Mindfulness is a basic human capacity to pay attention to whatever is happening, as it’s happening; in the present moment and non-judgmentally. Learning to live mindfully is a way to experience calm and balance from within instead of chasing external means to take care of our inner turmoil, which usually have little lasting effect. As well as helping us to cope with stress, living mindfully can also increase our productivity, creativity and unleash our full human capacity to thrive in the world as it is.

A consistent Mindfulness Meditation Practice can help to develop skills necessary to deal with stress resulting from work pressures, financial insecurity, relationship issues, family illness, health problems or internal conflicts such as perfectionism or self-criticism. Mindfulness training helps return your being to its natural state of calm and ease, while enhancing the quality of your life and improving your overall health and well-being.

Cost 10.00 or class pass.

Maria earned her degree in Philosophy from Buffalo State College with an emphasis in Eastern Philosophy and its practical applications and continues her studies in Applied Mindfulness at The University of Toronto. Her experience includes 20 years of Mindfulness training and practice under the guidance of Dr. George Hole (Distinguished Professor, Philosophical Counselor, Mentor), retreats with Thich Nhat Hanh (internationally renowned teacher, monk, author and peace activist) and meditation instruction with experts in China, Japan, Vietnam, India and Burma.

In January 2014, Maria created, coordinated and implemented the first Mindfulness Program for the Institute for Shipboard Education, Semester at Sea, leading over 100 students, faculty and staff through an 8-Week Mindfulness Training for Stress Reduction Course. She counseled faculty and staff in developing coping strategies for students experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression, facilitated daily stress reduction group meetings and led guided Mindfulness Meditation practice in Japan, China, Vietnam, Singapore, India, Burma, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, and Morocco.

Maria has taught Mindfulness for Stress Reduction at Univera Health, Independent Health, Seneca Niagara, NCCC, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo State University, Sacred Heart Academy and to a variety of groups and individual clients throughout Western New York and abroad. Over twenty years of training and practice has led her to teach Mindfulness as way of reducing stress and unleashing the innate potential we all have to live our lives with greater calm, clarity and stability. Maria’s clientele come from multiple disciplines and all walks of life including business owners and healthcare professionals, attorneys, students, artists, educators and parents.

While incorporating a patient and compassionate approach, Maria offers a unique skill set that allows students to access the root cause of their actual stressors, while learning to manage them effectively from within. She offers courses in the classroom setting as well as private instruction and has helped people overcome their struggles with a variety of issues and conditions including stress (work related, financial, family/relationship or health), sleeping disorders, anxiety, high blood pressure, chronic pain, fatigue, headaches and other problems inhibiting one’s quality of life.

She can be reached by phone at 716.440.8682 or email at mkahn711@gmail.com.