Beginner Meditation Workshop
Last Chance
Beginner Meditation Workshop
Tallahassee Chan Center, Paul Russell Road, Tallahassee, FL, USA
Jan 11 - 18, 2026
About this Retreat
Your Guides
Dewaine has studied Buddhism since 1992 and has spent nearly two decades teaching meditation in community and retreat settings. After beginning training with Guo Gu in 2009, he trained as a timekeeper at the Dharma Drum Retreat Center in 2010. He has been teaching the Beginner Meditation Workshop and related programs at the Tallahassee Chan Center since 2014, and has guided many students through foundational meditation practice. His teaching emphasizes practical understanding, steady effort, and integrating meditation into daily life. He is also a 2nd Degree Black Belt in both Tae kwon do and Pangai Noon Kung Fu. He is a father of three and has been married for over 30 years.
Details of this retreat
Relax, Focus, and Reduce Stress
For many years, teachers from the Tallahassee Chan Center have offered meditation instruction throughout the Tallahassee community, including programs at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, the Leon County Public Library, and the Florida Department of State. This workshop draws on that long-standing experience to provide a clear, methodical introduction to meditation that is accessible to beginners while still substantive for those with prior exposure.
Participants learn a structured approach to meditation that works directly with the body and attention: posture, breath regulation, self-massage, and practical methods for working with restlessness, fatigue, and distraction. Rather than focusing on abstract ideas, the emphasis is on learning how to practice correctly and sustainably. Many people notice concrete effects such as improved sleep, reduced stress reactivity, and greater mental steadiness after beginning practice.
This workshop is well-suited for a wide range of participants, including students, working professionals, retirees, and those seeking a grounded way to begin the new year. The teaching style is straightforward, non-sectarian, and informed by years of instruction in educational, healthcare, and public settings.
The course will provide a comprehensive introduction to meditation, including:
The different postures
How to establish a daily practice
What impact meditation has on the body and mind
How to get maximum benefit from your meditation practice
Workshop Schedule
Sunday, January 11
2:00–3:30pm — Part 1: What meditation is and how it functions as a practice
3:30–3:50pm — Break: Tea and light snacks
3:50–5:00pm — Part 2: How to meditate — posture, method, and attention
Participants are encouraged to practice at home during the week and keep a brief practice log.
Sunday, January 18
2:00–3:30pm — Part 3: Common difficulties in meditation and how to work with them
3:30–3:50pm — Break: Tea and light snacks
3:50–5:00pm — Part 4: Integrating meditation and principles of mindfulness into daily life
Meditation cushions will be available for purchase on-site.
• $20 each for registered workshop participants
• $35 each for non-registered attendees who come for a separate meditation sit
All proceeds support the ongoing programs of the Tallahassee Chan Center.
Date: Sunday, January 11 and 18
Time: 2 - 5pm
Location: 1310 N Paul Russell Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (Google Maps).
More Information:
$70 suggested donation for this workshop.
We believe meditation should be accessible to everyone. While donations support our center, all events are free to attend.
The workshop is offered in-person only.
For many years, teachers from the Tallahassee Chan Center have offered meditation instruction throughout the Tallahassee community, including programs at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, the Leon County Public Library, and the Florida Department of State. This workshop draws on that long-standing experience to provide a clear, methodical introduction to meditation that is accessible to beginners while still substantive for those with prior exposure.
Participants learn a structured approach to meditation that works directly with the body and attention: posture, breath regulation, self-massage, and practical methods for working with restlessness, fatigue, and distraction. Rather than focusing on abstract ideas, the emphasis is on learning how to practice correctly and sustainably. Many people notice concrete effects such as improved sleep, reduced stress reactivity, and greater mental steadiness after beginning practice.
This workshop is well-suited for a wide range of participants, including students, working professionals, retirees, and those seeking a grounded way to begin the new year. The teaching style is straightforward, non-sectarian, and informed by years of instruction in educational, healthcare, and public settings.
The course will provide a comprehensive introduction to meditation, including:
The different postures
How to establish a daily practice
What impact meditation has on the body and mind
How to get maximum benefit from your meditation practice
Workshop Schedule
Sunday, January 11
2:00–3:30pm — Part 1: What meditation is and how it functions as a practice
3:30–3:50pm — Break: Tea and light snacks
3:50–5:00pm — Part 2: How to meditate — posture, method, and attention
Participants are encouraged to practice at home during the week and keep a brief practice log.
Sunday, January 18
2:00–3:30pm — Part 3: Common difficulties in meditation and how to work with them
3:30–3:50pm — Break: Tea and light snacks
3:50–5:00pm — Part 4: Integrating meditation and principles of mindfulness into daily life
Meditation cushions will be available for purchase on-site.
• $20 each for registered workshop participants
• $35 each for non-registered attendees who come for a separate meditation sit
All proceeds support the ongoing programs of the Tallahassee Chan Center.
Date: Sunday, January 11 and 18
Time: 2 - 5pm
Location: 1310 N Paul Russell Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32301 (Google Maps).
More Information:
$70 suggested donation for this workshop.
We believe meditation should be accessible to everyone. While donations support our center, all events are free to attend.
The workshop is offered in-person only.
Getting Here
Tallahassee Chan Center, Tallahassee Chan Center, Paul Russell Road, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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