When I look within and see that I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I look without and see that I am everything, that is love. And between these two, my life turns.
– Nisargadatta Maharaj
Celeste Tandy
My name is Celeste, and I teach meditation in San Francisco, California, as well as remotely to students at Idaho State University, where I offer beginner meditation courses. I received my certifications from the Mindfulness Meditation Teachers Certification Program, as well as certifications in Yoga Nidra and a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. I had the privilege of studying under esteemed teachers Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.
My passion for meditation began in 2008 when I started practicing Yoga Asana. In 2012, I embarked on my first 10-day silent meditation retreat at the Goenka Vipassana Center in Occidental, California. This experience had a profound impact on me, revealing the power of the mind and providing an extraordinary sense of unconditional love. Since then, I have made it a point to attend Vipassana silent meditation retreats annually, gaining valuable insights that allow me to deeply explore ingrained habits and patterns that unconsciously influence my life. In 2018, I participated in my first month-long silent meditation retreat, solidifying my decision to pursue meditation as a full-time profession. In 2023, I completed four months of silent meditation retreats.
Motivated by a desire to delve into various meditation styles, I traveled to India in 2019 with the Himalayan Institute to explore ancient mantra meditation techniques. I was initiated into the Himalayan tradition that same year. In 2020, I earned my Yoga Nidra Meditation certification through Brenna Geehan and Jillian Gilkbarg, along with my iRest Level 1 certification with Richard Miller. Furthering my journey, in 2023, I obtained my Empowered Wisdom Teacher Training certification through Tracee Stanley and Chanti Tacoronte-Perez.
And so, the journey continues…
About
Meditation Classes
Meditation for Beginners
"Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, moment by moment, and non-judgmentally." - John Kabat-Zinn
This course offers students a comprehensive overview of meditation—what it is, how it functions, and how to integrate it into one's life. It serves as an inner exploration, guiding participants in building a bridge between the inner and outer worlds by developing connections with the body, thoughts, and emotions through the practice of meditation. Over the span of this 6 (or 8) week course, participants will acquire the skills to cultivate greater calm, understanding, steadiness, and joy. They will also learn how to navigate the daily challenges and difficulties of life, providing them with a life-long toolbox for support.
Introduction to Yoga Nidra Meditation
Yoga Nidra embodies a paradox—a linguistic interplay between 'asleep' and 'awake.' Translated, it signifies the 'sleep of the yogi' or Yogic Sleep. This concept suggests that the average person (you and I) remains unaware of their Essential Nature throughout all states of consciousness—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. In contrast, the yogi is one who remains conscious of their Essential Nature in every state, even when their mind enters the realm of sleep. Yoga Nidra serves as a tool to rouse ourselves from the 'sleep' of conditioned patterns, allowing us to live as and from our Essential Nature of unconditioned Awareness.
The Yoga Nidra method facilitates a swifter departure from our thinking mind compared to conventional meditation techniques. This is achieved by guiding us through a series of breath, body, and awareness exercises, enabling us to progress into states of relaxation and delve deeper into the stillness of meditation.
This eight-week program offers precise meditation guidance, fostering the healing of past traumas, the cultivation of resilience, and the discovery of inner peace.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
— Rumi