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Your First Visit
Everything you need to feel at ease before you begin
If you are nervous, you are exactly the person this page is for. We will help you.
We sit on the first and third Sunday morning of each month at Soul Yoga in Greenville, beginning Sunday, July 5. Sittings are free to attend. Here is exactly what to expect, so you can arrive knowing what the morning holds.
Arriving
We sit at Soul Yoga, 25 Delano Drive, Greenville, SC. There is a marked paid parking lot, and free spots as well. If you park in the paid lot, validation is available just inside the Soul Yoga entrance; please take care of it before zazen begins.
The entrance is on the Swamp Rabbit Trail side of the building. Our room is typically all the way at the back of the studio, on the far left, past the lockers.
Open lockers are there for your things: shoes, phone, keys, and the rest. No phones in the meditation room. You are welcome to bring your own lock if you would like to lock them up.
If it is your first visit, arrive before 8:00 for a short new student orientation; otherwise, be settled before zazen begins at 8:15. Enter quietly and take any open cushion or chair. You may notice small forms, like a standing bow with palms together, called gassho. None of it is required knowledge; you will be guided through everything.
What zazen is
Zazen means seated meditation. You sit upright and still, on a cushion or a chair, and bring gentle attention to your breath and your posture. Thoughts come and go, and that is fine. The practice is simply to keep returning, again and again, to this breath and this moment.
What happens when you arrive
If it is your first time, come a little early for a short, friendly orientation and basic instruction before the morning begins. We will show you where to sit, how to sit, and what the morning holds. You will not be put on the spot or asked to do anything unfamiliar alone.
What to wear
Loose, comfortable clothing that lets you sit without strain, in muted colors if you have them. That is all the practice asks of your wardrobe. Bring nothing but yourself; we have cushions and chairs ready.
Sitting in a chair is welcome
Many people sit in chairs, and there is no hierarchy in how you sit. A steady, upright, comfortable posture is the only aim, and we will help you find one that works for your body. You will never be asked to sit in a way that hurts.
What if my mind is busy?
Then you are like everyone else in the room. You are not trying to empty your mind or stop your thoughts. The moment you notice you have drifted into thinking, you gently return to your breath and posture. That returning, repeated without judgment, is the whole of the practice.
What if I feel awkward?
A little awkwardness is normal, and it passes. You do not need to know the forms; we will quietly show you what to do. No one is watching how you sit or measuring your stillness. Everyone here was new once.
A few gentle customs
We keep our voices low in the meditation space and silence our phones before we begin. When you enter, you will see others sitting still, and joining that quiet is itself part of the welcome. If anything is unclear, simply ask.
What to do next
See the schedule and pick a Sunday. You can also read how to sit, or leave your email for sitting dates and news.
First-timer questions
- Do I need to sign up or RSVP?
- No. Sittings are free and open to everyone, and you may simply arrive. An RSVP on our calendar is welcome because it helps us prepare a seat, but it is never required.
- What does it cost?
- Nothing. Sittings are free to attend and the group is volunteer-run. There is never a charge to practice with us.
- I have never meditated. Is that okay?
- Completely. The 8:00 orientation exists exactly for you. We will show you how to sit, what the bells mean, and what the morning holds.
- What if I arrive late?
- Wait quietly outside the sitting room and join us at the next break, out of respect for those already sitting. The break between periods comes within half an hour.
- What should I wear?
- Comfortable, modest clothing that lets you sit and walk with ease. Ordinary clothes are exactly right.