JCC to Offer Introduction to Mindfulness Course Led by Suzanne Weiss

The Boulder JCC will present a free, online Introduction to Mindfulness course titled What the Heart Knows, a four-session series led by Suzanne Weiss, MSW. Sessions run Tuesdays, March 10, March 17, March 24, and March 31, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., offering practical tools and a heart-centered inquiry for people seeking relief from stress or a deeper sense of presence.

Weiss frames the course around realistic expectations for practice. “I really thought mindfulness would turn me into this calm, unbothered person,” she laughs, imagining herself in pristine white linen, car keys always accounted for. “What actually happened is I became painfully aware of how busy my mind is, and how often I lose those keys.” Rather than promising escape from life’s messiness, Weiss invites participants to lean straight into it. “Usually it’s a mix,” she says. “Maybe you want less stress, and you also want to feel more alive, more at home in yourself.”

The course is positioned to meet people where they are. Weiss notes that people arrive for many reasons: some because they are suffering from burnout or anxiety, others because of a “deeper longing, a sense that there’s more to life than the constant mental commentary running in their heads.” The format and timing aim to make mindfulness accessible to morning routines, with each session designed to combine short practices and conversation that you can carry into daily life.

While Boulder’s offering is online, a separate Introduction to Mindfulness program appears on the 10.27 Healing Partnership site as an in-person series in the Pittsburgh area. That free program is facilitated by Shawn Fertitta, a Reiki Master and certified Forest Therapy Guide who also works as a meditation guide, mindfulness coach, and sound therapist. The 10.27 program description stresses that “practicing mindfulness techniques may seem straightforward, but achieving mastery can be challenging,” and says the series “aims to help you alleviate stress and anxiety while enhancing your mental clarity. Think of it as a brief retreat for your mind!” Techniques listed include controlled breathing, body scanning, cultivating loving-kindness, and visualization.

The Pittsburgh sessions meet at South Hills JCC and Squirrel Hill JCC, with a physical reference to 5738 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, top floor of the Jewish Community Center’s Irene Kaufmann Building. Contact details for 10.27 Healing Partnership are phone 412-697-3534 and email info@1027HealingPartnership.org. The organization notes that its offices are accessible for those with mobility constraints and includes a crisis line: If in crisis call 888-796-8226. The 10.27 Healing Partnership also states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

If you want to join the Boulder JCC series, check the JCC’s registration channels for the online link and any capacity limits. For Pittsburgh area options, use the 10.27 contact information above to select a location and event. Both programs underscore that short, regular practices can reduce reactivity and sharpen clarity, making mindfulness a practical tool for daily life rather than an escape from it.