Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants. This is an interactive bookclub style program. 

The overall goal is to allow practitioners to manage stress and leave with a sense of belonging to themselves, their families, their communities, and their country.

DETAILS

In this eight-week curriculum participants learn about the importance of mental health hygiene through the study of mental health, the mind, common mental health stigmas in the Latinx community, and the use of culturally-attuned meditation and mindfulness practices as mental health hygiene tools.

 

Criss Cuervo

Lead Facilitator

Criss has practiced meditation and mindfulness for over 10 years. She is the Founder of AlmayEspiritu. She is the author of PERTENÆCER: Eight-Week Mindfulness and Meditation Training and Practices for Latinx Immigrants in the US.

OBJECTIVES

    • Understand the importance of mental health hygiene
    • Understand the mind
    • Understand stress and self-regulation
    • New perspective on life
    • Develop culturally-attuned Meditation and mindfulness practices
    • Understanding of our basic emotions: Fear, Anger, Sadness, and Joy
    • Cultivate compassion and empathy
    • Build a strong sense of belonging

    WHY?

    Being an immigrant is not easy... we are supposed to achieve the “American dream” therefore be successful at work and at home while staying optimistic and acting like we are making it! However, life in a new country with a new language and culture is not that easy.  On top of all this we have don’t feel like we belong here or back “home”, we manage to take care of our family and deal with money, politics and health problems. At the same time we are taking care of our children, aging parents, a disabled family member, or our relatives overseas. There are many moments when we feel lost and don’t know how to cope, and no one acknowledges that life as an immigrant can be hard! 

    What can we do?  What tools might make it better?  How can we feel like we belong?  How can we feel a sense of life and work balance?

    Research has shown that mindfulness and meditation practice can help. These are some of the benefits of practice:

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    Decreased stress & anxiety

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    Emotion Regulation

    Decreased reactivity

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    Faster recovery after negative experiences or emotions

    Enhanced self-insight, morality, intuition, and fear modulation

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    Improved well-being

    Increased ability to focus

    Greater Empathy and Compassion

    Sources: Varied can be found at the American Mindfulness Research Association

    HOW?

    READ AT YOUR OWN PACE!

    Each week has a topic and a theme, after each week, the reader has seven (7) days until the next chapter to:

    • Practice assigned mindfulness activities
    • Practice guided meditations
    • Optional: Keep a personal Journal
    Week 1 - How are you?
    • Mental Health and the Mind
    • Mental Hygiene and Mental Health
    • What is Stress? What is the flight or fight or Freeze mode?
    • How does stress manifest in our bodies?
    • What is acculturative stress?
    • The Power of Breath
    Week 2 - Connecting with My Story, My Ancestors, and My Culture
    • Immigration Circumstances
    • Balancing and Negotiating Cultural Values
    • What is a collectivist culture?
    • What is an individualistic culture?
    • Learning a New Language
    • Battling Feelings of Isolation and Not Belonging
    Week 3 - Embracing a New Perspective
    • What is Mindfulness?
    • What is a Mindfulness Practice?
    • What is Meditation?
    • Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation
    • Mindfulness and Meditation as Mental Hygiene Tools
    • Mindfulness of Body
    Week 4 - Reigning the Mind and Body
    • What is Mental Health Stigma?
    • Identify Mental Habits and Patterns
    • What is a Stressor?
    • Self-regulation
    Week 5 - Getting to Know Emotions
    • What is an Emotion?
    • Understanding Fear, Anger, Sadness, and Joy
    • Mindfulness of Emotions
    Week 6 - Belonging in Me, My Family, and My Community
    • What is Compassion?
    • Compassion in Spirituality and Religion
    • Cultivating Compassion
    Week 7 - We are One World
    • What is Interconnectedness?
    • Interconnectedness
    • Understanding Empathy
    • Cultivating Empathy
    • Transforming Shame
    Week 8 - Belonging in Life Mindfully
    • What is Hope?
    • What is Optimism?
    • The Power of Mindfulness and Meditation in Everyday Life

    Bring Pertenæcer to your organization or teams!

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    Pertenacer
    AlmaYEspiritu offers sliding scale fees. This means that we offer a “Pay What You Can Afford" system that supports the cultivation of a dynamic and inclusive community. If you would like to OPT-IN for this, please check below: *

    WANT TO BECOME A CERTIFIED TEACHER?

    Visit our One on One mentoring page and select “Pertenæcer Teacher Certification” to apply.

    Requirements: Be enrolled or have previously completed a Mindfulness certification or degree. 

    FEATURED IN:

    What our readers say

    “I love Los dichos in the book and your intro story. Los dichos reminded me of my grandma who had one everyday. It inspired me to write them down out of memory and create quote content for my business IG account.

    I am going through the chapters with my mom who is bilingual. So far we enjoy your method and variety of ways to engage to achieve more mindfulness.” 

    ✨SHARING IS CARING✨

    There is power in sharing our life experiences so we can empower others in their journey as immigrants and humans. Your story can help make an impact!