What we’re about
Do you have a meditation practice? Want to start one? Curious about mindfulness and how to integrate mindfulness into your life? Looking to deepen your practice? This is a group for anyone interested in practicing or learning about mindfulness and meditation. There are so many wonderful opportunities to practice with communities in other boroughs of NYC--but not so many in Queens. Let's create mindful community right here in our own neighborhood so we can support one another and practice together. This Meetup group will be used to post local mindfulness events, meditation classes, talks, and more. No experience with meditation or mindfulness necessary. All experience levels welcome. Please note: you do NOT have to live in Astoria (or even in Queens) to attend one of our meetups.
Check out our website to learn more about us. Like our Facebook page for updates, news, articles, and more.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Afternoon Silent Retreat, Sunday April 27, 1pm-5pmNeeds location
PLEASE NOTE: We ask that you attend this retreat only if you have previously attended at least one prior Mindful Astoria gathering, either in-person or on Zoom. Also note that this retreat will be for in-person attendance only. For practice with Mindful Astoria via Zoom, please join our hybrid in-person/Zoom meditation gatherings on alternate Wednesdays 7:30-8:45pm, our Monday 6:45am-7:15am & 8pm-8:30pm silent sits, and other Zoom events that Mindful Astoria posts on MeetUp.
LOCATION
Our retreat will be held in a studio space on 30th Avenue near 31st Street in Astoria. We will send the address to attendees who have RSVP'd prior to the event.
ABOUT OUR AFTERNOON SILENT RETREAT
Join us for an afternoon of silent meditation practice. Learn how to cultivate mindfulness--knowing what is happening within you and around you, so you can respond skillfully and with awareness--and how to bring the benefits of meditation practice into daily life.
By deepening our awareness through an extended period of meditation practice, we can let the mind settle, gently notice the habits of our mind, and meet our experience with a genuine sense of groundedness and kindness.
The afternoon will consist of periods of sitting meditation, gentle stretching and yoga (adaptable for all abilities), periods of silent practice, and time to ask questions and discuss meditation within a supportive community.
Some previous experience with meditation is recommended. If you are brand new to meditation and want to know if this retreat is right for you, contact mindfulastoria@gmail.com.
Participants are asked to keep their phones off or on silent for the duration of the retreat.
Please wear comfortable clothing, have a water bottle and anything else you might need to be comfortable.
If you have any questions, please email mindfulastoria@gmail.com.
Teachers: Manaslu and Carl. Read more about our teaching team at www.mindfulastoria.com's Teachers page.
SUPPORTING MINDFUL ASTORIA
We deeply appreciate your financial support of Mindful Astoria. For this retreat, we recommend whichever of these contribution levels is best for you:
Donor: $50
Standard: $35
Supported: $20Your contributions will allow us to provide payment for the retreat's studio location, teacher honorariums, and other expenses for this event, as well as Mindful Astoria's various ongoing expenses.
Cash donations will be accepted at the event, and you may also donate to Mindful Astoria via PayPal payment to:
mindfulastoria@gmail.com
Please note that no one will be turned away due to lack of funds, and that your contributions to Mindful Astoria are not tax-deductible.
COVID SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE:
IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED TO 16 PEOPLE (plus Mindful Astoria teachers and staff) to ensure Covid safety compliance. Once those 20 spots are filled, RSVP's will go to a waitlist. Given our limited in-person capacity, we ask that you be mindful of the space that is being held for you--and if you won't be able to attend, be sure to let us know so that someone on the waitlist can attend.
The space will be ventilated for 30 minutes following the previous activity. Masks (both NK-90 and surgical) and hand sanitizer will be provided. All are welcome to wear masks, but masking is not required.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19 within 3-5 days and do not have a Covid test result, or if you’re feeling ill, or have symptoms related to a cold or infectious disease, please stay home.
All in attendance must adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines.
We look forward to seeing you in person!
- IN-PERSON attendance: Wednesday Bi-Weekly Hybrid Meditation GatheringFirst Presbyterian Church, Queens, NY
PLEASE NOTE THIS SCHEDULE CHANGE: Beginning in 2025, Mindful Astoria's Wednesday 7:30pm gatherings will be offered in-person every Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church. Zoom participation will be every other Wednesday (as hybrid in-person/Zoom gatherings).
As always, we continue to offer Zoom-only silent sits on Mondays at 6:45am and 8pm (per our MeetUp events listings). We'd be happy to see you at the silent sits!
This MeetUp event is for IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE of our hybrid (in-person + Zoom) Wednesday gatherings. RSVP's for this event are for IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE ONLY. Should you wish to attend this Wednesday gathering via Zoom, please see our separate MeetUp event for Zoom attendance.
ABOUT OUR WEDNESDAY HYBRID IN-PERSON + ONLINE MEDITATION GATHERINGS
Each gathering will consist of instruction in different forms of mindfulness meditation, and time for group discussion and connecting with the community. Depending on the week, the teacher may give a talk or share a reading.
Gatherings will be led by different members of our teaching team. Read more about our teaching team here:
Check out our group guidelines:
The meditation session will last for one hour and 15 minutes, and will begin SHARPLY AT 7:30PM, with an optional in-person social time after the 8:45pm end of the formal gathering. We ask that you arrive between 7:15 and 7:30pm.
Email any questions to mindfulastoria@gmail.com.
We look forward to deepening our practice and strengthening our mindful community with you.
COVID SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE:
Please note this change in our Covid safety policy: Effective July 19, 2023, at indoor gatherings and events, masks will be recommended but optional. You are welcome to wear a mask, and we will have masks available for all attendees. However, if you are only able to attend an indoor session in person if all attendees wear masks, please contact Mindful Astoria by 12pm the day of the session that you wish to attend at mindfulastoria@gmail.com. We will require attendees to wear masks for that session. Your request will remain confidential.
In-person attendance is limited to 20 people (plus Mindful Astoria teachers and staff) to ensure Covid safety compliance. Once those 20 spots are filled, RSVP's will go to a waitlist. Given our limited in-person capacity, we ask that you be mindful of the space that is being held for you--and if you won't be able to attend, be sure to let us know so that someone on the waitlist can attend.
The space will be ventilated for 30 minutes following the previous activity and will be equipped with HEPA air purifiers and hand sanitizer.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19 within 3-5 days and do not have a Covid test result, or if you’re feeling ill, or have symptoms related to a cold or infectious disease, please stay home.
All in attendance must adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines. As mentioned, masks are optional unless a member of our community requests that all attendees wear masks for a particular event, in which case masks will be mandatory. We will provide masks.
We look forward to seeing you in person!
SUPPORTING MINDFUL ASTORIA
If you join us for an online program, we ask that if you are able to offer financial support (we suggest $10-$15 per event), please do so via the PayPal app or website, with payment to our email address:
mindfulastoria@gmail.com.
No one will ever be turned away due to lack of funds.
Your contributions will enable us to continue both to offer programs, and to give donations to Astoria First Presbyterian Church, where we are again meeting for some Mindful Astoria events after a too-long absence.
