Heather S.

Your Vocation and/or Hobbies: I’m a nurse practitioner and a mom. I like reading, knitting, dancing, hiking, biking, snowboarding, cooking.

Years Meditation: 6

How has meditation been of benefit to you? It has given me greater acceptance, and with that calm. It has helped me to be a better wife/mom/sister/daughter/friend to my loved ones. It has helped me to be much kinder and gentler to myself. I struggle with depression and anxiety, and meditation has helped me to manage those.

How has Seattle Shambhala been of benefit to you? Everyone is so warm and welcoming, the center became a supportive community and a true spiritual home. The classes provided me with a lot of structure that helped me to commit to meditation more than I had been able to in the past. They also provided the opportunity to make deep connections and friendships with classmates. Tibetan Buddhism has a lot of rituals, forms, and decor, but Shambhala does a great job of explaining it over time. Everything has a meaning and a purpose, so those things came to feel very helpful for my practice and study.

What’s your favorite activity, open house night, holiday or other center program? and why? I loved all the classes. Ikebana (flower arranging) is fun. Shambhala Sadhana is so positive and uplifting, I leave feeling so enlivened.

What was your first experience at Shambhala like? I came on a Sunday to drop in, but it was an annual holiday of chanting all day. One of the seasoned members welcomed me and made me feel at home. The center was so beautiful and cozy and peaceful, even though it was a bit of strange “first experience,” I felt so comfortable and welcome.