Free Meditation Classes Offered Twice a Week

Due to the popularity of our Mindfulness events, and the growing interest in the community in meditation, the Portsmouth Public Library has decided to partner with several local volunteer teachers to offer meditation at the library, twice a week, according to a press release. 

Beginning Monday, May 11, these drop-in meditations will last 45 minutes, and will be held in the Hilton Garden Room each week:

Mondays @ 6:00 – 6:45 PM

Wednesdays @ 12:15 – 1 PM

We hope you’ll join us to learn meditation, or to practice with others!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have prior experience? Do I need to register?

+ No. These sessions will be drop-in, and appropriate for all levels of experience. Our volunteers have introduced many new people to the practice of meditation.

What kind of meditation can I expect?

+ This program is a collaboration between the library and local practitioners. The format of the meditation may change based on the teacher. See descriptions below.

Should I eat before I come?

+ We recommend not eating a large or heavy meal just before meditation.

Do I need special clothing?

+ Comfortable, non-restrictive clothing is best. You will be sitting for 45 minutes.

Will I be meditating on a cushion or in a chair?

+ At the moment, the library is only able to offer chairs for meditation. Feel free to bring your own cushion – but this is not necessary.

About the Volunteer Teachers

The Portsmouth Buddhist Center, located on Pleasant Street, offers introductory and regular meditation and Buddhism classes by donation. As ordained members of the Triratna Buddhist Order, teachers from the center, including Dh. Suddhayu, Dh. Candradasa, and Dh. Bodhipaksa have been practicing and teaching meditation for decades. They will teach two ancient practices: the mindfulness of breathing, and the cultivation of loving-kindness. Both practices are utilized to develop concentration, tranquility and positive emotion.

Avi Magidoff belongs to the 43rd generation of the LinJi Meditation School, and has been a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh for more than two decades. He practices acupuncture in Portsmouth, teaching mindfulness, meditation and acupuncture in North America, Europe and Asia. Avi says: “In each session we practice sitting meditation as well as walking meditation for calming the mind as well as developing, concentrating and observing our habitual patterns so as to gain insight and free ourselves of those patterns. We shall then extend the space created within ourselves to daily life through telephone meditation, eating meditation, etc.”

Cathy Okhuysen will lead contemporary and traditional chants from different traditions as a way to center and focus before and during meditation. Cathy has offered contemplative singing in a variety of public spaces, sacred places and retreats settings.

Suzanne Woodland has been leading meditation at her workplace for 10 years and has led meditation at the Aryaloka Buddhist Center in Newmarket and the Portsmouth Buddhist Center. Her emphasis is on the breathing body as the object of mindful attention, tender awareness. You will be invited to arrive in, explore and make peace with the breathing body and what arises in that process of being present.

Meggen Wright has been teaching yoga since 2006, specializing in therapeutic yoga for chronic conditions such as acute stress, knee and hip pain, and breathing disorders. Currently she teaches gentle group classes in Rye for women and private yoga therapy in a chiropractic wellness clinic in Stratham. She will be teaching pranayama (yogic breathing) and visualization meditation.