with your monkey mind.
Module III: Branching Out (two weeks)
In this module you will be exploring the many possibilities of contemplative practice; a tapas of practices! Our hope is that through this exploration you will discover your own path and what works for you. We’ll use the “Tree of Contemplative Practices” (created by Maia) as a tool for this exploration.
Module IV: Nurturing and Cultivating (two weeks)
This module focuses on the integration of practice into daily life. During this last month of the program, we’ll explore how to take your practice “off the cushion,” how to apply insights that are emerging from your practice to your relationships, family, work, creativity, and more.
There are two paths you can choose from, depending on the kind of support you would like to receive:
CORE or CORE PLUS
What You’ll Receive
CORE
CORE PLUS
Waking Up to Your Life Study and Practice Guide (e-book that is downloadable for you to keep!)
Welcome and orientation conference call
Bi-weekly group calls* to check in and receive support from Maia and Lisa (calls are recorded so you can access them if you are not able to attend live)
*(Calls are on Mondays at 4 pm PST / 7 pm EST)
Weekly email prompts from us with encouragement and ‘homework’ (of the best kind!)
Video lessons on meditation and other kinds of contemplative practices
Access to a private Facebook group where you can check in with our community for encouragement and support
Access to a password-protected webpage with program materials
Support to create a personal retreat day
4 one-on-one phone or Zoom check-in calls (30 minutes each) with Maia or Lisa for individualized support
Private email access to Maia or Lisa to ask questions about your practice and receive extra support throughout the program
Registration
$129
$249
Registration is now closed
RAVES
“‘Waking Up to Your Life’ is a life-changer, in the most gentle way!”
“Having a virtual sangha helped me become more accountable and structured in my practice. It was very helpful to have Maia for questions and discussion of different approaches. I am again being very regular in my practice, which is helping me with maintaining a positive life outlook as well as improving my sleep pattern.”
“Our time together has opened so many things: a new relationship with my practice where it is less an obligation and more a gift to myself; a wonderful new way to look at contemplation; permission to bring art to practice without judgment or perfection. Deep bows to you all, beloved community and beloved teachers.”
“Because of ‘Waking Up to Your Life,’ I have established a rhythm in my home practice and have been able to tune in more acutely to my heart’s desires. The program encourages connectivity, allows space for the participant to move along at their own pace, and nurtures what practice really is and can become.”
ABOUT YOUR GUIDES
Maia Duerr
Maia is a longtime meditation practitioner, writer, and teacher. From her work with the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, she created the “Tree of Contemplative Practices,” a tool that has helped thousands of people find the practice that works best for them. Maia was the director of the Chaplaincy Training Program at Upaya Zen Center from 2008 to 2014, and received ordination as a lay chaplain from Roshi Joan Halifax in 2012. She takes great joy in supporting people in their spiritual journeys, as well as creating transformative learning experiences.
Lisa Wilson
Lisa is a Playful Photographer and mindful mother, as well as the creator of BeingBreath and #Walk365ish. Through candid and engaging photography, mindfulness instruction, and story-telling, she delights in being a self-awareness instigator - inspiring others into the fullness of who they are. Lisa does this all from Bloomington, Indiana with a cup of coffee never far from hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time should I plan on spending on “Waking Up”?
It can really be as much or as little time as you want to spend! At minimum, we would suggest that you set aside one hour each week to read the weekly emails and complete the “experiences” included in them, and to participate at least once a week in the private Facebook group. The heart of the program is your own meditation practice. We emphasize consistency, so we recommend that you commit to your meditation practice at least 10 minutes a day through the duration of the program.
What if I can’t attend one of the live calls?
The live calls provide a sense of community and support that are important when developing a practice. But we understand that everyone has busy schedules! Each call will be recorded so that if you can’t attend live, you can watch it at a time that is more convenient for you.
How long will the course material be available?
You will still have access to the FB group and the webpage once the program is done, and the ebook (with all of the class material) is downloadable - so you will have access to the course material for as long as you need!
I would love to do this but I can’t afford it. Do you offer any scholarships?
We are committed to making this program accessible to everyone who has a sincere desire to start or deepen a contemplative practice. The registration fee we have set allows us to cover the expenses involved in offering this program, which include several internet services, and also supports both of our livelihoods in a very modest way. We have reserved a limited number of partial scholarship spots for the Core version of the program. If you are not able to afford the full fee, please send us an email (see below) and let us know that you’re interested in scholarship options.
Note: Registration is now closed. Please contact us if you would like to be notified if this program is run again.
Do you have other questions that would help you decide if “Waking Up” is right for you? Please contact maia [at] maiaduerr [dot] com or lisa [at] beingbreath [dot] com … we’re happy to explore this with you.