Community Meditation

JulieMae Doherty (she/her) worked as a critical care nurse for 18 years and now works as a community care nurse. She draws from this experience to offer mindfulness and meditation to health care workers. She began meditating in 2007 when she was pregnant with her oldest child. Her friendship with Christina includes delightful memories of road trips to attend Tibetan Buddhist retreats and joyous support of each other as we navigate life as parents, partners, and mindfulness practitioners. She has a certificate in Trauma Sensitive, Trauma Informed Mindfulness Facilitation and Applied Specialization in Mindfulness from the University of Toronto.

Christina Vani (she/her) has been practising meditation and yoga since 2008, in the aftermath of her father's passing. She recognizes meditation's essential role in helping her to navigate challenging moments, appreciate the easier ones, and remember to practise self-compassion—and welcome lightness and silliness—in those moments where she might miss the mark. She is originally from Montréal and has called Toronto home since 2011. She lives with her husband and their senior dog, Zoe, in the Junction Triangle and has been teaching Italian language, culture, and literature for a living for over a decade. She cherishes her friendship with JulieMae, whom she met on her first meditation retreat in 2016 just outside of Toronto. They were matched to carpool and bunk together, since, as it turned out, they lived just down the street from each other; since then, they have shared many an adventure centred around meditation, as well as many neighbourhood espressos, vegan baked goods, and slices of JulieMae’s delicious homemade sourdough bread.

Being guided in meditation with a group can be a supportive way to develop a regular meditation practice. It also offers an opportunity to be in community, share experiences, and learn from others.