Karuna Open House Thursday, June 11th, 6:30-8:30
My name is Anandi and I am a Shambhala community member and I have just opened Portland’s first meditation store! My inspiration came from teaching programs at the center and realizing that many people did not have a cushion of their own. Once I asked a group of participants if they had a cushion at home and nobody did. That’s when it dawned on me that I should create a convenient way for people to get cushions locally where they could even try them to see which one fit their body best. No more folded pillows and blankets. A proper seat brings good posture which brings excellent practice.
Karuna Contemplative Living is located at 1725 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Over 40% of Portlanders say they are religiously unaffiliated and yet, with a city brimming with yoga studios and meditation groups, there seems to be an immense interest in seeking meaning through these ancient traditions. While there is increased interest in meditation, there is also an all time high in distractions stemming mainly from our modern devices. What is contemplative living? It means pausing to contemplate your life. What motivates you? How do you relate to your life and those in it? How do you actually feel?
Meditation is taught in schools, prisons, the military and even some corporations. Some examples are – at Portland’s Wilson High school last year, a pilot meditation program was presented by Peace In Schools; in healthcare, meditation is being used to treat cases of PTSD among Iraq war veterans; The Shambhala Prison Program has taught meditation programs at the state penitentiary in Salem for the past 8 years. More evidence of this expanding market is the fact that Mindful Magazine is sold at places like Whole Foods and New Seasons. Some even call this a “Mindfulness Movement.”
One of the advantages Karuna has over cushions sold on the internet is that one can have a hands on experience with different cushions and see which is best for one’s body. As a trained meditation instructor with more than 20 years experience, I can help guide customers to the best seat for their individual needs.
For two years Karuna cushions were sold out of Dava Bead on NE Broadway, but I wanted to expand. I looked to Mercy Corps NW, an organization that supports small business owners in the Portland area with loans and training. They connected me with grad students in the U of O School of Architecture who designed the new space with the clean and contemplative sanctuary I was hoping to create. The U of O program, entitled “The First Conversation,” provides students with a real life design opportunity.
Karuna’s Open House is on June 11th from 6:30-8:30 and will offer a 10% discount on all products. Most cushions sold at Karuna are made regionally and the Karuna brand cushions are made right here in Portland! Details at www.karunastore.com
