Creative Self-Expression

Join us for this exciting painting workshop in NOVA area. I am a [professional artist/university prof.](https://www.nataliyagurshmanpaintings.com/) and I will teach you ins and outs of palette knife painting. You will learn new techniques, and create a beautiful landscape painting to take home. No experience required, just desire to explore something new and meet other creatives. All of the art supplies are provided. Please [sign up at the link below.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/expressive-palette-knife-painting-tickets-1987758513222?aff=oddtdtcreator) **This is not a free event** https://www.eventbrite.com/e/expressive-palette-knife-painting-tickets-1987758513222?aff=oddtdtcreator I am looking forward to meeting everyone. Bring your friends and family.

**Echoes of the Soul with Dee Gray & Patti Euler** *2-Day Mixed Media Collage Workshop* **\|** Saturday/Sunday, May 2-3 9:30 am–4:30 pm, ½ hour lunch break (both days) Join us for a hands-on mixed-media collage workshop that celebrates personal expression and intuitive design. Explore composition, texture, layering and distressing techniques. Registration fee includes most of your materials: portraits by **Gail Blair** of *PaperWhimsy*, vintage ephemera, handpicked papers, word banners and phrases, lace, ribbons, fabric leaves, paper frames, gold Dresden, gold leaf, matboard and an 8 in. x 10 in. gold frame. Learn more about this class, view your student supply list, and pay for your registration via Artistic Artifacts’ secure online website: **[https://artisticartifacts.com/products/echoes-of-the-soul-with-patti-euler-dee-gray](https://artisticartifacts.com/products/echoes-of-the-soul-with-patti-euler-dee-gray)** *** Due to the size or other requirements of the class or concurrent scheduling, some classes — such as this one — are in our second-floor space: access is via stairs only. Registrations for all Artistic Artifacts classes MUST be paid for through our website at https://artisticartifacts.com/collections/wk, or via a visit to our shop at 4750 Eisenhower Avenue. We encourage you to RSVP here, but to ensure your seat you MUST follow through via our website. View our complete class policies » [https://artisticartifacts.com/pages/class-policies](https://artisticartifacts.com/pages/class-policies)

Biodanza TRANSCENDENCE Workshop facilitated by Zora Coeur de Roy and aided by the team #### A journey through movement, memory, and the wisdom of the body Step into a sacred space where rhythm, breath, and presence open the door to your deeper self. In this unique Biodanza experience, participants will explore the mystical power of trance — a natural, integrative state where body and psyche dance together to awaken ancestral memory and emotional release. In this workshop, you will: Enter states of deep relaxation and expanded awareness through guided movement and music. Access memories and sensations stored in the body, reconnecting with your vital essence beyond words or intellect. Experience regression in a safe, contained way — not as analysis, but as embodied remembering and emotional integration. Awaken spontaneous movement that arises from your inner intelligence rather than external form. Reinforce your sense of presence and inner coherence, coming back renewed and grounded. Connect with others in a field of trust, empathy, and shared humanity. What you’ll learn and take home: How to use movement as medicine for emotional balance and vitality. How trance states support creativity, intuition, and authentic expression. The importance of slowing down and listening to the body’s innate guidance. Practices to integrate your experience into daily life with calm and clarity. Come as you are. Saturday and Sunday are for experienced Biodanceros only or somatic practitioners. Bring a willingness to move, feel, and surrender to the music. Together, we enter the dance between consciousness and mystery… and emerge with a deeper connection to life itself. inbox at [\[info@biodanzausa.com\](mailto:info@biodanzausa.com)](http://%5Binfo%40biodanzausa.com%5D(mailto:info@biodanzausa.com)/) for more info Open to experienced somatic practitioners/Biodanceros

Biodanza TRANSCENDENCE Workshop facilitated by Zora Coeur de Roy and aided by the team #### A journey through movement, memory, and the wisdom of the body Step into a sacred space where rhythm, breath, and presence open the door to your deeper self. In this unique Biodanza experience, participants will explore the mystical power of trance — a natural, integrative state where body and psyche dance together to awaken ancestral memory and emotional release. In this workshop, you will: Enter states of deep relaxation and expanded awareness through guided movement and music. Access memories and sensations stored in the body, reconnecting with your vital essence beyond words or intellect. Experience regression in a safe, contained way — not as analysis, but as embodied remembering and emotional integration. Awaken spontaneous movement that arises from your inner intelligence rather than external form. Reinforce your sense of presence and inner coherence, coming back renewed and grounded. Connect with others in a field of trust, empathy, and shared humanity. What you’ll learn and take home: How to use movement as medicine for emotional balance and vitality. How trance states support creativity, intuition, and authentic expression. The importance of slowing down and listening to the body’s innate guidance. Practices to integrate your experience into daily life with calm and clarity. Come as you are. Saturday and Sunday are for experienced Biodanceros only. Bring a willingness to move, feel, and surrender to the music. Together, we enter the dance between consciousness and mystery… and emerge with a deeper connection to life itself. inbox at \[info@biodanzausa\.com\]\(mailto:info@biodanzausa\.com\) for more info Open to experienced somatic practitioners/Biodanceros

Discover the path to stress management, life's tranquility, and self-improvement through Heartfulness Meditation. Embrace relaxation, meditation, and emotional detoxification practices to unlock your best self. Join our free sessions every Sunday at 8 AM and Wednesday at 7 / 7:30 PM at various centers in MD and VA. Experience the profound benefits of these simple yet powerful practices. Commit to a few months of meditation and witness the transformative impact firsthand. We eagerly await your presence at these enlightening sessions.

**👉 RSVP here: https://linktr.ee/Releasewellnessgroup** **Join us for the 3rd Annual Walk for Wellness 🌿** **In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re creating space to slow down, reconnect, and be in community. This mindful experience is all about intentional movement, grounding, and connection.** **✨ Guided grounding** **✨ Wellness walk** **✨ Community connection** **🗓 May 3, 2026** **⏰ 10:00 AM** **📍 Lake Artemesia, College Park, MD** **🎟 Free** **Bring water, a yoga mat or blanket, sunglasses, and good vibes 💚** **👉 Secure your spot: https://linktr.ee/Releasewellnessgroup**

Have you been thinking about trying self-defense training, but do not want a loud, aggressive, or overly competitive environment? This free intro class is a simple way to get started. Maryland Systema offers practical self-defense training for adults in Takoma Park with a focus on movement, awareness, breathing, posture, and calm under pressure. This class is designed for beginners and first-timers who want real-world self-defense training in a welcoming setting. You do not need experience. You do not need to be in top shape. You do not need a martial arts background. You just need to show up ready to learn. This is not a sport-based class built around winning points, memorizing routines, or trying to look impressive. It is a more practical approach to adult self-defense training that helps you stay balanced, aware, and functional when things feel uncertain. If you have been searching for self-defense classes in Takoma Park, beginner self-defense near you, or practical self-defense training for adults, this class is a good place to start. **What you will work on** * Breathing and staying calm under pressure * Movement that improves balance and mobility * Awareness and posture * Simple partner drills * Practical self-defense training for beginners **Who this class is for** * Adults new to self-defense training * Beginners looking for a low-pressure class * People who want practical self-defense instead of sport martial arts * Adults in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Rockville, and nearby areas looking for realistic self-defense classes **What to wear** Please wear comfortable workout clothes. No uniform is required. **Why start with this class** This free intro class gives you a chance to experience the training, meet the group, and see whether Maryland Systema is the right fit for you before joining regular weekly classes. **RSVP** Reserve your spot and come try a beginner-friendly self-defense class in Takoma Park.

Learn to manage stress and achieve self-growth through simple relaxation and Meditation. Heartfulness Meditation is a simple, modern, methodical approach to meditation. Rather than homing in on your breath or repeating a mantra, you simply focus inward, on your heart, to cultivate inner strength and serenity. Heartfulness meditation is gaining traction in recent years. It focuses on the heart, allowing individuals to connect with themselves on a deeper level, and ultimately achieve peace, relaxation, and clarity. It is a practice that encourages patience, self-compassion, and acceptance, helping cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment. This practice is offered with love and at no cost

Theme: Gentle Flow Yoga & Meditation Level: Beginner to Intermediate Time: Sunday 9:30 – 10:30 AM Location: Bluemont park Cost: Free What to bring: Yoga mat, water, comfortable clothing Location: Basketball court of Bluemont park, google map 38°52'06.2"N 77°07'52.0"W Parking: South Bluemont Parking Area About the session *A gentle flow-based yoga session to move, stretch, and reconnect with your body. We may include simple breathing techniques and a short meditation session. - This is not a high-intensity class. You are welcome to go at your own pace and take breaks anytime. *Suitable for beginners and regular practitioners. Notes - Light food is recommended before practice *Outdoor session: feel free to bring sunscreen, towel, or anything you need - Please be mindful of your own body and practice within your limits By joining, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own health and well-being during the session. About the host 200h Yoga Teacher Training (2019) Long-term yoga practitioner and part-time teacher 🌿 May you find a moment of ease and connection in your practice. **Smiley Social documents:** 1. [Group Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg) 2. [Liability Waiver](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco)

This is the sign you've been waiting for. Come write with us Sunday at 7:30 am at Kaldi's Social House in Arlington. Kaldi's opens at 7. Grab a coffee and join the group! We generally have 10 to 14 writers attend each week, and new folks are welcome to drop in anytime. Intros start at 7:30 am. We will write for one hour. After writing, feel free to debrief, share thoughts or get advice. Our meetups are a safe space for writers to work on their craft. No one will read or critique your writing. Kaldi's Social House website: https://www.kaldissocialhouse.net/ \* Resource \* Many thanks to Justin for putting together a shared file of resource discussed at the meetings. Feel free to add to it! [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13LONNjZvsO5hEXM7NsBnWCgy3GgPgjAbQxE0lPxp7hc/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13LONNjZvsO5hEXM7NsBnWCgy3GgPgjAbQxE0lPxp7hc/edit?usp=sharing)

Let go of the week and welcome the weekend. Join master teacher Ann Kite **in person every Friday** at 8pm for a dynamic, deeply embodied release. Each week, 60–75 people gather to dance together in a supportive, spirited community. Ann has held this group for years, creating a **safe space to sweat, shift, and soften** the ego’s grip so the freer, wilder, more alive part of you can come through. Movement is for everyone, whether you’ve danced for years or are brand new. This **isn’t about performing or getting the “right” steps.** It’s about tuning into your body’s natural rhythms, finding freedom in stillness and motion, and remembering what it feels like to be fully alive. Whether you’re seeking connection, healing, or simply a fresh perspective, you’re **welcome exactly as you are**. Movement is the doorway. We’ll guide you the rest of the way. **Purchase tickets:** [https://www.annkite.com/letgo](https://www.annkite.com/letgo) \*\*\*\*\*Feb 27, Apr 1, Jun 26, Aug 28, and Oct 9, will be led by a substitute teacher as Ann will be away leading a retreat on those dates.

**This month’s Creativity Circle is very timely. We will be making our own craft flowers out of paper, coffee filters, popsicle sticks, sparkles, cupcake liners, pipe cleaners and more! All ages welcome, show up as you can, bring a friend or a few if you would like to! Excited to see you there! Seats Limited. Held at the Westerville Public Library Meeting Room B.**

This is an in-person meeting. Would you like to know the Real You, not just a shadow of yourself? Does your life energy feel somehow trapped within? Does your self-confidence get easily shaken? Do you get in the way of your own goals? We will discuss the real source of all this, what holds you back in life, and how to handle it so you can achieve more successful and happier living. Perhaps you get weighed down with negative emotions you can't seem to shrug off. Or find yourself doing strange and irrational things - not really being yourself. We will cover why that is and tools that work to help you unearth your self, your self-confidence and motivation. This meeting will help you learn about how to effectively overcome: -Out-of-control unwanted emotions -Low self-esteem -Anxiety -Negativity -Stress -Irrational fears -Traumatic or painfully emotional incidents -Breakups -Betrayals -Feeling like you're not really yourself -Self-doubt... We will discuss how to unleash the inner you and tap into your true potential. So come to this online meetup! This meeting is sponsored by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**

Join us for this free, in person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Do you want more motivation and confidence to build lasting relationships? Are you burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival, while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is held at the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

🌸 Mother’s Day deserves more than flowers 🌸 Join us for an elevated outdoor paint experience designed for creativity, connection, and unforgettable memories. ✨ Brushes & Brunch: Mother’s Day Garden Edition ✨ Beautiful garden vibes Brunch bites Signature refreshments Guided painting Soft music Luxury energy Whether you're celebrating your mother, your daughter, your friends, or simply honoring yourself — this experience is your invitation to slow down and create something beautiful. No painting experience needed — just bring your good energy. This is not your typical paint party. This is intentional. This is elevated. This is your moment. 🎟 Limited seating available to keep the experience intimate. Reserve your spot early https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brushes-brunch-a-curated-mothers-day-painting-experience-tickets-1987709930911

Communication is everything in life You are only as successful as your ability to communicate. \- What if you could confidently talk to anyone? \- What if you had the ability to calmly control every conversation? \- What if you could close that sale\, ask for that date\, make new friends\, repair problematic relationships\, get that raise\, or effortlessly express any idea with confidence? You can! The secret to success relies on your ability or inability to effectively communicate. Attend a free seminar and gain a better ability to communicate. Hosted by the Church of Scientology of Central Ohio 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215 For more information, contact Rhiannon, the Event Host at 614-221-5024

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!