Mercy Center hosting “Art of Meditation” workshop Nov. 5-6

The Mercy Center for Spiritual Life is hosting a weekend workshop exploring perspectives on the art of meditation. Scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5 and Sunday, Nov. 6, the workshop will draw from time-honored Eastern wisdom traditions and modern-day scientific research to present practical ways of integrating principles of meditation, Taoism and Zen Buddhism into everyday life.

Open to all undergraduate students, the workshop will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. It will be held in McAuley Hall, Room 103.

The workshop will be led by Jesse Harding, a fifth-degree black belt and director of Villari’s Martial Arts Center in Middletown. Participants will learn and practice different types of meditation such as lying, seated, standing, walking and moving. Harding will also present yoga, tai chi and qigong exercises for health, well being, stress reduction, clear thinking and peace of mind.

Harding has been teaching the martial arts for more than 20 years. He holds degrees in philosophy, psychology and religious studies in addition to an M.A. in holistic counseling and CAGS in creative and expressive arts from Salve Regina. Harding is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Religious and Theological Studies.

The workshop is co-sponsored by the Department of Religious and Theological Studies and the Office of Student Affairs. For more information, or to register for the workshop, contact Anna Mae Mayer at (401) 341-2444 or annamae.mayer@salve.edu.