Friends of the Palisades Library Launches ‘Mindful Mondays’

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

For community members who are looking to “develop their own mindfulness and meditation practices,” Pacific Palisades Library Association is launching “Mindful Mondays” beginning January 23 at 10:30 a.m. in the Palisades Branch Library Community Room.

“Join us for a morning of mindfulness and meditation,” a statement from Palisades Branch Library read. “After a busy weekend, it’s just what you need.”

Also known as the Friends of the Palisades Library, PPLA shared it is starting the program “as scientific research on the value of mindfulness and meditation continues to accumulate.”

“Research supported by the National Institutes of Health has found a link between mindfulness and measurable changes in the brain regions involved in memory, learning and emotion,” according to PPLA. “Another NIH-funded project reported that mindfulness practices can help reduce anxiety, stress and depression, and lead to better relationships as well as improvements in self-esteem.”

The complimentary, weekly program will be facilitated by Palisadian Silvi Winthrop, a certified Meditation and Mindfulness Instructor who has been helping clients “alleviate stress, depression and anxiety since 2014,” PPLA explained.

Winthrop received a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Her focus is “on guiding everyone she meets to lives of joy and purpose.”

“We are excited to partner with Silvi Winthrop to bring these valuable and enriching sessions to the library,” PPLA President Laura Schneider said. “Silvi has a special gift for making meditation accessible and fun, whether you’ve tried mindfulness and mediation before or not.”

“Mindful Mondays,” geared toward both teenagers and adults, will be open to the public, free of charge, but attendees must RSVP in advance to silviwinthropcounseling@gmail.com. The one-hour sessions will take place each Monday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Community Room.

“The content will be teaching mindfulness techniques such as mindful meditation, mindful eating, mindful communication, mindful self-compassion, gratitude practices and some journaling,” Winthrop shared with the Palisadian-Post ahead of the first class.

Participants can bring a cushion to class if they wish to sit on the floor. Cushions, as well as regular seating options, will also be provided. For ADA accommodations, call 213-228-7430 at least 72 hours ahead of the session.

Those who are not able to attend January 23 are invited to reserve a space for a future Monday, as the program will continue through March 13.

“We’d like to thank Silvi and the members of the Friends of the Library,” Schneider concluded. “It is only through their generous support that we’re able to make programs such as this available to the community on a complimentary basis.”