KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Joanie Lane, director of A Positive Light Center for Spiritual Awakening, will be the host and guest presenter at this month's Companion Circle.

This educational and social gathering will take place at 6470 Kelsey Creek Drive in Kelseyville on Monday, Dec. 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and is open to the public.

Lane, a meditation teacher, certified life coach and Healing QiGong Leader, will be presenting on practical mindfulness techniques intended to help with seasonal and holiday induced depression and anxiety.

Mindfulness is a scientifically proven approach that helps reduce stress and stress-related illnesses, increase focus and attention, decrease incidences of and relapses with depression, reduce anxiety, reduce relapses in addiction, and aid in sleep and digestive disorders.

Mindfulness has also been shown to increase well being, life satisfaction, happiness, as well as improved social relationships.

It can be especially helpful for those who experience heightened depression or anxiety around the holidays or suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression displaying a recurring seasonal pattern.

"So many of us experience difficulties during the holidays," noted Lane, "and we have a tendency to take it personally. With mindfulness and compassion practices, we can meet our experience tenderly and guide us compassionately through the difficulties to a more loving experience."

Companion Circles are monthly gatherings for those curious about or committed to a mindfulness practice.

The circles occur on the third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The evening includes a guided mindfulness exercise, question and answer period, social mingling and the evening's presentation.

Attendees are invited to wear comfortable clothing and, optionally, bring a simple finger food to share. Tea and water are served.

There is a suggested donation of $10, though, no one is turned away for lack of funds.

For more information on the Companion Circles, visit www.MindfulAndIntentionalLiving.com or www.apositivelight.com, or call 707-279-6031.