Healthy HIVE

Anxiety

Depression

Overwhelmed

Alone

Fearful

These are some of the words that I have felt in the last couple of months while I have been sheltering in place. I imagine that I am not the only one who has experienced these emotions or feelings. A way that I have been able to find relief or accept these feelings has been through mindfulness meditation.

As a woman of color, I have not always felt welcomed in spaces that promote holistic healing. I often discovered that white heternormative ableist spaces were not built for me or people in my various communities. I was determined to find a space where I did belong and could develop my meditation practice. I was able to find a safe space in the East Bay Meditation Center.

One of the best tools I’ve been taught has been to sit in silence with my own thoughts. I completed a year long training through the East Bay Meditation Center called Practice in Transformative Action. This training was created for social justice activists who want to learn about mindfulness meditation with the intention of sharing those teachings with the communities they serve. Now, more than ever, I want to share what I have learned with you.

I do not have a perfect practice, but I continue to show up. I am thrilled to share our new online Healthy HIVE wellness curriculum. This offering is for you if you are: living with HIV, doing social justice work, work in non-profit spaces, or new to a mindfulness meditation practice.

I am honored to share with you ways that mindfulness can be incorporated in your daily lives. Join me on the HIVE YouTube channel for 10-minute mindfulness meditations.

In Community,

Cynthia Gutierrez

HIVE Program Manager