Welcome to BlueWater Coaching.
Offering a combination of life coaching and training in mindfulness, equanimity, and compassion practices that support those interested in the cultivation of clarity, well-being, purpose and peace.
It is likely you've arrived here because you are ready to make meaningful changes in your life.
BlueWater Coaching begins with one central question:
"What qualities do you long to grow, flow with, and share today?"
To answer this question honestly, we must call on courage. The courage to take moments of our day to slow down the momentum of our modern lives. The courage to STOP, listen inwardly, and touch into the sincerity of the deepest longings of the heart.
When we practice cultivating the qualities we long to grow, we begin to live from our values. The actions we take toward ourselves and the world around us are more often informed by the seeds of well-being we have consciously sowed. We become these qualities. They live through us. We become the embodied manifestation of these qualities in the world.
I work with those who know, on a "gut" level, that real change must be made over time, from the inside-out. Those ready to listen within and honestly explore what qualities they long to grow more of in their life at this moment on Earth. Those who already have a sense of the changes they wish to make in their life and are interested in secular Buddhist practices that support the cultivation of mindful awareness and compassion. Those ready to soften habitual patterns that no longer serve them. And those seeking a witness who will listen deeply, not just to what they say but to who they are.
SPRING + SUMMER REFLECTIONS
As I write, the energy of the spring season is beginning to arrive, inviting those in the Northern Hemisphere to receive some much needed rain showers (and delightful wildflowers!), and feel the warmth of the afternoon sun on our skin. This rebirth of color and light can be such a healing balm for the soul amongst the difficulties of these times on earth, inviting us to open our hearts/minds and eyes to the renewed possibility that we can choose to lean into all that is life-giving today– this beauty, this caring, this compassion, this community, this connection, this moment-to-moment creativity unfolding, amongst it all.
May we notice the blossoming air, feel the breath of life in our lungs, and remember that renewal is this moment right here. And, this June, may the unfolding of spring into the warming of summer ground us in bare feet on earth, cool waters that soothe, and scent-filled starry nights that remind us to return to a wide-view perspective, touch awe, and drink in our child-like sense of wonder wherever we find it.
May these Spring/Summer offerings invite you to increase your intimacy with life in simple yet profound ways–with the sensation of each step, with the rise and fall of each breath, with the returning to the listening that knows that everything is arising and passing (fluid, ever-changing) within this interdependent web of life that we are. May we actively plant and tend to seeds of love and care for one another and the earth, as we commit to healing and working together to birth new ways of living and being, step by step.
SPRING/SUMMER COACHING AND MEDITATION CLASS OFFERINGS
BY-PHONE LIFE COACHING FOR WOMEN
(Space is limited – e-mail now to check for openings!)
What qualities and daily life practices will breathe life into your being this season? How might you move through your days with greater clarity of intention, resilience, self-compassion and active hope? Whether from the comfort of your own home (or favorite pajamas!), or from the convenience of wherever you are, by-phone life coaching provides a nourishing, intimate space that invites you to pause and tune inward to clarify and grow the inner qualities and daily life choices that support greater well-being, purpose and peace. To learn more about this life-affirming work, contact me by e-mail at: lori@bluewatercoaching.net. I look forward to hearing from you.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS 3-PART SERIES
In-Person classes with Lori Stelling
Mondays, June 2, 9 + 16 from 11:15am to 12:00pm
(Class maximum of 12 participants in large room.)
Are you ready to discover or rediscover the benefits of meditation? Is it time to let the warmth of the spring/summer season slow down your pace and ground you? Join Lori in-person for a 3-part beginner's meditation series that supports bearing witness to the present moment with more curiosity and kindness, letting go of habitual tensions, and meeting ourselves, and our world, with greater compassion. No previous meditation experience necessary. Learn more and register through Napa Parks + Recreation and click on the "Health + Wellness" tab, or call 707.255.1800.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION MONDAYS (INTERMEDIATE)
In-Person classes with Lori Stelling
Typically offered 3 Mondays per month, 12:15pm to 1:15pm, on-going monthly series
(Class maximum of 12 participants in large room.)
Do you have a year or more of mindfulness meditation experience and long to connect with community to keep your mindfulness practice fresh and alive? This on-going monthly series includes gently guided meditations, teachings on mindfulness, and ways to support the growth of kindness, self-compassion, joy and equanimity in daily life. Learn more and register monthly through Napa Parks + Recreation and click on the "Health + Wellness" tab, or call 707.255.1800.
BY-PHONE TUESDAY MORNING MEDITATION
Phone Calls with Lori Stelling
Tuesdays from 9:30am to 10:05am (35 minutes), on-going
Please join all those who have taken community meditation classes with Lori in the past for a weekly 35-minute phone call which includes 20 to 25 minutes of gently guided meditation and 10 to 15 minutes of daily life practice tips to support well-being, grounding, and compassion in action in these challenging times. These calls are offered on a donation basis ($10 suggested donation; those under financial strain are warmly welcome to attend). For more information and to join the Tuesday class e-mail list, please contact me by e-mail at: lori@bluewatercoaching.net
FRIDAY WOMEN'S MEDITATION CIRCLES
Phone Calls and occasional in-person gatherings with Lori Stelling
(e-mail to be added to waiting list)
On-going, typically offered 3 Fridays each month (60 minutes)
Gather within a supportive small circle of women for gently guided meditations, teachings and reflections, savoring the opportunity for friendship on our journey of aging, learning and growing together. Each class includes guided meditations; teachings on mindfulness, lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity; and time for sharing and mindful listening within a kind, inspiring community. In recent years, we've included reading books on these themes and applying the teachings to our daily life practice! Please reach out by e-mail to be added to the waiting list: lori@bluewatercoaching.net
MOVEMENT + MEDITATION MINI-RETREATS
In-person with Karen Peters + Lori Stelling
Stay tuned for next retreat date.
(Class maximum of 14 participants in large room.)
Join Lori and Senior Rosen Movement Teacher, Karen Peters, for mini-retreats blending the potent pairing of Rosen and meditation, inviting us to ground in the body, open the heart, and redirect the mind to our present moment experience. Let go of the habitual tensions stored up from your week and open to greater curiosity, steadiness, kindness and care. Learn more and register through: Napa Parks + Recreation and click on the "Health + Wellness" tab, or call 707.255.1800.
Read what others are saying about Lori's meditation classes
"One of the best treats I've ever given myself is Lori Stelling's meditation class. After being out of practice for decades, I had been struggling to restart on my own. Lori's gentle method of beginning with just a few minutes of meditation, guided by her calming voice, opened that stuck door for me. I look forward to taking more classes with Lori; each session reveals another tip for bringing peace into my everyday life."
~ Joan Osterman, retired vocational rehabilitation counselor, Napa Valley, CA
"Lori has a teaching presence that is warm, welcoming and always compassionate. She is a thoughtful and reflective teacher and is committed to serving others through her work. I highly recommend Lori's meditation classes— you will walk away feeling more connected to your own heart and to others. I always find her teachings to be relevant to my life."
~ Bhavana Mody, environmental science teacher and yoga instructor, Novato, CA
"I am so grateful to have discovered Lori's meditation and mindfulness classes. Our group sessions helped me discover ways to successfully manage my stress levels and find calm and balance in everyday life. Wanting to deepen my learning even further, I followed up with an individual life coaching package. Lori's insightful, compassionate approach supported me in cultivating self-compassion and establishing healthier relationships with others. I would highly recommend Lori to anyone seeking personal growth in a meaningful way."
~ Michelle Rai, college professor, Napa Valley, CA
"In meditation class, Lori skillfully guided us in learning how to work with body discomforts and relax, anchor the wandering mind, and observe our human experience with curiosity and openness. Her voice was soothing, kind and had the effect of calming. At the end of class we had interactive discussions and often expressed that we felt a greater sense of ease. We just have to continue to practice! It was my privilege to have met Lori and sat with her in meditation."
~ Ganga Padmesh, retired, Napa Valley, CA
"Lori's teaching style is warm, intelligent, and empowering. She has a gift of connecting with both beginners and long-term practitioners through the use of stories and personal experiences that illustrate the teachings in an easily accessible way. Lori's style humanizes the teachings, offering inspiration for all practitioners to deepen their practice, emphasizing self-compassion and a caring for the world that is deeply personal. I highly recommend Lori to anyone who is looking for inspiration and guidance in their meditation practice and a witness to their journey through life."
~ Forrest Hill, Founder, Napa Valley Insight Meditation
"I am so thankful that I allowed myself to start attending Lori's Mindful Meditation Classes. At first I felt some inner resistance to going to a meditation class, thinking it would seem a little strange and I would not be comfortable. My experience has been the exact opposite. Lori has a wonderful skill for connecting and making everyone feel safe and at ease. Lori guides you in working through body and mind discomforts and coming to terms with life's issues and stresses."
~ Jim O'Kelley, retired, Napa, CA
"The insights I encountered through Lori have helped me along my journey and continue to shine a light when my mind is confused (when it creates self-imposed suffering). I find myself saying, "Ah, Hello there.", in a friendly way. The ability to see my thinking in a broader context (and greet it kindly) is life-changing."
~ Aimee Cavenecia, artist, Yountville, CA