Learn to meditate for free at Tega Cay center

Some peace and quiet is coming to the area.

Local residents seeking a respite from stress can take part in free meditation sessions led by the nonprofit organization Heartfulness every other Saturday at Balance Yoga and Massage in Tega Cay.

Heartfulness is a practice of meditation that focuses on the heart, said instructor Faith Northington.

“We’re very used to being in our head,” Northington said. “We’re working on regulating the mind and filling the heart.”

The organization defines heartfulness as “the state or quality of achieving wellness by being “heartful” or having a feeling of oneness for people, things and places in and around oneself.” Heartfulness programs are developed by the Heartfulness Institute, associated with the Sahaj Marg Spirituality Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 1999.

Heartfulness has a partnership with the United Nations Department of Public Information worldwide to jointly promote universal peace and harmony through yoga and meditation. Heartfulness is a global nonprofit and classes and even individual sessions are always free.

“Different people are seeking different things from meditation,” Northington said, adding that Heartfulness meditation is not a religion, but a practice.

Balance Yoga’s first Heartfulness session was attended by more than 20 people.

Tega Cay resident Laura Adams takes classes at Balance Yoga and said that while she has practiced meditation before, this was her first time at a Heartfulness session.

“It’s really important for your holistic mental health to take some time out,” Adams said. “Any doctor will tell you that.”

It is also good to disconnect from technology and the busyness of life for a time, Adams said.

“You can’t beat the location and the price,” she added.

Meditation has been shown to contribute to physical, emotional and mental well-being, resulting in reduced blood pressure, better sleep patterns and less anxiety.

Instructors give of their time to the volunteer run organization because they have been helped by practicing heartfulness and want to help others experience it as well, organizers say.

Instructor Lavanya Gullapalli said she meditates for “the refreshing feeling and the peace.”

“I feel the difference on the days that I don’t meditate,” Gullapalli said. “On the days that I do meditate, I feel energized, equipped and more prepared for the day.”

Heartfulness is always looking to extend classes to businesses or places of worship, Northington said, adding that many large corporations, such as Google and IBM, offer meditation sessions regularly.

Balance Yoga and Massage co-owner Tina Brogan said she opens up the studio to Heartfulness free of charge because it is important to give back to the community.

“It’s bringing a lot of awareness, and with awareness it’s going to bring more peace,” she said.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Learn to meditate for free at Tega Cay center."