Restart:
An 8-Week Digital Pause Program
Starting September 8th, 2021
Wednesdays at 6:30-8:30pm ET
Join Prerna Manchanda and Adriana DiFazio for an 8-week digital pause program for those who want to reimagine their relationship with technology. We’ll provide a community to pause and reflect on your use of social media, email, and more with the support of Buddhist philosophy, Western psychology, and research-based tools and practices.
What can I expect?
A mix of Buddhist teachings, Western psychology, and practical exercises to help you better understand your personal edge as to when technology improves your life or when it leaves you feeling drained and disconnected
A community of like-minded individuals who are also trying to regain their power and attention when it comes to engaging social media, email, and other forms of online communication
An honest and welcoming space to self-reflect, assess what is important to you, and loosen the habitual grips that keep you unintentionally tied to your devices
This program is for you if:
You have a love-hate relationship with your device
You get sucked into your phone or computer for longer than you intend to and often feel guilty for wasting time
You’re aware of the addictive nature of tech and you’re looking for a way to regain your power, attention, and awareness
You’re curious about mindfulness, self-inquiry, and/or Buddhist teachings
You want to live your life with more presence and purpose and create time for enriching off-screen experiences
What’s the curriculum?
Over the course of 8-weeks, we’ll guide you through the process of intentionally de-plugging and reimagining your relationship to technology. While not mandatory, we’ll encourage participants to take the first 5-weeks off the device or platform of their choice with the support of the larger program community. These weeks will be an opportunity to create a gap in habituated use patterns and a space for meaningful reflection, learning, and growth. The final 3-weeks will be a time to reintegrate your choice of tech back into your life (if you choose) with more intention, awareness, and empowerment.
Class 1: Introduction—The Problem
Establishing the realities of living in a digital age.
Class 2: Designing the Root Afflictions
Diving into passion, aggression, and ignorance and its manifestations in tech use and design.
Class 3: The Karmic Click
Learning about karma and how it informs our habits.
Class 4: The Lower Realms: Infinite Scroll, Likes, & Misinformation
Exploring the animal, hungry ghost, and hell realm and their modern-day tech comparisons.
Class 5: The Higher Realms: Social Comparison, The Human In-Between, & Influencer Culture
Exploring the human, jealous gods, and heaven realms and how they show up when using our devices.
Class 6: Reimagining with the Brahmaviharas: Loving-Kindness & Compassion
Reintegrating with our devices with friendliness & compassion.
Class 7: Reimagining with the Brahmaviharas: Sympathetic Joy & Equanimity
Engaging tech with sympathetic joy & balance.
Class 8: Finding Your Middle Path
Realizing your new relationship with tech.
Dates & Location
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 6:30-8:30pm ET | 4:30-7:30pm PT
Start: September 8th, 2021
End: October 27th, 2021
Online via Zoom
Pricing
Please register at the highest level that your generosity allows.
Benefactor: $499
Sustaining: $425
Subsidized Base: $349
*Benefactor Level: Supports Technically Spiritual’s ability to offer the Subsidized Base.
**Sustaining Level: This level reflects the actual costs to support this program.
***Subsidized Base: Made possible by the generosity of Benefactor Level above and other donations to ensure participation by those requiring financial assistance.
Facilitators
Prerna Manchanda
Prerna Manchanda (she/her) is the founder of Technically Spiritual and is passionate about wellbeing in the digital age. She’s a graduate of Columbia University’s Psychology & Education Master’s Program with a concentration in spirituality & mind-body studies. Prerna has done extensive research on the psychological impact of digital technologies on humans. She teaches restorative practices like meditation & yoga nirda as well as digital wellbeing workshops & courses to individuals, groups, and corporations globally.
Adriana DiFazio
Adriana (she/her) is a meditation teacher, Buddhist animal ethics researcher, and chaplain-in-training. She is a 2016 graduate of MNDFL’s 300-HR Meditation Teacher Training, the Mukpo Institute, a three month meditation retreat program, and is currently pursuing her Masters of Divinity in Buddhism and Interreligious Engagement at Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Learn more at www.adrianadifazio.com.
Register
FAQs
Do I need to have a meditation practice to join this program?
While it would be helpful to have some familiarity with meditation and mindfulness, it is not necessary in order to participate in this program. Participants of all practice levels and exposure to meditation will be able to learn and engage in this course.
Is this program about shaming social media use?
No, definitely not. Technically Spiritual’s mission is to help individuals learn how to best live their lives within a digital age.
What do the sliding scale tiers mean?
Technically Spiritual is committed to ensuring that our programs are available to all. We offer sliding scale fees, and ask that you choose the highest fee you are able to afford based on your financial means. Tickets for each sliding scale option are limited for each tier and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. This ensures Technically Spiritual’s operational sustainability.
Do you have payment plans available?
Yes, please email prerna@technicallyspiritual.com to learn what payment plans are available.
What is your cancellation policy?
To cancel registration for an event, you must notify Technically Spiritual (email prerna@technicallyspiritual.com) at least two weeks before the beginning of the program on August 24th. Refunds are issued for cancellations, up to 14 days before an event less a $15 processing fee.
*Less than 14 days before an event, we do not offer refunds. Registration fees may be used as credit to a future course or event with Technically Spiritual within 365 days of the original event or the first class session.
Technically Spiritual reserves the right to cancel a course or event within 14 days of the event start date, due to “low enrollment.” Minimum enrollment for this course is 15 participants. Participants will receive a full refund for any events cancelled by Technically Spiritual.