Matt Condon is a certified mindfulness instructor and holds a Master's degree from Naropa University. We are thankful to have him teach our Mindfulness Meditation for a Healthy Life class!
How long have you been practicing? When did you get started?
I was a pastor in the Christian religion for many years. I began becoming interested in Buddhism, and especially meditation when I experienced some major life events that shook me deeply. I’ve now been studying and practicing mindfulness meditation for 18 years.
I initially learned “on my own,” reading and listening to teaching. I studied with a young man who was pursuing his doctorate in Buddhism. Over the course of two years, while I was getting a master's degree in another subject (communication studies, at the University of Montana), we learned to translate from the Pali language which is the language of the original Buddhist writings.
After a time, I decided to pursue a master's in Buddhist studies at Naropa University in Boulder, CO. While at Naropa I worked with Medicine Horse (an equine-assisted psychotherapy facility) as a trainer, volunteer coordinator, and teacher.
I began getting interested in using horses to teach mindfulness. I wrote my master's thesis on this topic and conducted several seminars at Medicine Horse on this topic. I now work primarily with my horses to teach mindfulness at our farm near Lyons.
Why should somebody consider trying meditation?
We so often “live” in our heads. Our thoughts of the past or the future dominate us so much that we often miss what’s happening right here and now.
Mindfulness, and mindfulness meditation in particular, helps us to be aware of our life AS life is happening, which has so much potential to improve our concentration, our relationships, our emotional landscape, our stress levels, and our physical health.
It will help us not to be at the mercy of our often fitful mind, and give us the ability to become separate from our thoughts in a way that allows us to fully engage in life.
Do you feel anyone can enjoy and gain from this practice?
Anyone and everyone. All of us experience pain, stress, anxiety, heartache, and loss. This practice is proven to benefit everyone from those experiencing chronic pain to those who simply want to decrease their stress.
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