Self-Awareness

Welcome to join our Ren Xue Yuan Gong practice with Ren Xue Finland at Lapinlahden Lähde! The practice is simple but yet practical and powerful. It is easy to learn and will help you: -gain energy, feel less tired and stressed -more mental clarity, easier to concentrate -boost your immune system Time: Sundays 15:30 - 17:00 WHERE: Tallipääty, MIITTI office Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki NOTE: occasionally, the lesson will be held in Wanha labra (through Kahvila Lähde, above the stairs of the auditorium) About REN XUE Ren Xue is a comprehensive system for uplifting human life. It includes a unique form of Qigong (Yuan Qigong); three foundational theories (Theory of Qi, Theory of Consciousness, Theory of Totality) and a large body of teachings. It was created by world-renowned teacher and healer Yuan Tze who continues to offer online and in-person events worldwide. Ren Xue combines ancient Chinese wisdom traditions with modern insights into health and well-being. The goal of Ren Xue is to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and mental health through a holistic approach that emphasizes the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. REN XUE FINLAND Ren Xue Finland (RXF) is the Finnish branch of the global movement, an organization dedicated to the promotion and teaching of Ren Xue and its associated practices, including Yuan Gong and Yuan Ming Medicine. It provides easy entry into the Ren Xue system through local in-person sessions, online courses and workshops/retreats. Other learning methods can be found here: Ren Xue TV, a YouTube channel and Learn Ren Xue website. More about Ren Xue: [https://www.renxueinternational.org](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.renxueinternational.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06uJQRSC7BE3zhPePQ7X_KO7WXa60cr7NK25KdOqfbSIHpYqBLO3dYgVM_aem_alDR7a6KhbNhG3u9NhCUVA&h=AT18asmYaRkvHCJemaC7rr9GVu579uflDCg7T6mLNodWdtMVhuxwFhIyz0p5ONeJbm3WQ3ZGIwONIa0_pDvih4t9BCCJUBkjhK4BdIMEl4aQ_qPzR5ykW-aiOndhYDPeAW9_2_eWZaMsv889HKbp8_c&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT35KTjVjr2kCnYHrXXjXPxEGFK-RFbZnFVdDmWrTe5WwbSZZ5ulNxFEjPPhejS8Pf4xetwkU1hhM1P2K_ABugpnXL6w-CKE25ARXwtLSexv-4fPJ4s2_Kcqgj3g2XWjCVkPPgcjwrPoNWOvdKa2f1VqyVa-2kcTojodTS3wn9zrnRjZLcG7)/

Hello sporty population! Join us for badminton and meet people from around the world! Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a beginner or already experienced. **IMPORTANT**: Spots are limited, so please reserve yours in advance. Only registered participants can join to ensure fair access for everyone. If you mark “going” but do not attend, or fail to cancel at least 1 day before(By 9pm Saturday), you may be suspended from the next two sessions. 📍 Location: Talihalli Huopalahti ⏰ Time: 11:00–12:30 🏸 Courts: 9, 10, and 11 You can meet us at the entrance a little before 11:00 or come directly to the courts (**please do not enter before our booking starts**). Who can join? • Open to everyone, regardless of background or gender • No badminton skills needed – beginners are welcome • **Age limit: 16+** Event is free, but please bring your rackets and indoor shoes, or you can borrow a racket from the hall for free if needed. We are committed to making our events and activities accessible to those who need them most. Therefore, **individuals with a refugee background are welcome to attend free of charge without prior registration.** If you plan to join, simply send a message to Alaa to let us know you’re coming. This approach is intentional. Many refugees and newcomers face practical, cultural, and psychological barriers that can make formal registration difficult or discouraging. By removing this requirement, we aim to create a more inclusive, low-threshold environment where participation feels safe, simple, and welcoming. Our events are designed to support the mental health and well-being of refugees and immigrants, while also encouraging dialogue that challenges cross-cultural stigmas and stereotypes. We believe open access is an important step in building trust, increasing participation, and creating meaningful connections across communities. After badminton, we'll enjoy Talihalli's sauna and maybe go to a local restaurant to grab some lunch after the game. Warm welcome! 📞 Questions / Contact: Alaa – 040 5656096 Arun - 050 3206169 If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/miitti1) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/miitti1) [Website](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti)

The weather forecast for Sunday seems perfect, so let's take full advantage of it. **Agenda:** We'll gather for a picnic at Eira beach at 2PM and enjoy some sun. After 4PM, we will move to check out the Italian Fest (https://ciaociao.fi/) in Kansalaistori. Feel free to join for one part or both. **What to bring**: For the picnic, a blanket is recommended. Sharing snacks or beverages is appreciated but optional. Everyone is welcome, no matter whether you've previously visited the Sincha group's social meetups. **NOTE:** **Please keep your RSVP updated.** If you can't make it, please update your RSVP to *not attending* at least a couple of hours before the event.

【IMPORTANT SUMMARY】 * The purpose of social games is to know some people, do some exercise and enjoy the games together with others. Winning and getting points is not the focus of this session. Please play with consideration to your opponents' level. * Please purchase your slot through this link [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/) 【SIGN-UP SYSTEM】 * Please sign up and pay through this link. [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game) * We don't use the signup system on Meetup.com anymore. (Neither the waiting list) * It says this event is full on this meetup page, because I didn't open any slots here for you to sign up. You have to check this [sign-up page](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game) to see if there is still a slot available there. * The background of using an external sign-up and payment system is because Meetup.com introduced a service fee to increase 21% of the fee in May 2023, and we want to reduce this cost. 【FEE and REFUND POLICY】 * Fee includes courts and plastic shuttles. Please sign up and pay before you come. NO refund if you do not cancel until 48 hours before the event. * Racket: bring one or rent one at the counter. * You can put a comment to sell your slot after the deadline of refund, or sell your slot in our whatsapp group. * No matter the reason is sickness, accident or anything, the group or I will not afford the cost caused by your absence. * Of course you CAN'T ask me, "Can I sign up for free for next week because I didn't come to use my slot this week?". Please remember, the court booked for you was there and it costs money. The court doesn't simply become "free of charge", just because you didn't come to use it. 【COMMUNICATION】 * Communication: our whatsapp group [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347) * There are too many spams, so I only accept +358 number to join whatsapp group. Numbers from other countries will all be rejected. 【OTHERS】 * Please always keep 1 meter away from those courts where people are playing. Never step into the corners of other courts! If I see you do this, I probably will yell at you! * If you have some questions, you can put your questions in the comments on the event page. People will respond. * We play double games to 21 points. After each game, please let those who are waiting to play. Feel free to play with whoever you want, but please avoid playing with the same people all the time. * If you are new to badminton, please Google basic badminton rules in advance. Serve rules, double rules and point counting rules. You are always welcome to ask anyone in our group. Most of our members are more than happy to help you. * Badminton activity is organized for non-profit purpose, but I take a small fee for my work. * Want to restring your racket? I can do restring for you. €24 including the string. Please get contact with Ken. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing) * [https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/) * You want to pay with your sport card or voucher? check the bottom of the page. Click "read more" * https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/[https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/)

**HOW TO FIND US** Outdoors: We meet **every Sunday at 15:00** in the **Töölönlahti Park**, opposite the entrance to Pikku-Finlandia. If you’re walking from Oodi, pass the playground with the big swings and the volleyball court. On the left, you’ll find us in the **area with benches, hammocks, and yellow chairs**. Indoors: When it's cold or rainy we move to the **top floor** of the **Oodi** Library, on the stairs opposite the children’s area. It's a good idea to **keep your sketchbook visible** so others can easily recognize that you're there for the sketching meetup. And if you’re a regular participant, making it clear that you're part of the sketching group can be very helpful for newcomers! \*\*\* **HOW IT WORKS** At each meetup, attendees take turns being the model for a quick **10-minute sketch session**. One person poses, everyone else sketches, then we rotate. \*\*\* **WHAT TO BRING** Pencils and paper (or any sketching tools you like). No fees, no pressure. The only thing we ask is that everyone takes a turn posing for the group. You can sit however you feel comfortable — the 10 minutes go by quickly! Draw as much as you like, skip a round if you’re tired or just want to chat, and leave whenever it suits you. The event continues as long as there’s interest. \*\*\* **STAYING CONNECTED** **Only people who have attended at least one meetup will be accepted into the WhatsApp group**. To be added, please ask other participants at the meetup — a few members have permission to approve new people, and at least one of them will likely be present. \*\*\* **SOCIAL MEDIA** If you’d like to share your drawings from the meetup, you can send on WhatsApp group or use the Instagram collab function (instagram.com/sketchy.collective). We warmly encourage everyone to share their work and take part in building our international sketching gallery — together with artists from all the cities where Sketchy Collective meetups are organized. Please note that photos may be taken during the meetup and shared on our social media. If you’d rather not be in photos, please let the person taking photos know so they can avoid photographing you. If you’re taking photos, please make sure people know about it and can choose whether they want to be included or not.

🌿 Darband Day – Persian Garden Breakfast in Helsinki 🌿 What if a Sunday morning in Helsinki felt a little more like Darband ? Join us for a relaxed Persian breakfast experience where fresh bread, feta cheese, herbs, homemade jams and soups , walnuts, Persian tea, traditional music, and poetry come together around one table. Whether you’re discovering a culture for the first time or simply looking for a cozy Sunday gathering, this morning is about good food, warm conversations, and sharing a tradition that has brought people together for generations. 🍵 Authentic Persian breakfast buffet 🎶 Traditional Iranian music 📖 Reading from Hafez 🌞 Beautiful Sunday morning atmosphere 🌍 Open to everyone 📍 GTC Café, Helsinki 📅 Sunday, 7 June ⏰ 10:00 – 12:30 (Reservation helps us prepare food and seating accordingly.) Seats are limited, so we recommend reserving in advance.

Welcome to join our Ren Xue Yuan Gong practice with Ren Xue Finland at Lapinlahden Lähde! The practice is simple but yet practical and powerful. It is easy to learn and will help you: -gain energy, feel less tired and stressed -more mental clarity, easier to concentrate -boost your immune system Time: Sundays 15:30 - 17:00 WHERE: Tallipääty, MIITTI office Lapinlahden Lähde Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki NOTE: occasionally, the lesson will be held in Wanha labra (through Kahvila Lähde, above the stairs of the auditorium) About REN XUE Ren Xue is a comprehensive system for uplifting human life. It includes a unique form of Qigong (Yuan Qigong); three foundational theories (Theory of Qi, Theory of Consciousness, Theory of Totality) and a large body of teachings. It was created by world-renowned teacher and healer Yuan Tze who continues to offer online and in-person events worldwide. Ren Xue combines ancient Chinese wisdom traditions with modern insights into health and well-being. The goal of Ren Xue is to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and mental health through a holistic approach that emphasizes the connection between the mind, body, and spirit. REN XUE FINLAND Ren Xue Finland (RXF) is the Finnish branch of the global movement, an organization dedicated to the promotion and teaching of Ren Xue and its associated practices, including Yuan Gong and Yuan Ming Medicine. It provides easy entry into the Ren Xue system through local in-person sessions, online courses and workshops/retreats. Other learning methods can be found here: Ren Xue TV, a YouTube channel and Learn Ren Xue website. More about Ren Xue: [https://www.renxueinternational.org](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.renxueinternational.org%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR06uJQRSC7BE3zhPePQ7X_KO7WXa60cr7NK25KdOqfbSIHpYqBLO3dYgVM_aem_alDR7a6KhbNhG3u9NhCUVA&h=AT18asmYaRkvHCJemaC7rr9GVu579uflDCg7T6mLNodWdtMVhuxwFhIyz0p5ONeJbm3WQ3ZGIwONIa0_pDvih4t9BCCJUBkjhK4BdIMEl4aQ_qPzR5ykW-aiOndhYDPeAW9_2_eWZaMsv889HKbp8_c&__tn__=q&c%5B0%5D=AT35KTjVjr2kCnYHrXXjXPxEGFK-RFbZnFVdDmWrTe5WwbSZZ5ulNxFEjPPhejS8Pf4xetwkU1hhM1P2K_ABugpnXL6w-CKE25ARXwtLSexv-4fPJ4s2_Kcqgj3g2XWjCVkPPgcjwrPoNWOvdKa2f1VqyVa-2kcTojodTS3wn9zrnRjZLcG7)/

Hello sporty population! Join us for badminton and meet people from around the world! Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a beginner or already experienced. **IMPORTANT**: Spots are limited, so please reserve yours in advance. Only registered participants can join to ensure fair access for everyone. If you mark “going” but do not attend, or fail to cancel at least 1 day before(By 9pm Saturday), you may be suspended from the next two sessions. 📍 Location: Talihalli Huopalahti ⏰ Time: 11:00–12:30 🏸 Courts: 9, 10, and 11 You can meet us at the entrance a little before 11:00 or come directly to the courts (**please do not enter before our booking starts**). Who can join? • Open to everyone, regardless of background or gender • No badminton skills needed – beginners are welcome • **Age limit: 16+** Event is free, but please bring your rackets and indoor shoes, or you can borrow a racket from the hall for free if needed. We are committed to making our events and activities accessible to those who need them most. Therefore, **individuals with a refugee background are welcome to attend free of charge without prior registration.** If you plan to join, simply send a message to Alaa to let us know you’re coming. This approach is intentional. Many refugees and newcomers face practical, cultural, and psychological barriers that can make formal registration difficult or discouraging. By removing this requirement, we aim to create a more inclusive, low-threshold environment where participation feels safe, simple, and welcoming. Our events are designed to support the mental health and well-being of refugees and immigrants, while also encouraging dialogue that challenges cross-cultural stigmas and stereotypes. We believe open access is an important step in building trust, increasing participation, and creating meaningful connections across communities. After badminton, we'll enjoy Talihalli's sauna and maybe go to a local restaurant to grab some lunch after the game. Warm welcome! 📞 Questions / Contact: Alaa – 040 5656096 Arun - 050 3206169 If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/miitti1) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/miitti1) [Website](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti)

The weather forecast for Sunday seems perfect, so let's take full advantage of it. **Agenda:** We'll gather for a picnic at Eira beach at 2PM and enjoy some sun. After 4PM, we will move to check out the Italian Fest (https://ciaociao.fi/) in Kansalaistori. Feel free to join for one part or both. **What to bring**: For the picnic, a blanket is recommended. Sharing snacks or beverages is appreciated but optional. Everyone is welcome, no matter whether you've previously visited the Sincha group's social meetups. **NOTE:** **Please keep your RSVP updated.** If you can't make it, please update your RSVP to *not attending* at least a couple of hours before the event.

【IMPORTANT SUMMARY】 * The purpose of social games is to know some people, do some exercise and enjoy the games together with others. Winning and getting points is not the focus of this session. Please play with consideration to your opponents' level. * Please purchase your slot through this link [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/) 【SIGN-UP SYSTEM】 * Please sign up and pay through this link. [https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game) * We don't use the signup system on Meetup.com anymore. (Neither the waiting list) * It says this event is full on this meetup page, because I didn't open any slots here for you to sign up. You have to check this [sign-up page](https://7538e9.myshopify.com/products/social-game) to see if there is still a slot available there. * The background of using an external sign-up and payment system is because Meetup.com introduced a service fee to increase 21% of the fee in May 2023, and we want to reduce this cost. 【FEE and REFUND POLICY】 * Fee includes courts and plastic shuttles. Please sign up and pay before you come. NO refund if you do not cancel until 48 hours before the event. * Racket: bring one or rent one at the counter. * You can put a comment to sell your slot after the deadline of refund, or sell your slot in our whatsapp group. * No matter the reason is sickness, accident or anything, the group or I will not afford the cost caused by your absence. * Of course you CAN'T ask me, "Can I sign up for free for next week because I didn't come to use my slot this week?". Please remember, the court booked for you was there and it costs money. The court doesn't simply become "free of charge", just because you didn't come to use it. 【COMMUNICATION】 * Communication: our whatsapp group [https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347](https://chat.whatsapp.com/JJQbJlisbcj5YDnlcSu347) * There are too many spams, so I only accept +358 number to join whatsapp group. Numbers from other countries will all be rejected. 【OTHERS】 * Please always keep 1 meter away from those courts where people are playing. Never step into the corners of other courts! If I see you do this, I probably will yell at you! * If you have some questions, you can put your questions in the comments on the event page. People will respond. * We play double games to 21 points. After each game, please let those who are waiting to play. Feel free to play with whoever you want, but please avoid playing with the same people all the time. * If you are new to badminton, please Google basic badminton rules in advance. Serve rules, double rules and point counting rules. You are always welcome to ask anyone in our group. Most of our members are more than happy to help you. * Badminton activity is organized for non-profit purpose, but I take a small fee for my work. * Want to restring your racket? I can do restring for you. €24 including the string. Please get contact with Ken. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdBBBKBmsHqvMyI7t1MttqOxwX8rs7vQ/view?usp=sharing) * [https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/) * You want to pay with your sport card or voucher? check the bottom of the page. Click "read more" * https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/[https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/](https://www.meetup.com/Helsinki-Badminton-Meetup/)

**HOW TO FIND US** Outdoors: We meet **every Sunday at 15:00** in the **Töölönlahti Park**, opposite the entrance to Pikku-Finlandia. If you’re walking from Oodi, pass the playground with the big swings and the volleyball court. On the left, you’ll find us in the **area with benches, hammocks, and yellow chairs**. Indoors: When it's cold or rainy we move to the **top floor** of the **Oodi** Library, on the stairs opposite the children’s area. It's a good idea to **keep your sketchbook visible** so others can easily recognize that you're there for the sketching meetup. And if you’re a regular participant, making it clear that you're part of the sketching group can be very helpful for newcomers! \*\*\* **HOW IT WORKS** At each meetup, attendees take turns being the model for a quick **10-minute sketch session**. One person poses, everyone else sketches, then we rotate. \*\*\* **WHAT TO BRING** Pencils and paper (or any sketching tools you like). No fees, no pressure. The only thing we ask is that everyone takes a turn posing for the group. You can sit however you feel comfortable — the 10 minutes go by quickly! Draw as much as you like, skip a round if you’re tired or just want to chat, and leave whenever it suits you. The event continues as long as there’s interest. \*\*\* **STAYING CONNECTED** **Only people who have attended at least one meetup will be accepted into the WhatsApp group**. To be added, please ask other participants at the meetup — a few members have permission to approve new people, and at least one of them will likely be present. \*\*\* **SOCIAL MEDIA** If you’d like to share your drawings from the meetup, you can send on WhatsApp group or use the Instagram collab function (instagram.com/sketchy.collective). We warmly encourage everyone to share their work and take part in building our international sketching gallery — together with artists from all the cities where Sketchy Collective meetups are organized. Please note that photos may be taken during the meetup and shared on our social media. If you’d rather not be in photos, please let the person taking photos know so they can avoid photographing you. If you’re taking photos, please make sure people know about it and can choose whether they want to be included or not.

🌿 Darband Day – Persian Garden Breakfast in Helsinki 🌿 What if a Sunday morning in Helsinki felt a little more like Darband ? Join us for a relaxed Persian breakfast experience where fresh bread, feta cheese, herbs, homemade jams and soups , walnuts, Persian tea, traditional music, and poetry come together around one table. Whether you’re discovering a culture for the first time or simply looking for a cozy Sunday gathering, this morning is about good food, warm conversations, and sharing a tradition that has brought people together for generations. 🍵 Authentic Persian breakfast buffet 🎶 Traditional Iranian music 📖 Reading from Hafez 🌞 Beautiful Sunday morning atmosphere 🌍 Open to everyone 📍 GTC Café, Helsinki 📅 Sunday, 7 June ⏰ 10:00 – 12:30 (Reservation helps us prepare food and seating accordingly.) Seats are limited, so we recommend reserving in advance.

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 at 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.

**The Soul Remembers What the Mind Forgets with Sister Jenna** In honor of **Dadi Prakashmani**, whose life embodied deep spiritual awareness and the power of remembrance, this special evening invites us to look beyond the limits of the mind and reconnect with the truth of the soul. Through a heartfelt sharing of walking alongside Sister Gita during her journey with Alzheimer’s, we will gently explore what remains when memory begins to fade. While the mind may forget names, places, and moments… the soul continues to hold love, impressions, and a quiet knowing that cannot be erased. Held during **Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month**, this reflective gathering offers space to: * See beyond the fear of memory loss * Discover the deeper identity of the self as a soul * Find meaning, patience, and growth through caregiving * Experience the power of love that remains constant This is not just a talk, it is a moment to pause, reflect, and remember who we truly are. Even when the mind forgets… the soul remembers. Sun., June 7th, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/KwXdf](https://shorturl.at/KwXdf)

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 Rockville 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 Rockville, 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 Rockville.

***\*Both In-Person & Private Live-Streaming*** **The word anatta** – which means no permanently abiding self – is at the very heart and core of Buddhist meditation practice, yet it is one of its most misunderstood concepts. **When we explore anatta** through our meditation practice, it doesn’t mean we’re trying to get rid of who we are; it means we’re becoming more and more willing to see through the small, false, often negative ideas or beliefs of what we call “self.” **In actuality,** we are so much bigger than who or what we think we are. In fact, we are not only vast, but constantly fluid and changing: new in each moment, and dying in each moment … much like waves on the ocean. **During this silent meditation retreat,** we’ll be exploring anatta through various teachings, along with meditations designed to help us loosen our tenacious grip on the ego and sense of “self,” so that we can experience more freedom, peace, and ease in our lives. **The format will include** both guided and silent meditation, a dharma talk, and walking meditation both inside and on the lovely, spacious church grounds. Lunch will be in silence, and participants are asked to bring their own. **We’ll be gathering for our retreat on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m** in the beautiful St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls, VA. The peaceful interior is filled with large bright windows overlooking the great lawn and a canopy of trees. The expansive grounds include a special labyrinth, and many natural places to sit and walk. **The format will include both guided and silent meditation**, a dharma talk, and walking meditation both inside and on the lovely, spacious church grounds. Lunch will be in silence, and participants are asked to bring their own. **THE TEACHER:** Shell Fischer, founder and guiding teacher of Mindful Shenandoah (**[www.mindfulvalley.com](http://www.mindfulvalley.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExVFptRkN5cmpUVW9NWnlUaQEe04iYiwuuRDHGb8miRSO1_bG8Pdo-W2qefvsF41ER-Wr-PKZ7WKNnD_q03mg_aem_Hqz8SeHgbqFCh-0cegrr6Q)**) offers more than 30 years of extensive mindfulness training, study, and teaching. She is a Buddhist teacher, trained in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition at Naropa University – the nation’s leading contemplative university – and in the Theravadan Vipassana (Insight) tradition by Dr. Tara Brach – one of the world’s foremost Insight teachers. She is a graduate of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher-training program led by Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of MBSR and the Stress Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Prior to teaching, Shell wrote about mindfulness and yoga for national magazines. **While offering the teachings of Insight Meditation**, Shell places great emphasis on the metta (loving-kindness) practices. Her hope is to guide you in nurturing even more kindness and compassion for yourself, others, and for all the situations you find yourself in throughout your life, through the heart-teachings and practices of mindfulness meditation. **Shell warmly welcomes the inclusion and participation** of people of diverse identities, including those of all races, ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, classes, religions, abilities, and ages … with the aspiration that all feel welcome, safe, and respected as we practice together in community. **When:** Sat., June 13, 2026, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (also available online) **Where:** St. Francis Episcopal Church, 9220 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066 **Fee:** $85 in-person/$40 online **[LEARN MORE HERE](https://www.mindfulvalley.com/retreats/june-13-2026-meditation-retreat-no-self-no-problem-exploring-anatta/)** ## Attendees 2 [Host](https://www.meetup.com/members/3560274) [Shell Fischer](https://www.meetup.com/members/3560274) [Organizer](https://www.meetup.com/members/3560274) [Chloe](https://www.meetup.com/members/6537118) [Member](https://www.meetup.com/members/6537118) ## Photos 0 No photos for now! You'll see them here once they're added. ## Start the conversation Communicate with event participants to ask questions or share information.  Send as a private comment (Visible only for attendees) [See more events by Mindful Shenandoah Valley - Meditation Community](https://www.meetup.com/winchester-insight-meditation/events/) ## Related topics [Events in Great Falls, VA](/find/us--va--great-falls/) ## You may also like [](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) ### [Empowering Yourself](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Fri, Mar 20 · 7:00 PM EDT](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [·Online](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [by New York Empowering Yourself](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Online](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-empowering-yourself/events/313708607/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) ### [Why It’s Easy to Show Up for Others but Hard to Show Up for Yourself](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Thu, Mar 19 · 7:00 PM EDT](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [·Online](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [by Burlington NLP & Personal Change Group](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Online](https://www.meetup.com/burlington-women-personal-development-meetup-group/events/313166171/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) ### [Courageous Conversation: Say the Hard Thing Without Starting a Fire](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Wed, Mar 18 · 7:00 PM EDT](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [·Online](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [by Attachment Pathway](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events) [Online](https://www.meetup.com/attachment-pathway-your-gps-for-secure-relationships/events/312835545/?eventOrigin=group_similar_events)

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?

Dive into a transformative experience at our Be Yourself Dance Fitness: Hip hop, Latin dance, African, Bollywood, a FUSION of World Dance! Come feel the vibes!! Awaken Your Spirit. [Come share your love for dance, movement, and spirituality where you will BU & LIVE ALIVE, step outside of your zone, align your chakras through rhythmic expression. Explore the connection between movement and consciousness as we guide you through sound healing sessions and exercises to enhance your spiritual awakening. ](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNYX9RVF)Whether you are new to chakras or a seasoned practitioner, Be Yourself Dance Fitness offers something for everyone. Connect with like-minded individuals in a welcoming environment focused on love, happiness, and self-discovery. This event is perfect for those interested in exploring the intersection of dance, spirituality, and fitness. Let go of inhibitions, unleash your creativity, and elevate your mind, body, and soul. Don't miss this opportunity to embark on a journey towards holistic well-being and self-realization. Bring bottle of Water and plenty of attitude. The Event is Free , However, We accept donations $Cash APP $BU314 Venmo: Wayne-Christopher-8

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.