"Grounded to the earth with my hands immersed in the process, I remain in the moment, surrendering to my intuition and learning to trust in myself." - Laura Orvieto Meditation is not about quieting the room; it is about quieting the mind. When we are able to quiet the mind, we are able to hear the voice of our intuition. The last portion of each class (approximately 30 minutes) is devoted to meditation. You may choose to sing, play or just listen. You can relax, close your eyes if you want, and play the rhythms that flow naturally from your heart. There is a lot of vocal toning during the meditation, which truly enhances the experience. Often people bring other instruments, such as: Native American flute, didgeridoo, kalimba, udu, gankogui, balafon, shruti box, crystal singing bowl, xylophone, pan flute, Tibetan singing bowl, shakers, tabla, guitar and harmonium. There are blankets and pillows available if anyone wants to lie down. As we relax, we are able to open up and receive the healing vibrations. The vibrations that occur when we drum, hum, or sing are powerful because they dissolve tension in the mind and body. Everyone in the room benefits from this shared energy.    Holistic health practitioners recommend meditation for healing and stress management. If you have found other styles of meditation to be difficult, you may find this style to be easier. If at any time during class you feel the urge to move, stretch or dance - go for it! Honoring your own needs is what makes this experience so wonderful. This is a safe space that is judgment-free, allowing you to get in touch with your authentic self. The authenticity that is inside each of us craves to be expressed, accepted, appreciated and nurtured.  During each class, the intention is to encourage people to trust their intuition so they can drum, sing or dance from their heart. Playing from the heart feels better than being in your head. When you engage your heart, you will automatically feel connected with the others in the room. As we connect with eachother, we experience a feeling of unity and oneness. This is what drumming circles are all about. The authentic voice of intuition may seem distant and hard to connect with, compared to the many thoughts and concerns that are on our minds. To connect with your heart, here is a visualization for you. Imagine that someone named Brain is standing on a stage, holding a microphone. Brain says, "I am delighted to introduce the wonderful and talented Heart!" Brain passes the microphone to Heart. Brain takes a seat in the audience to enjoy the show. Heart sings, dances and drums beautifully... without any help from Brain. Allowing Brain this time to relax is an effective way to recharge and energize the mind, body and spirit.