By Jack Reaney ASSOCIATE EDITOR
As Big Sky’s full-time residents revel in May’s quiet streets and warmer air, the Big Sky Community Organization will offer a space to gather and recharge.
Dr. Jacquelyn Rinaldi, an author, teacher and therapist, will lead three guided meditation sessions, free and open to the community at BASE—no BASE pass is required. The Tuesday evening sessions will run from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. on May 14, 21 and 28.
Rinaldi, a Big Sky resident who works for Montana State University’s Psychology and Therapy department, spoke with EBS on the phone about the upcoming sessions. She said practicing mindfulness is a way to recharge or unplug.
“It’s kind of like giving a warm bath for your mind, or taking your mind to the gym,” Rinaldi said.
She said a common concern is that people don’t know how to slow down their racing mind, or that they aren’t cut out for meditation. She believes mindfulness is not intended to stop thoughts—brains think, that’s their job—but instead to notice them without judgment.
Absolutely no experience is needed for these sessions in Big Sky, she added.
“It’s going to be fun… If there’s apprehension, come. It’s chill. We’re going to talk about it—don’t worry about not knowing how to do this,” she said.
Sessions will include quiet reflection, and time to share questions, experiences and interactions.
“Super interactive, mellow… not stressful,” she said.
About six years ago, Rinaldi completed a two-year certification to teach mindfulness. She’s been practicing mindfulness for about 20 years; she got started because she was concerned about her own mind, feeling easily distracted with symptoms similar to ADHD. Mindfulness helped her realize that the busyness of life was forcing her to jump around.
“I just needed to slow down,” Rinaldi said. “Mindfulness has really helped me, and that’s why I wanted to start teaching, because the benefits have been tremendous in my own life.”
In her upcoming sessions, Rinaldi hopes to share those benefits with the Big Sky community.
