Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, 23, 2025
President Olaf chaired the meeting.
Before lunch was served Olaf spoke
- He congratulated Rotarian Donna and her daughter who are now the owner operators of the not-for-profit Xavier House Inc. which has charitable status.
- Birthday greetings go to Rotarian Darlene who has a special birthday.
- The Toonie Quest West weekly draw had a roll over today. This means next week the winner will have a sizeable win.
Guest Speaker
Rotarian Janice introduced the guest speaker Sharon Evans of Seva Meditation. Sharon is the founder and owner of SEVA Meditation. She began her dynamic and fascinating talk by talking about herself and growing up in Corner Brook. The beginning of her belief in the value of meditation and becoming aware of the natural world that we are all part of.
She talked about hearing Deepra Chopra speak and the affect his message had on her. This resulted in her travelling to California where at the Mararishi Institute she trained in Transcendental Meditation and is a certified Primordial Sound Meditation Instructor from the Chopra Centre University, Carlsbad, CA. Sharon has continued her training and has enhanced her skills in different related therapies.
She urges people to let go and to remember the Creator and to be aware that each person has one precious life. The only way forward for a person is to sit in quiet mindfulness and to become self-aware and to listen.
Sharon is a confident leader guiding others on a healing journey.
She wants people to experience the many benefits provided by a simple meditation practice.
Sharon has been teaching meditation and leading guided meditation to corporations, groups, adults and children since 2015. She believes meditation combined with healthy eating, active physical activity, and healthy sleep habits encourages a culture of mindfulness that reduces stress, anxiety and gives positive benefit. She noted meditation and mindfulness go hand in hand. She continued by talking about her own meditation practice which she follows twice a day.
Sharon answered several questions noting that the only reality is the present moment.
She ended by speaking of the breathing technique 4-7- 8 that involves a specific breathing pattern devised by Dr Andrew Weil and then leading the group through this stress reducing technique
Method of 4-7-8 breathing technique: Sit or lie in a comfortable position
Inhale through your nose for a count of 4, hold your breath for 7, and exhale through your mouth for 8.
Sharon was thanked by Karen for this interesting talk which captured everyone’s interest.
How to do the 4-7-8 breathing technique:
- Find a comfortable position: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Dr. Weil suggests sitting with your back straight.
- Place your tongue: Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth and keep it there throughout the exercise.
- Exhale completely: With your mouth open, exhale forcefully and make a "whoosh" sound as you exhale all the air from your lungs.
- Inhale: Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose for a count of 4.
- Hold your breath: Hold your breath for a count of 7.
- Exhale: Exhale completely through your mouth, making a "whoosh" sound, for a count of 8.
- Repeat: Repeat this cycle for a total of four breaths.
