Mindfulness at the Museum is a series of drop-in sessions focused on helping our wider community—inside and outside of the museum—to have access to tools to become more aware. Mindfulness meditation can help us to develop healthier minds and bodies, reduce stress, foster compassion, and increase our memory skills, among many other studied benefits. Participants may discover that this appreciation of the “here and now” extends outside the museum.

Join us for guided, seated + walking meditation on select Fridays at noon. These free drop-in sessions are open to all. No special clothing is required. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. No prior meditation experience is necessary.

As a health educator for over 30 years, SANDI HERMAN has developed expertise in holistic approaches to stress reduction. After working for two decades as a women’s health care advocate and educator, she came to Penn in 2001, providing smoking cessation counseling to individuals and groups. Since 2007, she has conducted workshops on stress reduction, mindfulness, and self-care for Penn students and staff. Incorporating such mind/body practices as meditation, guided imagery, self-applied massage, and mindful movements, these workshops encourage participants to experience consciously the present moment with kindness and compassion for themselves and others. In addition to these workshops, Sandi leads weekly meditation sessions for Penn students and, at Student Health Services, offers individual sessions for stress reduction and smoking cessation. Sandi began practicing meditation in 1987 and, over the years, has studied meditation and mindfulness with a number of wonderful teachers.

Generous support for this program is provided by the Hemera Foundation.