An Introduction to Presence

Mindfulness is a word you hear everywhere, and it can be hard to tell what it actually asks of you. If you have ever sat down to meditate, felt like you were doing it wrong, and quietly decided it wasn't for you, this mindfulness workshop begins from a kinder place. An Introduction to Presence is a free, one-hour online gathering about the power of presence, and about how mindfulness and meditation can loosen the grip of self-judgement and help you feel more in command of your thoughts and emotions.

Led by yoga teacher Melanie Emlyn and meditation teacher Michael Galyon, this Sunday session is open to anyone across the United States who can connect online. It is built for beginners and for self-described "bad meditators" alike, with no expectation of an empty mind and no performance required.

You will leave with a clearer understanding of what mindfulness is, a simple grounding practice to return to when stress surfaces, and a first exercise for bringing presence into daily life.

What to Expect

The hour unfolds in three parts:

- Defining Mindfulness: Melanie walks through the basics of mindfulness, clarifying what the term means and how to begin applying it to everyday life.
- Grounding Meditation: Michael breaks down simple grounding techniques that help you stay in the present moment and serve as an anchor when the mind wanders or stress arises. This segment is designed especially for those who have found meditation frustrating.
- Application Activity: The workshop closes with an exercise on how to begin practicing presence in your daily life.

The aim is practical. You are not asked to master anything, only to come away with a clearer understanding of mindfulness and meditation and the tools to start using them.

About the Lineup

Melanie Emlyn (Yoga Teacher) is a Manual Osteopath, Certified Nutritional Practitioner, Reiki Master and yoga teacher. She has long been passionate about health and wellness, both for herself and in helping others heal and find physical, mental and energetic balance. In this workshop she guides the opening lesson on the foundations of mindfulness.

Michael Galyon (Meditation Teacher) is an ICF certified professional coach and mindfulness teacher whose stated mission is to create a calmer, kinder and more connected world. His background spans corporate leadership, education and the creative arts. He brings a blend of calm and focus to his work, helping people identify the areas of life that need a shift and move toward change. His coaching is holistic, drawing on the core energy coaching methodology, mindfulness, guided meditation and a range of development tools chosen to fit each person. He describes showing up and holding space in whatever way a client needs that day. In this workshop he leads the grounding meditation.

Venue & Logistics

This workshop takes place online (Online / Virtual, United States), so you can participate from wherever you are. It is free, and a spot is reserved by registering through the organizer's sign-up. The source material does not list specific items to bring, so choose a quiet, comfortable place where you can settle in for one hour.