Pranayama

Do you find yourself showing up in meditation sessions wondering why your mind won’t settle down?Are you trying to figure out why your body seems to become so uncomfortable in meditation sessions? Join Marsha, non-conventional meditator, certified yoga therapist, trauma sensitive yoga facilitator, and energy and sound healing facilitator, as we show up and unpack ways of meditating that uniquely resonate with you. Whether you find comfort in standing, sitting in a chair or on a yoga mat, or lying on the floor, eyes open or closed, you are welcome to show up just as you are, as we seek peace through movement and compassionate sharing experiences, while embodying the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual benefits of meditation, energy + sound healing, and yoga therapy. **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com**. The session is offered both InStudio and OnLine. The Zoom link for the OnLine session will be emailed 15 minutes before class starts to those who are registered at www.piesfitnessyoga.com. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314 Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St. Discount is available to seniors, teachers, students, emergency responders, and military. All can save by purchasing class packs.

Hit the pause button for an hour and reduce your stress. You will be compassionately guided through an exploration of intentionally linking your breath with the movement of both dynamic and static stretching and its impact on your (P)hysical, (I)ntellectual, (E)motional, and (S)piritual layers. Then experience the calming practice of restorative yoga which was designed specifically to move you from the fight, flight, or freeze state of the nervous system into the rest and digest state. Leave this all levels, accessible class feeling restored, renewed, and ready for what life has in store for you next. **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com.** The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 3,5,7,9.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

A terrific evening of music and dance, Sunday May 3rd. Get into the groove starting with sublime duo Tati & Tom. Their blend of mellow Brazilian music and classic tunes from all over Brazil will bring you saudades. Then get your energy to even higher levels the powered sound and movements of Vavá Samba School dancers and bateria. An unforgettable night of music and fun. $10

This class is designed to target those places in the body that might need a little extra space breathed into them after a night's sleep. This morning, get your blood pumping and work out all the stiffness, cramping, and tightness that are often left in the body after hours of laying still. Now seize the day! **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com**. The session is offered both InStudio and OnLine. The Zoom link for the OnLine session will be emailed 15 minutes before class starts to those who are registered at www.piesfitnessyoga.com. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 3,5,7,9.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

**Join us for quiet and simple practice, grounded in community. Suitable for beginners. We sit in chairs for 10 and 20 minutes and do 5 minutes of walking meditation. Followed by tea and a poem shared. We start and end on time. Join us!** **Who we are** We meet weekly since 2024. We typically gather with 6-12 of us for seated and walking Zen meditation. Brief meditation instruction offered at the beginning. **What we do** **Mondays 4:30-5:30 pm**: We do 10 minutes of meditation, then 5 minutes walking meditation, then 20 minutes of silent meditation. We end with 15 minutes of conversation, poetry, tea and snacks before heading home. No obligation; come try it!

Join DC Polyam at our monthly weekend social. Come by yourself, invite your friends, your partner(s), and even your entire polycule! Come join us from DC proper, Maryland, or Virginia; we welcome all people from all aspects of life and relationship dynamics. Metrobar has non-alcoholic options for those that don't want/don't drink alongside usual food trucks for eating options. Follow us on Instagram and join our Discord @DCPolyam We always enforce a set of house rules in order to maintain a safe space: * **Respectful Behavior** towards hosts and other guests is required; anyone who violates these rules may be asked to leave the event. * **Expectations:** Check your expectations at the door. Being at this event does not signal sexual availability or indicate any aspect of sexual orientation. Our events are about developing friendships and connections within the community. This is a no cruising event, in order to maintain a comfortable atmosphere for our guests. * **Safe Spaces:** We strive to create a safe space for people of ALL identities, including those who do not identify as polyamorous. * **No photography, video, or recording** of any kind is allowed **without prior verbal consent** of all parties involved. * **Verbal Consent:** Please be sure to ask and wait for a yes before hugging or initiating any physical contact, and encourage each other to speak openly about consent and personal boundaries. This helps foster a culture where personal boundaries are supported and attendees are empowered to speak confidently of their limits. (i.e. “Can I give you a hug?” “No thank you, but I would love a handshake.”) If you have any questions please feel free to reach out!

Discover the power of your breath to manage your mind and experience instant peace & calm. Join a 60-minute free Workshop and get a glimpse of the Sudarshan KriyaTM- The breathing technique that is revolutionizing the lives of millions. What you’ll discover at ‘Beyond Breath’ ✔ A taste of the Sudarshan KriyaTM, a breathing technique taught in the Happiness Program ✔ An instant energy booster that awakens & relaxes your mind - Take it home and practice daily! ✔ The peace & calm of a unique guided meditation ✔ Secret keys to manage your mind ✔ The power of surrounding yourself with positive, like-minded people. You can use your breath to master your thoughts and emotions - the key to managing the quality of your day. The Happiness Program At the end of this workshop you may enroll into the Happiness Program (3 days, 3 hours each day) to learn the Sudarshan KriyaTM, a science-backed, rhythmic breathing technique through which you can: Tap into a reservoir of energy and use it as you please! Relieve deep-rooted stresses and anxieties Uplevel your productivity Overcome emotional blocks, move on from past events and shed limiting beliefs Heal your body & gain power over your mind Experience the true state of meditation Learn more about the Happiness Program & the Sudarshan KriyaTM in our introductory workshop 'Secrets to Meditation'. register: http://aolf.live/introSKY

Dallas is best known for oil, cattle, Neiman Marcus and the Cowboys--not mass transit. But Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides light rail, "Trinity Railway Express", regional rail, bus routes, GoLink on-demand service, and paratransit over a 13-city territory. TEDC member Katy Kelly will provide an overview of DART's offerings and explore the challenges of providing transit in a Sunbelt community. We'll also have a preview of our next transit outing! Hope you can all make it :-)

Sara Su Jones, a professional violinist and native Esperanto speaker from Chicago, will present a free 45-minute concert with Tatyana Stepanova, pianist. She has invited us to meet with her immediately after the concert so we can all chat together in Esperanto! Washington Esperanto Meetup members who wish to extend the meetup will walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Sara Su Jones, profesia violonisto kaj denaska parolanto de Esperanto el Ĉikago, prezentos senpagan 45-minutan koncerton kun Tatyana Stepanova, pianisto. Ŝi invitas nin renkonti ŝin tuj post la koncerto por babili kune en Esperanto! Poste, tiuj membroj de Washington Esperanto Meetup kiuj deziras daŭrigi la renkontiĝon piediros al proksima restoracio por tagmanĝi kune. Additional details: Violinist Sara Su Jones and pianist Tatyana Stepanova present a free lunchtime recital (at 12:15 PM Eastern) in the heart of DC as part of the Music at Midday concert series at the beautiful, historic National City Christian Church. Free admission; freewill offering. Free parking at the church ([https://nationalcitycc.org/directions-parking/](https://nationalcitycc.org/directions-parking/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExRDhPOEdJcnhIT0NXaWxDbnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6M-u_x2tNkMbmPw31Ta0Ktq2_mM8uqmdWC3cxHL4afqAVf-lEz4oRb1S7-og_aem_iUjer5mw9thm3rVyA-LkzA)). Livestream: [https://youtube.com/@friendsofnationalcitychristian...](https://youtube.com/@friendsofnationalcitychristian?si=qnUXMPk1B1K7Q8Jt&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExRDhPOEdJcnhIT0NXaWxDbnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6M-u_x2tNkMbmPw31Ta0Ktq2_mM8uqmdWC3cxHL4afqAVf-lEz4oRb1S7-og_aem_iUjer5mw9thm3rVyA-LkzA) Program: Clara Schumann (1819–1896): Romances, op. 22 (1853) I. Andante molto III. Leidenschaftlich schnell Elena Kats-Chernin (b. 1957): Butterflying (2003), Slicked Back Tango (1995) Marguerite Canal (1890–1978): Lied (Song) (1913) Florence Price (1887–1953): Elfentanz (Elves’ Dance) (undated) Lili Boulanger (1893–1918): Nocturne (1911) Clarice Assad (b. 1978): Emotiva (2020) Cecile Chaminade (1857–1944): Capriccio, op. 18 (1890) Artist Bios: As duo partners for nearly two decades, Chicago-based violinist Sara Su Jones and Ukrainian-American pianist Tatyana Stepanova have given recitals at the Harvard Club of New York as well as in Reykjavik, Iceland; Washington, DC; and Andover, Massachusetts. Their Chicago-area appearances include the Driehaus Museum's Third Wednesday Concert Series, the Noonday Concert Series at Fourth Presbyterian Church, and the Charles Gates Dawes House, as well as sold-out concerts at Glessner House, the Cliff Dwellers Club, and Newberry Library. The duo has appeared multiple times on “Live from WFMT,” the flagship recital-and-conversation series of Chicago’s classical-music radio station. Their eclectic, creative programming often highlights striking but little-known works, and Sara Su’s insightful commentary and storytelling enliven the duo’s performances. Hailed as a “violinist of enviable gifts” by a Chicago Sun-Times music critic, **Sara Su Jones** was the 2022 winner of the American Prize (instrumental soloist) and has been a featured soloist on WFMT, WBEZ, and BBC Radio. A top prizewinner in competitions in both the US and UK, including that of the Harvard Musical Association, Sara Su has given numerous recitals abroad, including with her partner, longtime WFMT host and pianist Dennis Moore, in London, Lisbon, and Reykjavik. She earned an A.B. (Economics) and J.D., both with honors from Harvard, where she served for three years as concertmaster of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. Sara Su worked as a consultant at McKinsey and as a lawyer at Ropes & Gray before founding her educational-coaching business. She performs on a violin made for her in 2017 by the Icelandic luthier Hans Johannsson. **Tatyana Stepanova** is a noted performer and teacher, praised as a “fine” and “persuasive” pianist (Chicago Tribune). A Kyiv native and graduate of the Tchaikovsky (Kyiv) and Rimsky-Korsakov (St. Petersburg) State Conservatories, she has performed with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the orchestra of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Tatyana teaches at Midwest Young Artists and has also served as a faculty accompanist at Northwestern. She is a sought-after teacher and chamber-music coach; her piano students and chamber groups have won prizes in the CSO Young Artists and Walgreens National Concerto Competitions, as well as in the Fischoff, Discover, Barnett, and M-Prize national chamber music competitions. [https://nationalcitycc.org/friday-music-at-mid-day/](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fnationalcitycc.org%2Ffriday-music-at-mid-day%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExRDhPOEdJcnhIT0NXaWxDbnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6M-u_x2tNkMbmPw31Ta0Ktq2_mM8uqmdWC3cxHL4afqAVf-lEz4oRb1S7-og_aem_iUjer5mw9thm3rVyA-LkzA&h=AT6lZ59rj6taqeWG13-QBP6-pQM9LOqSOvvoWbEYlpIc0uso96jskbZzC33PN0rU31v__VzOOx5yTUN28Uo_BNfljYWrE-7dsaFmBfwknJ3cqpgqGBSQuEfT4isiaubCzgzhEkFkMhEpdQADA6o&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT72X25ERQ1XgWWqa-VbCb3ceoXBk8qKQJGiPKo8M0U257nUWr3EpPN5QnQsWkBnlBEJwgBA9drX9C6dI4JYtPIt1tNDRo54bg9YKtVbemmy_X16t-9GU0qXSrAW-VhG)

Gently flow to release the week's stresses, then deeply stretch with the yin and restorative yoga in an accepting, calm environment enhanced with candlelight and meditation. Leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, restored and ready for what the weekend has in store for you! **Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com.** The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.** The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314. Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 3,5,7,9.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.

**Sahaja Yoga teaches a unique method of meditation, rooted in ancient spiritual knowledge.** We follow a format of continuous integration of topics in our classes so that no two classes are same and so we are able to accommodate new meditators along with experienced ones. **Through Sahaja Yoga, you can achieve a state of meditation known as thoughtless awareness. In this state, you experience and enjoy the present moment without any distractions from the past or future. Your consciousness works in flow with your inner energy ([Kundalini](https://us.sahajayoga.org/the-kundalini/)).** Some of the things we go over with in our programs are how to awaken your dormant Mother energy called Kundalini. Meditation with Mantras using power of very basic mantra to bring peace within! Meditation with music, what are Chakras, how to take affirmations, what is Thoughtless Awareness and how to find the state of your Chakras. *Meditation sessions led by an experienced fellow meditator.* **Please join us to awaken the dormant energy within you and re-balance your emotional, physical and mental state of being!** **Sahaja Yoga was founded in 1970 by Shri Mataji**. She envisioned a world where people would be transformed, and lead more balanced lives. She has worked tirelessly to help people meditate and achieve greater spiritual heights through this meditation. **Cost**: Free **Parking**: Paid parking in garages and on street. Garage-40 Cordell-St.Elmo Garage, Saint Elmo Avenue, Bethesda, MD is 2 mins walking distance from meditation center. **How to reach us?** We are at **Sahaja Yoga Meditation Center** on **4901 Saint Elmo Avenue** **Bethesda, MD 20814**, *walking distance from Bethesda Metro Center* **You can learn more about this meditation** from [us.sahajayoga.org](https://us.sahajayoga.org)

**Atisha: 7-doors to Meditation: Osho Meditation Retreat** *Osho Nirvana is delighted to invite you to this deep inner exploration and meditation retreat with Videha.* Based on “The Book of Wisdom”, Osho’s commentary on Atisha teaching “Seven Points of Mind Training” These ‘Seven Points of Mind Training’ are the fundamental teaching that Atisha gave to Tibet. They are of immense value. They are the whole of religion condensed. They are like seeds, but they contain the infinite. The moment you move into the statements deeply, when you contemplate and meditate and start experimenting with them, you will be surprised, you will be going into the greatest adventure of your life… *“…Meditate on Atisha, listen to His advice; they are of immense value. It is not a philosophy, it is a manual to discipline yourself, it is a manual of inner transformation. …These sutras are golden. Keep them in your heart; they will nourish you, they will strengthen you, they will transform you. … It is the teaching that can help you grow into Wisdom.”* Osho **Some of the main topics in this retreat** * The Preliminaries * Atisha Meditation, “Tong-Len” (“Giving and Taking” in Tibetan), also known as “Heart Meditation.” * The arising of Bodhicitta * The base of mind functioning and the illusion of the ego * The four bodies (Kaya) * The essential meaning of witnessing * The difficulties and fundamental points of the awareness process * The meaning of “Compassion.” * The meaning of “Wisdom.” * The transcendental function of the five senses * The “Three principal causes” and “The three treasures.” * The authentic meaning of “Freedom.” **About Videha:** Osho disciple since 1980. Initiated into the Mevlevi Sufi Order of Konya (“The Whirling Dervishes”), Videha integrates the Sufi Path into Osho’s vision and love. For years as a Zazen practitioner, he has traveled and trained in Turkey, Mongolia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Central Asia, and Tibet, where he received many initiations. He has been leading groups, seminars, camps, and meditation retreats around the world for more than 35 years, uniting the path of Love with the path of Meditation. ​ **How to Participate?** Dates: May 9 (7:30 PM) – 16 (12:30 PM), 2026 Register [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJdX8kHAuDzKWZnNEx5EpUGxOpp1oEBMa5wtzKKOyV-cLqKQ/viewform?usp=dialog) Participation Contribution: $849 Link to pay: [https://bit.ly/atisha2026tickets](https://bit.ly/atisha2026tickets) (on the final page, for platform support fees (they are optional), select “other” and type 0) **Full participation is required!**

Start your week the right way with Manic Mondays. Giving you an enjoyable Bachata lesson with a push of cool moves. The second hour has Beginner/Intermediate Salsa on 1. You must understand basic Salsa skills to participate. 730pm-830pm Bachata Cool Moves 830pm-930pm Salsa On 1 (Beginner/Intermediate) $15 for One Class $20 for Both Free Parking & Plenty of Dance Space.

The emotional pain from past bad experiences easily lingers in the present, making it hard to enjoy life and create your future. Even when you think you've moved on, the negative emotions can be triggered, sending you back into the pain of that experience. And we are talking about pain; emotions such as grief, depression, anxiety, fear (or terror), boiling anger, simmering resentment, feelings of shame, blaming and regret can leave you incapacitated to a greater or lesser degree. In this local event we will be discussing the reasons why these past bad experiences have the power to affect you long after they occurred. We'll go over why the emotional pain can be so strong. We'll also discuss some simple solutions to overcome your emotional pain and be free to fully enjoy your life again. Examples of painful experiences include: * A broken relationship or divorce. * Death or loss of a loved one. * Death of a pet. * A sudden shock or bad news. * A betrayal. * Being part of an abusive relationship. * A bad injustice. * Loss of a job, position or business. * A grave illness or injury. The negative emotions from these experiences don't just go away on their own. But the good news is there is a way to clear them out of your way. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is sponsored the Dianetics & Scientology Self-Improvement Center.

Join us on Monday nights at 7pm for two 25 minute quiet meditations, with one short walking meditation in between. There will be a brief and informal conversation afterward. Stay for as long as you like and feel free to bring or share whatever is on your mind. All Zen Center events are also available via Zoom at bit.ly/IndyZen.

Main Library, Meeting Room 2B Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. All backgrounds are welcome.

Join us on Wednesday nights at 7pm for two 25 minute quiet meditations, with one short walking meditation in between. There will be a brief and informal conversation afterward. Stay for as long as you like and feel free to bring or share whatever is on your mind. All Zen Center events are also available via Zoom at bit.ly/IndyZen.

Why are we unhappy? Where does emotional pain come from? Studies show that people who suffer from long-term emotional pain have painful experiences in their lives that were never fully resolved in their mind. In other words, there were issues in the past that were not completely dealt with. This can include abuse in childhood, breakups, divorce, death of a loved one, to name a few. How do you know whether you have gotten over something painful? Here is an easy test: Do you still have attention on what had happened to you? For instance, do you still find yourself thinking about something painful that you went through? If you are, then you are not over it. In fact, in severe cases, people find themselves playing a "tape" in their mind over and over again. So how do you heal from your past? How do you stop the "tape" playing in your mind? In this meeting, you will learn a technique to help you with that. Come join us! Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology life improvement center.