Nerds Like Me: Getting Nerdy for Meditation

July’s meetup is different: we’re not just talking about meditation - we’re practicing it. A guided, hands-on session where we actually sit (and stand!) and try five distinct meditation styles together.

A one-time event, in a not so usual meetup format.
Have you ever wanted to understand what actually happens in your brain and body during meditation? The best way to find out is to try it. For this special Nerds Like Me event, we’ll practice each technique step by step, compare notes between sits, and geek out over the mechanics as we go.

Featured Guest

We are excited to welcome Carl Jerome from DeepDharma.org. Carl is a longtime Buddhist practitioner, meditation teacher, and the founder/director of the North Shore Meditation & Dharma Center in the Chicago North Shore area. He has taught meditation, mindfulness, Buddhist philosophy, and contemplative practice for many years.
Carl will guide us through practicing each of these styles:

• Mindfulness Meditation - settling in by counting the breath
• Double Inhale Meditation - a quick breathing reset for stress and anxiety
• Druid Tree Meditation - a standing practice blending body awareness and mindful movement
• Contemplative Meditation - turning a single question over from every angle
• Visual Koan - sitting with “Six Persimmons,” a 13th-century painting monks have contemplated for centuries

  What to Expect

  We’ll practice each style together with Carl’s guidance, take a break partway through, and talk about what we noticed. The pre-read below walks through each practice - reading it beforehand means we can spend our time practicing rather than explaining, and a printed handout with the visuals will be waiting for you.

Please arrive promptly. Doors open at 7:15 PM for settling in and snacks; meditation begins at 7:45 PM sharp, and late arrivals are tough on a room full of people mid-sit.

Who Should Come

Anyone who wants to understand meditation better - by doing it. Whether you are a complete beginner looking for stress reduction or an experienced practitioner wanting to nerd out on the underlying philosophy and mechanics, there is plenty to learn. We also encourage you making this a date night!

The Details

• Date: Thursday, July 30th
• Time: 7:15 PM - 9:30 PM (meditation begins promptly at 7:45 PM)
• Location: RSVP to see location
• Cost: Free
• Food & drink: This is an alcohol-free event - feel free to bring food or snacks to share

Event Materials

• Pre-read Material - we suggest reading this before the event.
• Handout - printed copies will be available for everyone at the event.

What You Can Do Now

1. RSVP - reserve your seat HERE
2. Subscribe for updates: https://nerdslikeme.dream.page
3. Complete your profile - we’ll use it in an upcoming session to spark deeper conversation.
4. Whitelist us - add [email protected] to your contacts so you never miss an invite!

Spread the word and bring a friend. The more people in the room, the better the conversation.

Jonathan Shertok
“The Nerd”