Engaged Buddhism

***Registration required. -*** [Writing in Nature - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy](https://loudounwildlife.org/event/writing-in-nature-march/) Join Nancy Morgan, Director Emeritus, Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program, for this monthly workshop, presented by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, to enjoy the combined health benefits of time spent in nature and writing thoughts and feelings. Writing is often considered a solo, reflective practice, but writing in the company of others can be a supportive, community building activity that encourages regular practice. Each session is a stand-alone event – come when you are able. Registration for each session is open through the morning of the workshop.

* Explore a variety of activities to explore balance & coordination * Experience feeling stronger in your daily activities * Engage in a variety of practices that challenge your brain * All abilities encouraged * $15, donation based pricing available * Participate in person, online or on a recording

We will be meeting at Starbucks to learn together. Come with an online class you're already going through or an interest and we will try to connect you with a course where you can learn it. Already have a skill you want to contribute to a Kaggle Datascience competition? We will work on these too! Laptop required :)

Attendance is $35 (cash, credit/debit card, or ApplePay - paid at the door), which includes water/soda/coffee, bread, choice of a plated lunch entrée, and a dessert assortment. Parking is also validated in the Reston Station garages (3 hours of validation). Join one of Northern Virginia's most successful business networking groups (part of BNI). Open to the public and is typically attended by business owners, business developers, and entrepreneurs. Meetings are typically attended by 30-40 members and guests. \*\*\*PLEASE RSVP here: [REGISTER HERE](https://square.link/u/0WvC6Eir) \*\*\*If you do not register on the BNI website, there may not be a seat available for you.

Calling all DMV Foodies! Join us for an unforgettable evening of international cuisine and social networking. This event is perfect for those new in town, looking to make new friends, and have a fun time exploring the diverse food scene in the area. Get ready to indulge in mouthwatering dishes, exchange recommendations for the best dining spots in the DMV area, and connect with like-minded foodies who share your passion for delicious meals and great company. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a culinary adventure while expanding your social circle in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Grab your seat at the table, and let's make memories over a fantastic meal together!

Join us at **Hashtag** in Herndon on Thursday, **March 5th** at **6pm**. Adventure and roll dice with this week's **Pathfinder GM: Jonathan M**! **The story:** Silvertree Village is a small settlement within the Forest of Spirits, not far off the Spirit Road. It's a smaller river crossing, but often used when the larger inns are full, and some travelers even prefer it. Or they did, until they found access cut off by a mysterious fog. Word has reached the Pathfinder Society of this strange phenomenon, and they have resolved to investigate, as the Society has also had cause to use Silvertree when transporting relics between Hongal and Minkai. The PCs are tasked with finding out the cause, and before they're done, they'll face challenges put for by a kami themselves, and must learn what has upset this being, and in so doing uncover something much more dangerous. A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st- through 4th-level characters. **Scenario tags\***: Repeatable ***\*Content note:*** *This scenario contains themes of ritual sacrifice and murder. Before you begin, understand that player consent (including that of the Game Master) is vital to a safe and fun play experience for everyone. You should talk with your players before beginning the adventure and modify descriptions of the narrative as appropriate.*

Join us for an in-person, educational workshop that redefines weight loss through a **holistic, whole-body approach**. Rather than focusing solely on the number on the scale, we explore what truly drives sustainable fat loss, muscle preservation, and long-term health. This workshop is ideal for those seeking a safe, sustainable approach to weight loss, who are tired of restrictive diets and weight cycling, who want to lose fat while preserving muscle, and who value education and understanding over quick fixes. **Event Details** **📅 Date:** March 5, 2026 **⏰ Time:** 5:30 – 7:00 PM **📍 Location:** Golden Health Holistics, 46161 Westlake Dr, Ste 330, Sterling, VA 20165 **In This Workshop, We’ll Cover:** * Why weight loss is more than calories in vs. calories out * How the body metabolizes food, and why it matters * Why the body stores fat, and why all fat is not the same * The impact of excess body fat on metabolic and overall health * The critical role of muscle in metabolism, aging, and longevity * What it means to balance body composition (not just lose weight) * How a holistic, supportive approach can help * Where modern weight management tools, including GLP-1 medications, fit in The **first 10 registered attendees** will receive a complimentary InBody body composition scan, along with a one-on-one review of the results with our health coach. Please RSVP by March 4, 2026 to secure your spot. Limited space is available!

Now at **11 a.m.**, this beginner-friendly guided meditation class helps stabilize the mind and open the heart. The session includes traditional practices such as Shamatha (calm abiding) and Tonglen (sending and receiving), as well as Jetsunma’s Light Expansion Prayer. Both relaxing and healing, these meditations can be practiced by anyone, regardless of religious tradition. Each class concludes with a dedication that our efforts benefit all beings. All are welcome whether new to meditation or regular practitioners looking for a supportive group with whom to sit. Join us! Class is offered IN-PERSON in our Prayer Room and ONLINE on our Facebook and YouTube channel. Watch online here: [https://www.tara.org/kpc-maryland-events-calendar/](https://www.tara.org/kpc-maryland-events-calendar/) Missed a class? You can watch past classes on our YouTube channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@KunzangPalyulCholing/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@KunzangPalyulCholing/streams)

Join us every Sunday, either in person or online, for our Shin Buddhist service. Dress is casual yet conservative, and everyone is welcome to come listen to the Dharma and learn the Nembutsu, chants and songs associated with our tradition of Shin Buddhism. As long as Fairfax County COVID spread rates remain low, face masks are optional. Our Dharma Discussion Group will meet immediately after the service. To attend the service and Discussion Group virtually, please use [this link](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUudOiprDwiHtITyC2arOLCYAsAYZfQl4J4) or visit our website at www.ekoji.org.

Fasting is one of the oldest and most widespread spiritual practices across cultures and traditions. From ancient rituals to modern mindfulness practices, people have fasted as a way to cultivate clarity, self-discipline, compassion, repentance, gratitude, and deeper awareness. This discussion offers a thoughtful, respectful space to explore the spiritual dimensions of fasting — whether you are experienced, curious, or simply seeking a deeper understanding. Together, we’ll explore questions such as: * What is the purpose of fasting in different spiritual traditions? * How does fasting shape the mind, body, and spirit? This gathering is open to people of all faith backgrounds — and to those who approach fasting from a philosophical or contemplative perspective rather than a religious one. **All are welcome.**

NOTE: You MUST sign up and pay via our website to reserve your spot (https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/#Events). Simply responding yes to attend via Meetup does not hold your spot. Thank you for your understanding! In this workshop students will learn the basics of bungee fitness; including equipment, terminology, and safety practices. Please note that you will learn to set up your lane, size your harness, and how to use and work with the bungee system. We will introduce you to a variety of movements with the bungee and link the movements together to create beginner sequences. The workshop will be a 35 minute set up, a 30 minute class, and a 10 min cool down. This experience will leave you feeling confident and ready for our bungee series! What is bungee? Bungee is a high intensity, low impact workout on your joints that is a ton of fun! This apparatus requires a pack of bungee cords and a harness worn around the hips and waist to support a person while they move their body into various shapes and practice creative movements from leaping, bouncing, to lunges, push-ups, squats, handstands, jumps, etc. This cardiovascular workout will build coordination, strength, and endurance all while toning your body! Cost of workshop: $65 Sign up: https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/#Events **Important:** After registering, please email [info@flyingbuddhastudio.com](mailto:info@flyingbuddhastudio.com) with your weight (in lbs) and clothing size (S, M, L, XL, etc.) as soon as possible. This information is required so we can prep the correct harness and bungee setup for you. If we don’t receive your details on time, we can’t guarantee participation.

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.
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Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Optional Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Optional Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Optional Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Optional Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

NOTE: You MUST sign up and pay via our website to reserve your spot (https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/#Events). Simply responding yes to attend via Meetup does not hold your spot. Thank you for your understanding! Join us on the first Friday of every month for Club Flying Buddha—a laid-back, anything-goes space to share your aerial, pole, and lyra moves! Whether you’re looking to practice performing or simply soak in the vibe, this is your chance to connect, express yourself, and showcase your progress in a nightclub-style atmosphere—complete with lights, music, and a high-energy club vibe. Wear what you want. Move how you feel. Let go and let it flow. Cost: $20 per student or free with membership Sign up: https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/Schedule

**🪷 COST:** You must register with this link to attend- [Register Here!](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/woodland-and-water-resonance-a-forest-therapy-and-sound-bath-walk) **🌿 Description:** Early March, by the water, carries a different kind of awakening — **softer, reflective, spacious.** 🌊 Nestled around a 350-acre reservoir, Beaverdam Park offers wooded paths, natural-surface trails, and peaceful lake views. Forest and water meet here, creating the perfect setting to slow down and listen. ✨ We’ll begin with a **gentle, guided forest therapy walk** through the trees, pausing along the way to notice the stillness of the reservoir and the subtle signs of early spring. After enjoying a snack & sipping foraged tisane/tea while sitting near the water, we’ll settle in for an **immersive outdoor sound bath**. 🎶 Singing bowls and resonant instruments will blend with the soft lapping of water, breeze through branches, and birdsong overhead. The lake amplifies and carries sound in a uniquely soothing way — supporting nervous system reset, emotional clarity, and deep restoration. We’ll close with a silent walk back along the trail, taking in the serenity of forest and water. 🌿 **A morning of reflection, resonance, and renewal.** **🥾 What we'll do:** We will walk \~2 miles, depending on timing and the desires of the group. This is an out and back hike with minimal elevation gain or loss. **👋🏼 Meeting point:** Meet at 9:50am in the parking lot. We will start at 10am. **🚙 Parking:** Park by the National Recreation and Park Association building adjacent to Brambleton Community Park West. Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qBEq9qVXnamC6H6E8 **🚻 Miscellaneous:** We will have access to a bathroom along the way. **🎒Preparation:** * Water * Layers of clothes based on the weather * A snack if you would like * ​Sturdy comfortable shoes * Bug spray * Sunblock & a hat **🪷 COST:** You must register with this link to attend- [Register Here!](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/woodland-and-water-resonance-a-forest-therapy-and-sound-bath-walk) **🌐 WEBSITE: [https://imaginebeingwell.org/](https://imaginebeingwell.org/)** 🌐 **NEWSLETTER:** [CLICK HERE](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/newsletter-form/sign-up-for-the-imagine-well-being-newsletter) to Sign Up to join Imagine Well Being’s mailing list to stay informed on the latest news and upcoming events. **⭐️ LIABILITY RELEASE:** With my RSVP, I hereby stipulate that I am physically sound to participate in this event. I understand and agree that all classes, gatherings and workshops are undertaken at my sole risk and that Imagine Well Being guides and instructors shall not be liable for injuries or damages to my person or property arising out of or connected to any of these activities. I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and instructors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care, and I assume responsibility for all associated costs. I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine classes, gatherings, and workshops. I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and instructors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care, and I assume responsibility for all associated costs. **I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine classes, gatherings, and workshops.**

Join us at 11:30 a.m. for a meditation class led by Khenpo Karze, followed by a public talk and Q&A. The meditation focus varies from class to class. We are currently learning how to meditate on the Four Immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. The class begins with 30 minutes of meditation instruction, followed by 5-10 minutes of meditation practice, and then continues with discussion and Q&A. Each session concludes with a brief Chenrezig practice in which we recite Om Mani Padme Hung (a prayer of compassion), and a dedication prayer that our efforts benefit all beings. This class offers a strong foundation in meditation, helping cultivate inner peace and compassion amidst busy lives. All are welcome! This program is open to anyone with an interest in Buddhism and you can come to all or any part of the program. Families are welcome. There is no fee, but donations are encouraged. Join us! Class is offered IN-PERSON in our Prayer Room and ONLINE on [Facebook Live](https://www.facebook.com/KPCBuddhistTemple/) and [YouTube Live](https://www.youtube.com/@KunzangPalyulCholing/streams). You can also watch online here: https://www.tara.org/kpc-maryland-events-calendar/ About the teacher: Khenpo Tenzin Karze graduated from Ngagyur Nyingma Institute’s intensive Buddhist graduate course in 2006, and was awarded the degree of Khenpo, equivalent to a PhD in Buddhist Philosophy, in 2011. He has received teachings and empowerments from many great Nyingma masters, and taught extensively in various Palyul temples in Nepal, India, Europe and Taiwan. This is his first time in the USA. We are delighted that Khenpo is now in residence at KPC and will be providing traditional Dharma instruction to help us deepen our practice of wisdom and compassion.

This group is for anyone who wants to explore Buddhist meditation in a relaxed and supportive setting. Each session includes a short meditation, a simple teaching from Buddhist psychology, and an open discussion about how these ideas show up in everyday life. While our foundation is Buddhist practice, we love weaving in wisdom from other traditions whenever it helps us grow, find peace, and support each other. Members of our community come from many different backgrounds, and you do not need to consider yourself a Buddhist to attend. All are welcome. The session runs from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., with doors open from 6:30 to 9:00. Come early or stay after if you’d like to enjoy some quiet reflection or casual conversation with the community. On the first Wednesday of each month, we share a potluck meal. Bring a dish if you’d like, but the most important thing you can bring is yourself. We look forward to seeing you!

Join us every Sunday, either in person or online, for our Shin Buddhist service. Dress is casual yet conservative, and everyone is welcome to come listen to the Dharma and learn the Nembutsu, chants and songs associated with our tradition of Shin Buddhism. As long as Fairfax County COVID spread rates remain low, face masks are optional. Our Dharma Discussion Group will meet immediately after the service. To attend the service and Discussion Group virtually, please use [this link](https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUudOiprDwiHtITyC2arOLCYAsAYZfQl4J4) or visit our website at www.ekoji.org.

\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm. Additionally, space is limited to the first 35 attendees. Your RSVP here does not guarantee you a spot and tickets are available first come, first served.\*\*\* Donations are appreciated, and the average donation is generally $20, but all are welcome regardless of means! A portion of all proceeds will help fund the Crystal Ashram non-profit project where the Human Activation School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. A unique musical experience called a "Sound Bath" Sound bath! What's that? According to sonic specialist Monte Hansen from Annapolis MD, "A sound bath is an immersion in sound frequency that cleans your soul." Leave your rubber ducky at home. Bring your blankey instead, for this super relaxing immersion! According to cutting-edge doctors from Harvard, some of the deepest most profound healing in the body are accomplished with sound frequency. That's old news though. A 2nd century stone relief in the Himalayan mountains shows us that Buddha and his entourage knew this before Christ walked the earth. The stone relief depicts the Buddha and his buddies playing ancient Tibetan singing bowls. A sound frequency specialist from the [Human Activation School](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=d6674b4603&e=465ba11f44), will be playing several of these rare Singing Bowls, some of which are over 200 years old. A magical alchemy of 7-12 different metals rings in the past, present, and future for our relaxing enchantment. Even modern doctors are using these old metal bowls for healing, and they are not practicing Buddhists! As a matter of fact, modern Buddhists no longer use the bowls in their practice. Come experience these gifts from the past in this NON-religious practice of our present. Come be rejuvenated or just captivated by this unique musical performance. Bring your pillows, blankeys, and yoga mats and snuggle into the comfort of the tranquil sounds. Feel free to sit, lay, or even stand! ***Did You Know?*** Singing bowls invite the mind and body into a tranquil state of being in which remarkable healing can occur, events that are unexplainable from a conventional biomedical perspective” *Music and the Meditative Mind: Toward the Science of the Ineffable*[Source](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=9222616fc4&e=465ba11f44) "The sound bath meditation provides a nurturing space to connect and grow spiritually. The group atmosphere is welcoming and fun, and the meditation work is soothing and enriching. Loved it!"**-Cara** 7:00 pm - Meditation Reception\*\*\*Meditation in our sacred space will begin promptly at 7:15 pm. Please refrain from entering after 7:15 pm.\*\*\* 7:15 - Doors Close & Meditation Begins 8:15 - Meditation Ends, Followed by Community Reflection \*Please be respectful of Sticks and Stones employees and their instructions upon entering and exiting the space for the meditation\* A portion of all proceeds will help fund the [Crystal Ashram](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=11664c3011&e=465ba11f44) non-profit project where the [Human Activation](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=41699e76d8&e=465ba11f44) School of Expanded Consciousness will be located. Community sharing and engagement following after the meditation Questions? Please email [robert@humanactivation.com](http://mailto:robert@humanactivation.com/) or visit [crystalashram.com](https://humanactivation.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d88b4fea1b0f4ceaeb58f0e82&id=7d92f9b8f7&e=465ba11f44).

Join us in a space of compassion where grief is honored rather than fixed, and love is welcomed as a steady companion. Grief touches us all, through the loss of a loved one, a life chapter, or the future we once imagined. In this gentle, heart-centered workshop, Diane L. Haworth invites participants into a compassionate space where grief is honored rather than fixed, and love is welcomed as a steady companion. Drawing from her own lived experience following the unexpected death of her husband, Diane shares how choosing love over fear supported her through profound loss. And how that enabled her to support her family through the experience. Participants will be guided through reflection, a simple experiential exercise, and quiet connection, allowing each person to meet their grief in their own way and at their own pace. This workshop emphasizes presence over teaching, offering a supportive environment where participants can breathe, reflect, and remember how love has held them, past and present. ***Diane L Haworth*** *is a Heart-Centered Success Coach, teacher, author, and founder of the Be Love Principles. She blends traditional coaching with deep spiritual truths to help people create lives filled with love, peace, and joy. Diane is the author of \*[How to Choose Love When You Just Want to Slap Somebody](https://www.amazon.com/Choose-Love-When-Just-Somebody/dp/1452514933/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RJWIDYU991VZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EREy6LvlQ2Xri7w3s-_HPg.VyfYJxlb0ufWNjVlnsLXPsMctLky4d2Gxd8cpkk1lrw&dib_tag=se&keywords=How+to+Choose+Love+When+You+Just+Want+to+Slap+Somebody&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1769629715&sprefix=how+to+choose+love+when+you+just+want+to+slap+somebody%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-1 "https://www.amazon.com/Choose-Love-When-Just-Somebody/dp/1452514933/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3RJWIDYU991VZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EREy6LvlQ2Xri7w3s-_HPg.VyfYJxlb0ufWNjVlnsLXPsMctLky4d2Gxd8cpkk1lrw&dib_tag=se&keywords=How+to+Choose+Love+When+You+Just+Want+to+Slap+Somebody&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1769629715&sprefix=how+to+choose+love+when+you+just+want+to+slap+somebody%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-1")\* and hosts the \*[Empowered Spiritual Path](https://www.beloveprinciples.org/ESP "https://www.beloveprinciples.org/ESP")\* membership. Learn more at www.MoreFromDiane.com and www.BeLovePrinciples.org.*

Women are constantly giving, at work, at home, in relationships, and in service to their communities. But who supports the woman behind it all? This session invites women to pause, reflect, and reset. We’ll explore how to move beyond burnout and into balance, not by doing more, but by being more intentional. Together we will: * Identify hidden stress patterns and energy drains * Learn mindfulness practices to restore calm in real time * Create a personalized “inner balance” plan Join us to celebrate Women’s History Month by honoring your own well-being! Leave feeling clearer, lighter, and empowered to thrive, not just survive. Sunday, March 15th, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. | | | --- | |

Sunday service at Unity of Fairfax will leave you feeling inspired, blessed and empowered to experience the fullness of life. **On a Spiritual Journey** Our community is made up of people, like yourself, who have been led to Unity by Spirit. We are all here because we’re on a spiritual journey to become all that we were created to be. **Welcome to Everyone** Unity welcomes people of all religious backgrounds and beliefs. We welcome people of all creeds, sexual orientation and social background. There are no exceptions in our welcome to everyone. **We Offer Tools** In Unity we don't tell people what to think; rather, we offer tools that individuals can use to create lives of meaning and purpose. **What We Believe** To review what we believe, go here: https://unityoffairfax.org/what-we-believe-what-unity