A free event planned for Saturday aims to promote kindness and love in the community.
Wild + Well, a recently opened fitness and massage studio in Fulton, will host "Be Kind, Unwind" at 6 p.m. at Veteran's Park. Wild + Well instructors will set up stations to teach brief lessons on yoga, hula-hooping and yoga from 6-7:30 p.m., followed by a mass meditation session at the Veterans Park amphitheater.
The style of meditation is known as a "Metta meditation," explained Ashley Johnson, meditation instructor at Wild + Well.
"A Metta meditation is a love and kindness meditation where we are going to focus on sending love and peace energy to all those in the world," she said. "It's a way we can help spread a little love."
According to the Metta Institute (a nonprofit focused on Buddhist spirituality education), during a Metta meditation, a participant tries to evoke a feeling of expansive warmth. Participants start by focusing on themselves and repeating phrases such as "May I be happy. May I be peaceful." Then, gradually, they expand their focus outward, wishing peace and well-being to friends and loved ones, and eventually the entire world.
"We will all come together at the amphitheater and do a mass meditation for love, peace, unity and healing on our planet," Johnson said.
During the instruction time before the mass meditation, visitors to the meditation station can pick up pointers and ask questions about meditation.
All are welcome to attend, though Wild + Well asks attendees to "use their best judgment" and follow social distancing recommendations. The event is free, but a tip jar will be available. Learn more at bit.ly/3d9J3N0.