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Dates
Sunday 12/15/2024 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Pricing
$120.00 Sunday Community Meditation Series - All Four Sessions
$35.00 Sunday Community Meditation Series - Meditation Matters 9/22
$35.00 Sunday Community Meditation Series - RAIN in Times of Trouble 10/20
$35.00 Sunday Community Meditation Series - Awakening in Community 11/17
$35.00 Sunday Community Meditation Series - The Heart of Mindfulness 12/15

This four-part community meditation series is like nothing you have experienced.  With happy celebration of what we have already accomplished for our wellness, we will point ourselves with wise compassion toward the future.  Have you have tried meditation alone and given up, believing that it’s just not right for you?  Or do you feel comfortable with a private routine but want to enrich that experience?  Maybe the pace of world events is unbearable or—on the other end a spectrum—you are suffering a private loss that leaves you grieving.  The good news is that throughout human history, people have gathered together in times of jubilation and sorrow.  Now is no different. 

Each session will include centering, presentation of the topic, guided meditation, silence or journaling, group discussion, and a "Zen in Ten" movement/breath practice. 

Attend a la carte or all four - your choice!  

*BONUS COMMUNITY TIME!

6:00pm: "Sunday Picnic" - pack an easy, portable bite for yourself as we break bread together, satisfying your belly so your brain can focus on the contemplative work ahead! 

6:30pm: Workshop begins

THE TOPICS

Meditation Matters: Sunday, September 22

“Science tells us….”  By now we have heard the research.  But how does it feel to meditate?  What does my own body tell me?  And if I don’t feel much, can poets, sages or friends point me in the right direction?  Our first meeting will cover basic breathing, basic mudra, an introduction to the R.A.I.N. technique, and allow time for you to start your Fall 2024 Journal.

R.A.I.N. in Times of Trouble: Sunday, October 20

Rain is always falling somewhere, and every living thing makes use of it somehow.  Think of the lotus, a commonly evoked symbol in yoga and meditation circles.  As it floats on the water’s surface, it represents how our practices elevate us, providing respite from life’s noise and confusion.  But as its roots find nourishment in the mud, it represents our need to fully absorb what is at hand and use it as fuel for growth.  This meeting will deepen your R.A.I.N. technique, allow time for sharing, and foster a perspective that recognizes the inherent interconnection of both rising above and digging in. 

Awakening in Community: Sunday, November 17

Humans are wired for sound.  From historic battle cries to modern concert-going, we just want to let it out.  This month, after the R.A.I.N., we’ll practice OM-ing and explore our ability to tap into a human mega-mechanism called entrainment, using a combination of Yoga Nidra, gong sound, and healing crystal bowl tones.  

The Heart of Mindfulness: Sunday, December 15

Winter solstice draws near.  Have we absorbed all we need in order to remain dormant, fully at rest, over the winter?  Whatever the answer, we’ll continue to cultivate  awareness and compassion, take a look at where we’ve been and create space for what might come next.  This culminating session has us re-visiting past practices and journal entries, then setting accessible and sustainable goals for the future.

Christine Clardy

Christine’s classes emphasize healthy, individualized physical alignment and breath awareness, as well as finding balance between effort and ease. Throughout the practice, personal inquiry and internal listening remain key. Yoga becomes an ongoing cultivation of “skill in action” as it helps unify the body, mind and heart. Whether planning for individuals, groups, teens or families, she enjoys exploring classic age- and body-appropriate asana even while adding modern exercise theory, games, teamwork, and relaxation techniques to the experience. Christine has an M.A. in American Literature and an M.A. in Religious Studies. Her RYT200 comes through Sun & Moon (2018) and she received the RYT500 designation from Yandara Yoga Institute (2024). In addition to having taught middle and high school English, Chris is trained in Love Your Brain Yoga, Move with Me Yoga Adventures, and as a Family Peer Recovery Specialist through the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority. She is certified with the Veterans’ Yoga Project. Her meditations are informed by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield’s rich teachings, and further supported by her intensive 100-hour certification in Pranayama & Meditation. Most recently, she completed 100-hour training for Yoga Nidra Resonance, a healing modality that employs meditation and sound healing. Chris came to yoga in 1995 as a young and busy professional, having no interest in its traditions or techniques. She simply liked feeling relaxed! Over time, however, yoga has become different things, seemingly able to morph into whatever she needs whenever she needs it. Today, she still likes feeling relaxed—but also eagerly explores the vast system of traditions and techniques that she once overlooked.