Coming Home to Yourself
An Introduction to Mindfulness for Midlife Women
About This Offering
Coming Home to Yourself is a four-week introductory mindfulness course for women in midlife who are feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or navigating the many responsibilities and shifts that arise during this stage of life.
This course is being offered as part of my final practicum for certification through the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. I am deeply grateful for your participation in this offering. As part of the practicum process, one session will be recorded for the purpose of receiving feedback from my teachers and mentors. The recording will be used solely for training and evaluation purposes.
While this course fulfills a certification requirement, it is also a sincere offering of practice and community. Together, we will explore simple, accessible mindfulness practices grounded in awareness of the body, breath, emotions, and thoughts, with an emphasis on practical tools for daily life.
Central to this course is the practice of metta (lovingkindness), supporting the opening of the heart, softening self-judgment, and cultivating steadiness and wisdom. Practicing in community offers connection and the reminder that we are not alone in what we are experiencing.
This course is not about fixing yourself or becoming someone new. It is about slowing down, quieting the mind, opening the heart, and learning to meet your life with greater clarity and kindness.
Who This Course Is For
This course is open to anyone who identifies as a woman and is navigating midlife. Midlife can mean many things and does not refer to a specific age. Many of the themes may resonate with women in peri- or post-menopause, though all are welcome.
No prior meditation experience is required.
Topics
Week 1: It begins with the Body — An Introduction to Mindfulness
Week 2: What Moves Through US — Mindful of Emotions
Week 3: Cultivating a Wise Heart — Compassion and Loving Kindness
Week 4: How Do We Live — Practices for Daily Life
Dates & Time
Mondays, June 1–June 22
7:00–8:30 PM Eastern Time
Four weekly 90-minute sessions
Live online (Zoom)
Commitment: Participants are asked to attend all four sessions
Space is limited to keep the group small and supportive.
Dana-Based Offering
This course is offered on a dana (generosity-based) model. Dana is a traditional practice of giving freely from the heart, in a way that feels aligned with your circumstances.
If it is helpful to have a suggested amount, a contribution of $25 is welcome. You are invited to give more, less, or nothing at all, according to what feels right and sustainable for you.
All dana received from this offering will be donated to the scholarship fund at the Insight Meditation Society to support retreat access for those facing financial hardship.
Details on how to offer dana will be shared after registration.
My Approach to Teaching
I’m Kira Elliott, a mindfulness meditation practitioner and mentor. My teaching is grounded in a compassionate and practical approach to mindfulness—one that recognizes that practice is not about fixing ourselves, but about learning to meet our lives with greater awareness, kindness, and wisdom.
Coming Home to Yourself is being offered as part of my final practicum for certification through the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP), led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share these foundational practices while receiving guidance and feedback from experienced teachers and mentors as part of this training.
My intention in this course is to create a supportive and welcoming space where women can slow down, quiet the mind, open the heart, and reconnect with themselves. Especially during the demanding and often transformative years of midlife, mindfulness and lovingkindness practices can help us meet our lives with greater steadiness, compassion, and clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I miss a class?
All sessions are live and will not be recorded for later viewing. The intention is to create a space of presence, confidentiality, and safety within the group.
The only session that will be recorded is one class designated for my certification evaluation, and that recording will not be distributed to participants.
If you are unable to attend a session, you are welcome to continue with the remaining weeks. A brief summary of the practice theme may be shared by email, but recordings will not be available.
Do I need meditation experience?
No. This course is designed as an introduction. All practices will be guided and accessible to beginners.
What if I’m unsure whether I’m “midlife”?
Midlife is not defined by a specific age. If you identify as a woman navigating the middle seasons of life and the shifts that come with them, you are welcome.
What if I’m unable to offer dana?
You are welcome regardless of financial circumstance. Dana is an invitation, not a requirement.
Will the classes be interactive?
Yes. While teaching and guided practice are central, there will be opportunities for reflection and connection within the group.