Where to practice mindfulness meditation in Columbia (and why you should try it)

Mindfulness meditation, an act of being fully present in the moment, is an increasingly popular movement with known health benefits. Proponents say it reduces stress and increases feelings of calmness and relaxation.

It’s also been shown to actually change your brain by increasing communication in areas that process stress-related reactions.

So how do you do it?

Mindfulness meditation is mostly about awareness, said Stacey Millner-Collins, founder of City Yoga in Five Points. Millner-Collins has been practicing meditation since the late ’80s and includes meditation in several of the classes she teaches at City Yoga.

“You’re being aware of your breath, sensations in your body, thoughts in your head” during meditation, she said.

And you don’t have to sit monk-like in one spot for hours.

“It doesn’t need to follow a big, long prescribed practice. If it’s five-10 minutes, that’s great,” Millner-Collins said.

Mindfulness meditation can also help improve focus and concentration, which can be especially beneficial to exam-taking college students, said Marguerite O’Brien, who teaches a monthly meditation class at the University of South Carolina.

“You learn to focus on one thing,” O’Brien said. “There’s a myth in Western culture that we can multitask, but our brains can’t really do that very well.”

Meditation also teaches us to stop and take a few minutes for ourselves.

“It’s giving yourself a break,” O’Brien said.

Ready to give mindfulness meditation a try? Here are places to practice it in Columbia:

UPSTREAM

Upstream: A Center for Mindfulness Practice & Holistic Mental Health holds free, weekly community meditation from 10:15-11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.

Those looking to delve deeper can sign up for Upstream’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 8-week class series. Registration is open now. Orientation is 6 p.m. Tuesday April 5. Classes run 6-8:15 p.m. Tuesdays, April 12 to May 31.

2123 College St., (803) 250-6764, upstreamsc.com

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

The University of South Carolina has a guided meditation class called Wind Down Wednesdays for students, faculty and staff. The drop-in classes are offered once a month and are led by Marguerite O’Brien, director of Wellness, Prevention & Advocacy for Student Health Services.

12:15-1 p.m. in Russell House room 315 at 1400 Greene St. Free. Next class is April 20.

www.sa.sc.edu/shs/events/wind-down-wednesday/

CITY YOGA

City Yoga has two classes that include meditation along with yoga. Classes are $10.

Yoga & Meditation class: 9 a.m. Tuesdays. A slow and gentle 75-minute class that offers a brief meditation before relaxation. A 90-minute version of the class incorporates a 20 minute meditation.

Hips, Meditation and Deep Relaxation: 7:15-8:15 p.m. Tuesdays and 4 p.m. Sundays. The first 20 minutes of class will focus on postures to unwind your hips, legs, and low back. The main part of the class focuses on yogic breathing and meditation practice for 25 minutes.

2121 College St., (803) 799-5400, cityyogasc.com

YOGA MASALA

The Columbia yoga studio has a meditation workshop this summer led by renowned yogi Rolf Gates. The workshop is part of “A Vinyasa Weekend with Rolf Gates: Being Still with Skill” at Yoga Masala. The workshop is 9 a.m.-noon on June 25.

711 Bluff Road, (803) 748-9642, and 1604 Main St., (803) 799-6422, hotyogamasala.com

MINDFUL LIVING STUDIO

Offers a four-hour Introduction to Meditation program and an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program.

1407 Cherokee Drive, West Columbia, (803) 739-8701, www.mindfullivingstudio.com/schedule-and-fees.html

KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Kadampa focuses on meditation and Buddhist teachings. The Center has a “Simply Meditate” class from 7-8 p.m. on Mondays. Each class includes two guided 15-minute meditations. These drop-in classes are suitable for beginners.

$5. Free for students and seniors.

2999 Sunset Blvd., Suite 101, West Columbia, (803) 200-2115, meditationinsouthcarolina.org/

COLUMBIA ZEN BUDDHIST PRIORY

The Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory is a branch temple and meditation center of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives, an international Buddhist organization.

The Priory is dedicated to the tradition of Serene Reflection Meditation, which emphasizes silent meditation, mindfulness in daily life, and guiding one’s life by the moral Precepts of Buddhism. The Priory, with Buddhist monks in residence, offers instruction, guidance, and support for this practice.

For those wishing to practice, orientation is available by reservation at 6 p.m. on most Fridays There are no fees of any kind for instruction, or participation in Priory activities, but donations are accepted.

426 Arrowwood Road, (803) 772-7552, columbiazen.org.

INSIGHT MEDITATION COMMUNITY OF COLUMBIA

Insight Meditation follows the Theravada Buddhist practice known as Vipassana. This peer-led group focuses on simple meditation techniques.

Classes are Mondays beginning at 6:30 p.m. with meditation instruction, a 30-minute sit at 7 p.m. and a talk on Buddhist practice at 7:30 p.m.

The group meets in the small building on the Heyward Street side of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation, 2701 Heyward Street. Free. www.meetup.com/Insight-Meditation-Community-of-Columbia/

YOGA & WELLNESS

The Yoga & Wellness center provides classes on kundalini yoga and meditation. A drop-on class is $15. Class times vary.

Classes are held at Frontier Movement at 2730 Millwood Avenue. www.yogaandwellness.com/

SOUTH CAROLINA DHARMA GROUP

The South Carolina Dharma Group is a Buddhist group following the teachings of the Dalai Lama.

Group meditations are at 10 a.m. Sundays in the building behind 3003 Columbia St. Free. www.scdharma.org.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 9:49 AM with the headline "Where to practice mindfulness meditation in Columbia (and why you should try it)."