Relating with others

We will meet in the Janney Parlor.

This ride has three very short well packed gravel sections. You might not want to use 23 or 25 mm road bike tires. **++++++++++++++++++++** **The Ride: Summary** **(Must Read)** **++++++++++++++++++++** * RIDE NAME: The Koffee Klatch Ride GAVI Bakery & Café, Sully Station * START LOC: Ellanor C Lawrence Park/Woodlands Stewardship Center, 5301 Walney Rd, Chantilly, VA 20151 * START GPS: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/8DFBGfSaCN6GrKQk6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/8DFBGfSaCN6GrKQk6) * START PARKING: At the Center's gravel parking lot -- Porta-Potty is back * ARRIVAL: 10:00 am * SPEECH: 10:10 am ***\*\*you must be present for the speech or no ride for you!\*\**** * ROLLING: 10:15 am * LEVEL: Medium * PACE: 11-13 mph (a "social" pace) * DISTANCE: 17.3 miles * TERRAIN: Trail / Street / Cyclepath * Ride With GPS Route: CBG_KOFFEEK_GAVI_2026 [https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54108112](https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54108112) **Notes:** * This ride is organized very "lean" * Pump your tires on the morning of the ride, please. * It is strongly suggested that you become a NoVA CBG RidewithGPS club member and download the route posted for each "Klatch". * Loading the route onto your Garmin (or other Nav device) is also acceptable. * **NoVA CBG has a turn by turn RideWithGPS club account that's free. [https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/](https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/)** **++++++++++++++++++++** **The Ride: Detail** **++++++++++++++++++++** Welcome to The Koffee Klatch! These rides are normally based off the Arlington Loop, but this week we will go out West towards Centerville and do a 19.7 mile medium level ridden at a social pace (11-13 mph). We will ride East starting from the Ellanor C Lawrence/Woodlands Stewardship parking lot. We will take the I-66 Parallel Trail to the Big Rocky Run Trail at Fair Lakes. We have two gravel sections on Rocky Run. After passing by Ellanor Lawrence we hit Gavi at mile 10.8 in Sully Station. From there we loop over to the Cub Run Valley Stream Trail System. There is a short gravel section in Cub Run. The gravel sections are packed (may be a little softer after early week rain), but you might not want 23 or 25 mm road bike tires. You are not required to drink or even like coffee. **+++++++++++++++++++++** **The Meeting Spot:** **+++++++++++++++++++++** We meet at the the **gravel parking lot** of the Ellanor C Lawrence Park/Woodlands Stewardship Center. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/8DFBGfSaCN6GrKQk6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/8DFBGfSaCN6GrKQk6) Do NOT park in front of the lake across the street. **+++++++++++++++++++++** **The Ride After The Ride:** **+++++++++++++++++++++** This week's [GAVI Bakery & Café](https://www.gavicafe.com/) is the Ride WITHIN The Ride! 5107 Westfields Blvd Centreville, VA 20120 Located in Sully Station Shopping Center (at about mile 10.8 of the ride). **+++++++++++++++++++++** **Ride Level Chart** **+++++++++++++++++++++** NoVA CBG tries to accommodate all levels of cyclists by offering different types/levels of rides. We just ask that you come to the ride that suits your current riding ability the best. * Introductory Level: If you haven't ridden a bike in a number of years (or are uncertain of your abilities on a bicycle). * Beginner Level: You can ride for 10+ miles at a pace of 10+ to 12+ mph with potentially minor hills involved. * Medium Level: You can ride for 20+ miles at a pace of 13+ to 15+ mph with potentially moderate hills involved. * Advanced Level: You can ride for 20++ miles at a pace of 15+ mph with potentially major hills involved. Both Medium and Advanced Levels might require handling various challenges such as reading cue sheets, using a Garmin or navigation app, night riding, out of town travel, or any other odd cycling situations. **+++++++++++++++++++++** **The Fine Print:** **+++++++++++++++++++++** An RSVP of 'YES' is your digital signature and means you have read and understood MEETUP.com's: * "Terms of Service : Section 6. Release" found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/ * NOVA-CBG's "Assumption of Risk Agreement" found @ https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/pages/1942951/NOVA-CBG_Waiver/ * NoVA CBG's "COVID Policy" found @ http://bit.ly/2021_NoVACBG_COVID19_POLICY Helmets are required to participate in all NOVA-CBG rides. All riders ride at their own risk and with the understanding that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. When coming to the meetup you do so voluntarily and are ready and able to participate in the ride as described under the conditions of the day. Be on time for the "pre-ride" preparation. If you do not attend the pre-ride preparation you will not be allowed to participate on the ride. There are NO exceptions to the above. .

Our inaugural event is here! It will be held in my apartment building, The Edmund, which is located directly above the Wegmans in Reston. Wegmans offers free parking, so park there and walk around the building to the lobby of the apartment complex, where I'll greet everyone and bring us all up to the fourth floor. (The elevator is access controlled, so we'll go up together.) Just bring a bottle of wine and however many cups you want to use to sample everyone else's wines. (There's a sink to wash out the cups.) Also, Meetup charges organizers (meaning me) $180 every six months, so please bring $1 to help defray this cost. Hope this massive sum doesn't break the bank. :-) Depending on the weather and what everyone is in favor of, we'll either meet in a big room or in a courtyard. (They're both on the same floor.) We'll decide once we're upstairs. Can't wait to meet you all!

Join us for [Muay Thai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai) kickboxing at [OSMA in Herndon, VA](https://www.virginiabjj.com/): an energetic evening class focused on striking technique, conditioning, and controlled sparring. 🔥 This adult (16+) class combines **technical instruction, pad work, partner drills**, and **cardio training** to build real-world **skill** and **endurance** in a **safe**, **structured setting**. Beginners and experienced students alike will learn how to apply the principles of **Muay Thai: *The Art Of Eight Limbs***, through precise **strikes**, **timing**, and **defense**. Classes take place every **Tuesday** and **Thursday** at **7:00 PM**. The **drop-in fee is $20**, payable on-site, and note that we are located in **suite #130**. Come train with us and see why so many in [Northern Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Virginia) choose One Spirit Martial Arts for top-tier martial-arts instruction. **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)** Q: Is this class suitable for someone interested in **boxing**? A: **Yes**! Muay Thai shares many of the same **striking fundamentals** as [boxing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing), including **stance**, **timing**, and **defensive movement**. Students searching for boxing gyms in [Herndon, VA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herndon,_Virginia) or Northern Virginia train at OSMA to develop **solid punching technique** along with **kicks**, **knees**, and **elbows**.

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.

This **no gi class** focuses on **[Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) (BJJ) concepts**, including **takedowns**, **positional drilling**, **submissions**, **transitions**, **situational sparring**, **strategy development**, and **live training**. While the class is scheduled for **90 minutes**, it may run longer depending on content and participation. This class includes both **instruction** as well as [rolling](https://www.howbjjworks.com/bjj-blog/2018/7/29/how-rolling-works-in-bjj) (**sparring**) and a **question-and-answer** section. **Some of the topics covered in this class include:** 🤼 **Wrestling** \-\- Takedowns\, ties\, and controlling the stand\-up game using wrestling fundamentals adapted for no gi BJJ competition and self\-defense\. 🤼 **Catch Wrestling** \-\- A traditional grappling system emphasizing submissions and relentless pressure \-\- [catch wrestling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch_wrestling) concepts add a ruthlessly practical dimension to no-gi BJJ. 🥋 **Judo adapted to no gi BJJ** \-\- Classical [Judo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo) throws and **off-balancing principles** translated into a no-gi context, giving grapplers a powerful and often underused takedown arsenal. 🧠 **[Constraints-Led Approach](https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach) (CLA) to learning and games** \-\- A modern\, evidence\-based coaching methodology that uses structured games and constraints to accelerate skill acquisition naturally and intuitively\. 📌 **Pins** \-\- Controlling and maintaining dominant positions on the ground \-\- [pins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin_(sport_wrestling)) are the foundation of effective ground fighting and set up submissions, transitions, and pressure. 🔒 **Submissions** \-\- Chokes\, arm locks\, and [finishing techniques](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brazilian_jiu-jitsu_techniques#Submissions_(Most_Frequent_in_UFC_%E2%80%93_Sorted_by_Frequency)) applied from dominant positions -- the ultimate objective of BJJ ground fighting. 🦵 **Leg locks** \-\- Heel hooks\, kneebars\, ankle locks\, and toe holds \-\- [lower body submissions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leglock) that are increasingly central to high-level no gi competition. 🔄 **Guard passing and guard retention** \-\- The core positional chess match of BJJ \-\- learning to break through an opponent's guard while protecting your own is fundamental to controlling a match\. ⚖️ **Kuzushi (off-balancing)** \-\- The Japanese principle of [disrupting an opponent's balance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzushi) before executing a throw or takedown -- a concept borrowed from Judo that dramatically improves takedown success rates. 🔥 **Pressure and cooking opponents** \-\- Using body weight\, positioning\, and [relentless forward pressure](https://bjjfanatics.com/blogs/news/pressure-bjj) to physically and mentally exhaust opponents -- a high percentage strategy at all levels. The **drop-in fee** for non-members is **$20** and can be **paid on-site**, or **[sign up for a week of training for free](https://www.pedrosaueracademy.com/).**

This is introductory meditation for people who wants to learn basics of meditation. It's a free event held every week and everyone is welcome to join.

SSB Happy Hour isn’t just drinks, it’s where strangers become regulars and regulars become friends. Every HH, we’re building something simple but real: good people, great conversation, and a table that always has room for one more. Pull up. Feel the difference.

What becomes possible when different generations come together—not just to share perspectives, but to truly collaborate? This meetup invites participants of all ages to explore how intergenerational connection can strengthen communities, spark innovation, and create more sustainable solutions for today’s challenges. Each generation brings unique experiences, insights, and strengths—and when combined, they can become a powerful force for positive change. Through guided discussion and reflection, we’ll explore: * How generational perspectives shape the way we see the world * Where misunderstandings arise—and how to move beyond them * Practical ways to collaborate across age groups in our communities and work Whether you’re early in your journey or bring decades of experience, your voice matters in this conversation. All thoughtful voices are welcome.

⚡ **Reset your mindset. Meet someone unexpected. Walk away with new clarity.** Join us for a free, small-group gathering held in our **Startup Garage** — a **spacious, comfortable living-room style space** inside a single-family home. Think couches, coffee, and real conversation — **not an actual garage 😊** 🔁 You’ll be **paired** with different attendees throughout the event for short, energizing rounds — each sparked by a simple **opening line** designed to make you laugh, reflect, and think bigger about what comes next. You won’t just talk about what’s behind you — You’ll begin to **picture what’s ahead** in a way that actually excites you. *** **☕ Coffee and snacks are on me.** Just show up with a curious mind — and a willingness to laugh. We’ll guide you through questions that blend **wisdom and humor** — the kind that help you see your story through a new lens. *** **🔍 What You’ll Experience** • One-on-one rounds to explore purpose, identity, and new possibilities • Light, energizing activities designed to shift your mindset in under 10 minutes • Fresh insights from people you’ve never met — but may never forget • A laid-back, thoughtful space to connect without pressure *** **💼 Who It’s For** • Divorced/Separated or midlife professionals figuring out what’s next • Entrepreneurs, builders, and creatives in a season of reinvention • Men and women who prefer **meaningful conversation** over surface level talk Whether you’re starting over, scaling up, or just ready for something more aligned — this space is for you. *** 📊 *Most attendees are in their 30s, 40s, or 50s — navigating life and growth with curiosity, clarity, and a sense of humor.* 🛋️ **Hosted in a spacious living-room setting** inside a single-family home (Ashburn). Full address shared after RSVP. 🌐 Explore more: [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co)

**Join us for Soul Coffee, an informal gathering where we can connect a bit deeper, check in on each other, and share some real soul conversation together - as always, across beliefs and traditions.** Soul Coffee is a gathering by BreadBreakers, a community for people of all stripes to build meaningful relationships and have curious conversations. **Our mission in BreadBreakers is to be a place of compassion and belonging in a time of division and isolation; to rebuild the town square, one table at a time.** Usually we do this by breaking bread and having facilitated conversations over dinner, but sometimes it's good to just meet over coffee and spend some unstructured time talking about the deep stuff. At each Soul Coffee, we'll keep it simple and talk about three questions: - How's your soul doing? - How have you experienced wonder lately? - What do you need right now? No matter your religion, or if you even are religious; no matter where you are spiritually; no matter if you even think souls exist - come to be seen and known, to just be humans together in a crazy world, to talk about those things of the spirit that are so central to the human experience but rarely get discussed. **Join us, invite a friend, and be a part of the movement to mend our fractured society and normalize a better way of being in community with one another.** BreadBreakers, an initiative by[ Restoration United Methodist Churc](https://restorationreston.org/breadbreakers)h in Reston, VA, is a religiously inclusive community, a collaboration between the church and those of all different beliefs. All faiths and all stripes are welcomed. Our leadership, volunteer team, and community include people who attend Restoration and people who don't.

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. Our June 12 gathering will be led by the wonderful Henya Emmer!

Regular coffee meetup for people to meet, make new friends, or enjoy general conversations with coffee. Great for those who are new in town or looking for new activities to do! This will be held at Weird Brothers Coffee at Worldgate Centre in Herndon. Afterwards, if anyone is interested, we can grab lunch at whichever nearby restaurant in the shopping center. There’s a TGI Friday’s, a Thai place, a Mexican place, Inchin’s Asian fusion restaurant, and we are open to alternative preferences. Additional Note: If you are on the Wait List, you can still feel free to attend if you wish.

# Giving and Receiving Platonic Touch Private residence in Rockville, MD \*\*\*\* Important - to confirm registration and pay please go to ticketleap - https://events.ticketleap.com/events/greentara/touch \*\*\*\* ## Event Details Physical touch is essential for wellbeing and human connection, but many of us go for long periods without it. Research shows that nurturing touch in adults reduces pain perception, lowers blood pressure, improves sleep quality, and strengthens immune function. In this participatory workshop, we will explore connection through conversation, eye contact, and platonic touch through a series of activities that foster trust and connection. Using Betty Martin's theory of the wheel of consent, we will learn to give and receive platonic touch while being in tune with our authentic needs and desires. Activities are designed to build a sense of psychological safety within the group, and gradually introduce nurturing platonic touch to the extent that feels comfortable. All activities are optional and you may participate as much or as little as you want, based on your comfort level. You are not required to touch or be touched by anyone. We will practice stating boundaries and desires. If you need to pause, modify, or exit any activity--you're encouraged to do what feels comfortable for you. Adults of every age, gender, orientation, race, belief system, and body type are welcome to attend, provided that you are willing and able to remain sober, lucid, and respectful for the duration of our time together. **Tentative Agenda** 5 min: Partnered conversation to land 10 min: Loving kindness meditation 20 min: Introduction and opening shares 20 min: Authentic relating conversations 20 min: Wheel of consent 10 min: Break 20 min: Practice saying no and boundaries 20 min: Practice asking for what we want 20 min: Giving and receiving platonic touch 20 min: Cuddle pile ### **Additional Info** Event will be held at a private residence in Rockville with 2 cats. Address will be provided after registration. Advanced registration required at least 24 hours before the event. No walk ins. NO REFUNDS unless request is made more than 2 weeks in advance. Everyone who attends is invited to join a WhatsApp group to stay in touch and connect with others one-on-one. This event is not exclusively for singles! All ages, genders, sexualities, abilities, identities, etc. welcome! This event is capped at 14. If you would like to participate, please arrive early (between 1:30 and 2) so we can start on time. Late arrivals jeopardize the emotional safety and flow of the event. ### **Testimonials** “I was a bit nervous going into the event, but any concerns soon dissipated with Clara’s calm presence and carefully planned agenda. I’ve already started discussing the Wheel of Consent with others, and the event had me thinking more specifically about how I can voice my wants, needs, and preferences in many areas of my life. I would highly recommend trying out this event even if you’re on the fence about it. The support, safety, and lasting connections that I make at Clara’s events always leave me signing up for more afterwards. Those of us living in the DMV area are lucky to have Clara as a force for good in our local communities.” - Michaela ## **About the Facilitator** Clara Fang, Ph.D. is the founder of [Green Tara Consulting](https://greentaraconsulting.com/blog/authentic-relating), a consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and belonging. She has been working at the intersection of climate advocacy and racial justice for over twenty years. She is an experienced facilitator of authentic relating, meditation, and ecstatic dance. She lives in Germantown, MD. Learn more at [bio.site/cfang](https://events.ticketleap.com/events/greentara/authentic) To learn more about my approach to creating inclusive social gatherings, please read [Authentic Relating: The Art of Inclusive Social Gatherings](https://greentaraconsulting.com/blog/authentic-relating) . [Subscribe](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCxVlNMAWTLRBI_e3OtwQdZLoZE9M7Dy8VUiFVQaMpg3tIKQ/viewform?usp=sf_link) to the email list to receive notification of future events and connect with other members.

### Hopeful Cafe Conversations @Panera Kentlands **You are cordially invited to join in the conversation to catch the positive vibe... a cup of coffee, or another of your favorite refreshment.** **At NEW HOPE CAFE CONVERSATIONS on 3rd Saturdays, Monthly** **Address: Panera, 285 Kentlands Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878** **Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83326239362** ===== **New Hope Workshop**: What is Negativity Bias? How do we get ahead of it to reach more positive outcomes in work, life, and relationships? Discover the difference between goals and outcomes. 1\. How do we reaffirm ones role\, despite negativity bias from others? 2\. The New Hope Community Affirmative Statements of Foundational Principles 3\. Your Perspectives in Conversation **"Star Points Meal Deal"** If you have New Hope "Star Points 💫" you can get a discount on a meal. Also you can earn Star Points, if this is your first time attending Cafe Conversations, in-person. Ask Gene, newhope321community@yahoo.com, 240-848-0808.

Mindfulness Meditation group practice every Wednesday evening at Unity of Gaithersburg. Mindfulness practice is not about achieving some special state of mind; it is more about noticing the experience you are having without trying to change it. This interesting video suggests why you might sit and watch your mind wander off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmmBF8eTl18 This noticing tends to shift your nervous system from a 'fight-or-flight' state to a more relaxed and receptive state. In this receptive mental state, you begin to see your own experience differently and, over time, see other people and the world differently. Also, it is good for you: "the effect of regular meditation on the cortex was so profound that fifty-year-old meditators had a prefrontal cortex that looked like that of a twenty-five-year-old" [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT) Here is an interesting and funny take on meditation by Ajahn Brahm: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs). If you arrive on time, there will be an introduction at the beginning, if you arrive late, find a chair and join us. There will be some discussion after. This is a free event, but contributions to the church's expenses are welcome. You can just show up this Wednesday or subsequent Wednesdays. More information at [https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org](https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org/)/

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.

Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions

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?

Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles

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?

Optional Questions: AI & Being Human

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?

Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning

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?

Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche

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?

Optional Questions: Work & Purpose

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?

Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection

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?

Optional Questions: Time & Mortality

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?

Optional Questions: Society & Culture

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?

Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy

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?

Join Guro [Krysta Scharlach](https://www.instagram.com/kindafabulous/) for a full weekend of [Muay Thai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai) and [Kali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnis) training at [Pedro Sauer Academy of Self-Defense](https://www.pedrosaueracademy.com/) in [Herndon, VA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herndon,_Virginia): **four sessions** across **two days**, open to **all levels**, on **June 27-28**, 2026. **Registration and Pricing** **Each session** is priced at **$20**, with **four sessions available** across the weekend. Attend one, a few, or all four -- *the choice is yours*. To **reserve your spot,** visit the [event registration page](https://sparkpages.io/?i=_5QEb) on SparkPages. **Kali Section** Guro [Krysta Scharlach](https://www.instagram.com/kindafabulous/) brings deep expertise in [Filipino Martial Arts ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_martial_arts)(FMA) to this seminar, offering material that is **accessible to beginners** while remaining rich enough to **reward experienced practitioners**. For more information about Kali training in [Herndon, VA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herndon,_Virginia), visit the [PSA Kali program](https://www.pedrosaueracademy.com/kali-herndon-va/) page. **About Coach Krysta** Coach Krysta has been studying multiple disciplines in the martial arts for **17 years** and has earned the following **certifications**: * *Full Instructor* under [Bryan Mossey](https://inosanto.com/congratulations-bryan-mossey-on-your-gracie-jiu-jitsu-black-belt/) (Mossey Academy of Martial Arts) * *Full Instructor* under [Ajarn Chai Sirisute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chai_Sirisute) ([World Thai Boxing Association](https://thaiboxing.com/)) * *Associate Instructor* under [Guro Dan Inosanto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Inosanto) ([Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts](https://inosanto.com/)) * *Associate Instructor* under Marc McFann ([United Fighting Arts](https://unifiedfightingarts.com/)) * *Blue belt* under [Professor Pedro Sauer](https://pedrosauer.com/en/about#leadership). Coach Krysta trains [Filipino Martial Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_martial_arts), Silat, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan Gung Fu, Western Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This [Kali seminar](https://nvma.group/2026/05/15/muay-thai-kali-seminar-guro-krysta-scharlach-herndon-va-june-2026/) has been cross-posted with additional information including details about the Muay Thai section of this seminar.

⚡ Reset your direction. Meet someone unexpected. Walk away with fresh clarity. Join us for a relaxed **small-group afternoon event** that blends a light **Inner Coach conversation experience** with a **community potluck lunch**. In February we hosted our first **Inner Coach event**, and many attendees said it helped them notice something powerful — the voice inside that quietly guides better decisions when life gets complicated. This event builds on that idea. Instead of overthinking the past, we’ll explore how to **reset direction for what’s next** — through thoughtful conversation, new perspectives, and the kind of questions that spark real insight. We’ll start with a few short conversation rounds designed to spark reflection, humor, and perspective — and then continue the discussion over food and relaxed conversation. Think **good food, grounded people, and real conversations about what comes next in life.** Held in our **Startup Garage** — a bright, comfortable living-room style space inside a single-family home. (Couches, food, conversation — **not an actual garage** 😊) *** ## **🥘 Potluck Lunch** If you're able, bring something small to share. Homemade or store-bought — both welcome. A dish you enjoy making. A dish that always works Or simply something easy from the store If you're busy, come anyway — the goal is **community, not perfection**. We’ll share a relaxed **afternoon potluck lunch** while continuing meaningful conversations with people navigating their next chapter. *** ## **What You’ll Experience** • Light conversation rounds designed to spark insight • Fresh perspectives from people navigating similar life transitions • Humor, perspective, and grounded conversation • A relaxed environment where ideas and connections happen naturally *** ## **Who Typically Attends** • Professionals in their 30s–40s–50s • Entrepreneurs and builders • Divorced or separated individuals navigating what’s next • People who prefer thoughtful conversation over surface-level small talk Whether you're **resetting direction, building something new, or simply meeting grounded people**, this event is designed for honest connection and fresh perspective. *** Most attendees are navigating life and growth with **curiosity, clarity, and a sense of humor.** 📍 Hosted in a spacious living-room setting inside a single-family home (Ashburn – 20147). Full address and parking details are emailed **2–3 days before the event.** 🌐 Learn more about the community [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) *** If you're curious about the **Inner Coach vs Inner Critic concept**, here’s a short introduction: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI)