Calendar

In this 15-minute guided relaxation practice, you can choose to lay down or stay seated (on a chair or meditation cushion), as you are guided to gently calm the body and the mind. We will learn to release tensions in order to calm the body, and practice returning our attention to the sensation of the body in order to calm the mind.

This short session will help students to "reset" their nervous systems, and may be beneficial on its own, or in conjunction with Gentle Yoga which will begin directly following the meditation.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

In this class we will explore gentle stretches, gentle movement, learning to release tension, and with a focus on cultivating greater ease in the body and in the mind. Students will be guided to turn their attention inward, developing a greater sense of connectedness to their body, and letting their own body guide them through the postures, finding the level of practice that is best suited to their individual needs.

All levels are welcome; variations will be offered to accommodate each individual.   Those with injuries, chronic pain, or stress disorders may find particular benefit as we will focus on calming the body and mind.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

More Info: http://NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Dream Group - Facilitated by Susan Smartt and Lisa Harrison

All dreams come in the service of health and wholeness.
~Jeremy Taylor

"Working with dreams" means remembering and exploring the dreams with an eye to their symbolic meaning. Each one of us is uniquely blind to the deeper meanings of our own dreams, and group dream work helps us see what amazing gifts are there below the surface of their obvious appearance. Work with your dreams for personal growth, remembering one of the most important things Jung said about dreams and dreamwork: "It is not in understanding our dreams which brings about transformation, but the intensity with which we engage the images."

A lunch time dream group will meet for 1 hour. Please bring a dream and be prepared to share a dream title.

The group will choose one dream per session to explore in detail using the projective technique, The Haden Method.

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

The Spring Forest Qigong practice sessions are open to the public as well as to practitioners of qigong; no prior experience with qigong is necessary. The practice session varies from week to week but in general consists of a qigong exercise for one's well being, some techniques for helping oneself to heal from specific ailments (common to the time of year), and the session closes with a 15 -20 minute gentle healing meditation

Facilitated by Eileen Meagher

Eileen Meagher has been studying qigong since 2003 with Master Chunyi Lin, International Master of Qigong and Tai Chi and Creator of Spring Forest Qigong.  In 2009, she was certified as a Master Healer and Instructor of Levels I and II of Spring Forest Qigong.  She renewed her teaching certification in August of 2014. 

For further information call her at 423-902-8380 or email her at [email protected]

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

The Tara Mandala Sangha practices Tibetan Buddhism under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione, Director of Tara Mandala Buddhist Retreat Center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. All are welcome. Wear comfortable clothing for sitting meditation. The group's practice changes, so please refer to the Facebook Page or contact them for up to date information.

Facilitated by Jenn Fahey

Jenn holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and has been studying and practicing meditation since 2003. She has been leading the Tara Mandala Chattanooga group since 2009 under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione and has attended retreats at Tara Mandala in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Key West, Florida. Jenn is committed to meditation, contemplation and mindfulness being a part of her daily life and sharing the benefits with her community and beyond.

Donation Suggested

Website: www.taramandala.org

Contact: Jennifer Fahey
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Presence With Yoga offers a gentle and user friendly approach for those desiring a  slow style of yoga or who may have physical limitations. Benefits include ease of movement, strengthening and flexibility, focus and relaxation. Class ends with fifteen minutes of meditation.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

Contact: Sue Reynolds
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

If you just don't have time to devote an hour to a guided meditation practice, come by for a 15 minute guided relaxation meditation, guaranteed to give your day a boost! Led by Sue Reynolds, this meditation can be combined with her 10:30 yoga class or can be attended on its own. So even if it is a crazy week, why not take 15 minutes to develop your mindfulness.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

This class will focus on developing the skill of paying attention to our inner and outer experiences with acceptance, patience, and compassion. By intentionally practicing mindfulness, deliberately paying more careful moment-to-moment attention, we can live more fully and less on ‘automatic pilot,’ thus, being more present for our own lives. This class is appropriate for new as well as experienced meditators. 

Led by Janka Livoncova. 

Janka Livoncova has been practicing meditation since 1994 and teaching since 2004. Janka maintains a daily meditation practice and regularly attends meditation retreats. She is currently enrolled in the 2 year Community Dharma Leader Training Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California.

Members:  FREE
Non-Members:  $5

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Chattanooga Insight is dedicated to the teaching and practice of meditation and mindfulness in the Insight/Vipassana tradition. Informed by Buddhism and other contemplative traditions, we will explore themes such as mindfulness, insight, daily life practice, and the transformative power of presence.

Guiding teachers: Kittisaro and Thanissara.

Donation Suggested

To sign up for the newsletter, send an email to Yong Oh at [email protected].

Contact: Yong Oh
Email: [email protected]

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Each meeting includes a period
of quiet sitting meditation followed by discussion or reading on
mindfulness topics from a perspective free of religious or supernatural
beliefs but informed by positive humanist ideals. Discussions are peer-
based in nature involving shared leadership responsibilities. Meditation
practitioners of all experience levels, including beginners, are welcomed
as are participants in other meditation groups, which this meetup
should complement. There is no required fee for attendance, but small
donations are accepted solely to reimburse the Center for Mindful Living
for its generosity in making available meeting space.

Please register at the link below!
JourneyDanceTM is not about learning steps, it’s about revealing, recovering and re-discovering your natural intuitive movement. We activate imagination and utilize diverse forms of freestyle improvisational dance, yoga, ritual, theater, and shamanism to a
soundtrack of inspiring world music, creating a barefoot ecstatic celebration of the human spirit. Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to dance!

Facilitated by Katherine Toledano.

Limited to 12 participants, so reserve your spot, today! Registration and more information: Please check back.

Centering Prayer is one of the two main forms of Christian meditation practices, with the intention of sitting or resting quietly in the presence of God.  

The Centering Prayer group, which meets Mondays from 1-2 will begin a new study the end of this month, on March 27.  Newcomers are always welcome.  This group is free for members and donation based for non-members.

After our time of shared silence in Centering Prayer, we will begin watching the DVD entitled Jesus and Buddha:  Paths to Awakening.  The Four Noble Truths are the distilled essence of Buddhist teaching.  The wisdom found in these Truths is closely related to the wisdom found in the teachings of Jesus.  Master teachers Richard Rohr and James Finley will guide us in an exploration of the parallels between these two traditions.  HEAR and SEE in new ways and allow yourself to awaken to God’s presence in every detail of your daily life. There will be a short time for discussion after each DVD presentation.

Fr. Richard Rohr is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher bearing witness to the universal awakening within Christian mysticism. He is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dr. James Finley lived as a monk at the cloistered Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where the world-renowned monk and author, Thomas Merton, was his spiritual director. He is currently a clinical psychologist who leads contemplative retreats attracting those from all religious traditions who seek to live a contemplative way of life in the midst of today's busy world. 

Join us!

Dr. Barbara Ray facilitates the group.  Dr. Ray,  a former professor of special education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has practiced Centering Prayer for many years and was trained by Contemplative Outreach as a Centering Prayer facilitator in 2008.   

Any interested person is invited.

By Donation

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

NO REGISTRATION NEEDED.

Cross Your Legs

A Meditation Check-In

How’s your practice going?  Wanna talk about it?  

Come join a group of well-intentioned people who are just trying to find a moment to meditate amidst their busy lives.

We’ll use the time to (hopefully) reinvigorate our practice and remember why we try to meditate in the first place.  

Oh yeah, we’ll do some meditation too.  

The practice highlighted is called Shamatha-Vipassana (but feel free to bring whatever practice you like to do).  More information about Shamatha-Vipassana can be found here.

About the Teacher

Paul is a community organizer and organic farmer who became interested in meditation somewhere along the way.  He has studied meditation for eight years in a tradition that draws from ancient Buddhist methods and incorporates modern cognitive science.  He has taught meditation to various audiences, including inmates at a Federal Prison.  He has also spent time on various meditation retreats. The most memorable was in a cave in the remote wilderness of Northern Patagonia.

In this 15-minute guided relaxation practice, you can choose to lay down or stay seated (on a chair or meditation cushion), as you are guided to gently calm the body and the mind. We will learn to release tensions in order to calm the body, and practice returning our attention to the sensation of the body in order to calm the mind.

This short session will help students to "reset" their nervous systems, and may be beneficial on its own, or in conjunction with Gentle Yoga which will begin directly following the meditation.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

In this class we will explore gentle stretches, gentle movement, learning to release tension, and with a focus on cultivating greater ease in the body and in the mind. Students will be guided to turn their attention inward, developing a greater sense of connectedness to their body, and letting their own body guide them through the postures, finding the level of practice that is best suited to their individual needs.

All levels are welcome; variations will be offered to accommodate each individual.   Those with injuries, chronic pain, or stress disorders may find particular benefit as we will focus on calming the body and mind.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

More Info: http://NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your emotions?  Have you noticed that becoming more aware and conscious doesn't necessarily offer you emotional relief?  Join us the second Wednesday of each month 12 to 12:45pm to open to self-compassion, nurture your body, and learn to be more nimble with your feeling states.  We will limit discussions to the practice without reference to the content or story of the emotional response to ensure your privacy and to keep the practice educational, not intentionally therapeutic in nature.  Please join us to enrich and deepen your practice and enjoy the benefits of community.

"Riding Your Inner Waves" practice will be facilitated by Julie L. Brown, LPC-MHSP, a Vanderbilt trained therapist with over 20 years experience working with trauma, emotions and contemplative practices.

The Spring Forest Qigong practice sessions are open to the public as well as to practitioners of qigong; no prior experience with qigong is necessary. The practice session varies from week to week but in general consists of a qigong exercise for one's well being, some techniques for helping oneself to heal from specific ailments (common to the time of year), and the session closes with a 15 -20 minute gentle healing meditation

Facilitated by Eileen Meagher

Eileen Meagher has been studying qigong since 2003 with Master Chunyi Lin, International Master of Qigong and Tai Chi and Creator of Spring Forest Qigong.  In 2009, she was certified as a Master Healer and Instructor of Levels I and II of Spring Forest Qigong.  She renewed her teaching certification in August of 2014. 

For further information call her at 423-902-8380 or email her at [email protected]

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

The Tara Mandala Sangha practices Tibetan Buddhism under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione, Director of Tara Mandala Buddhist Retreat Center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. All are welcome. Wear comfortable clothing for sitting meditation. The group's practice changes, so please refer to the Facebook Page or contact them for up to date information.

Facilitated by Jenn Fahey

Jenn holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and has been studying and practicing meditation since 2003. She has been leading the Tara Mandala Chattanooga group since 2009 under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione and has attended retreats at Tara Mandala in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Key West, Florida. Jenn is committed to meditation, contemplation and mindfulness being a part of her daily life and sharing the benefits with her community and beyond.

Donation Suggested

Website: www.taramandala.org

Contact: Jennifer Fahey
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Presence With Yoga offers a gentle and user friendly approach for those desiring a  slow style of yoga or who may have physical limitations. Benefits include ease of movement, strengthening and flexibility, focus and relaxation. Class ends with fifteen minutes of meditation.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

Contact: Sue Reynolds
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

If you just don't have time to devote an hour to a guided meditation practice, come by for a 15 minute guided relaxation meditation, guaranteed to give your day a boost! Led by Sue Reynolds, this meditation can be combined with her 10:30 yoga class or can be attended on its own. So even if it is a crazy week, why not take 15 minutes to develop your mindfulness.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

This class will focus on developing the skill of paying attention to our inner and outer experiences with acceptance, patience, and compassion. By intentionally practicing mindfulness, deliberately paying more careful moment-to-moment attention, we can live more fully and less on ‘automatic pilot,’ thus, being more present for our own lives. This class is appropriate for new as well as experienced meditators. 

Led by Janka Livoncova. 

Janka Livoncova has been practicing meditation since 1994 and teaching since 2004. Janka maintains a daily meditation practice and regularly attends meditation retreats. She is currently enrolled in the 2 year Community Dharma Leader Training Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California.

Members:  FREE
Non-Members:  $5

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Chattanooga Insight is dedicated to the teaching and practice of meditation and mindfulness in the Insight/Vipassana tradition. Informed by Buddhism and other contemplative traditions, we will explore themes such as mindfulness, insight, daily life practice, and the transformative power of presence.

Guiding teachers: Kittisaro and Thanissara.

Donation Suggested

To sign up for the newsletter, send an email to Yong Oh at [email protected].

Contact: Yong Oh
Email: [email protected]

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Each meeting includes a period
of quiet sitting meditation followed by discussion or reading on
mindfulness topics from a perspective free of religious or supernatural
beliefs but informed by positive humanist ideals. Discussions are peer-
based in nature involving shared leadership responsibilities. Meditation
practitioners of all experience levels, including beginners, are welcomed
as are participants in other meditation groups, which this meetup
should complement. There is no required fee for attendance, but small
donations are accepted solely to reimburse the Center for Mindful Living
for its generosity in making available meeting space.

Centering Prayer is one of the two main forms of Christian meditation practices, with the intention of sitting or resting quietly in the presence of God.  

The Centering Prayer group, which meets Mondays from 1-2 will begin a new study the end of this month, on March 27.  Newcomers are always welcome.  This group is free for members and donation based for non-members.

After our time of shared silence in Centering Prayer, we will begin watching the DVD entitled Jesus and Buddha:  Paths to Awakening.  The Four Noble Truths are the distilled essence of Buddhist teaching.  The wisdom found in these Truths is closely related to the wisdom found in the teachings of Jesus.  Master teachers Richard Rohr and James Finley will guide us in an exploration of the parallels between these two traditions.  HEAR and SEE in new ways and allow yourself to awaken to God’s presence in every detail of your daily life. There will be a short time for discussion after each DVD presentation.

Fr. Richard Rohr is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher bearing witness to the universal awakening within Christian mysticism. He is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dr. James Finley lived as a monk at the cloistered Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where the world-renowned monk and author, Thomas Merton, was his spiritual director. He is currently a clinical psychologist who leads contemplative retreats attracting those from all religious traditions who seek to live a contemplative way of life in the midst of today's busy world. 

Join us!

Dr. Barbara Ray facilitates the group.  Dr. Ray,  a former professor of special education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has practiced Centering Prayer for many years and was trained by Contemplative Outreach as a Centering Prayer facilitator in 2008.   

Any interested person is invited.

By Donation

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

NO REGISTRATION NEEDED.

Cross Your Legs

A Meditation Check-In

How’s your practice going?  Wanna talk about it?  

Come join a group of well-intentioned people who are just trying to find a moment to meditate amidst their busy lives.

We’ll use the time to (hopefully) reinvigorate our practice and remember why we try to meditate in the first place.  

Oh yeah, we’ll do some meditation too.  

The practice highlighted is called Shamatha-Vipassana (but feel free to bring whatever practice you like to do).  More information about Shamatha-Vipassana can be found here.

About the Teacher

Paul is a community organizer and organic farmer who became interested in meditation somewhere along the way.  He has studied meditation for eight years in a tradition that draws from ancient Buddhist methods and incorporates modern cognitive science.  He has taught meditation to various audiences, including inmates at a Federal Prison.  He has also spent time on various meditation retreats. The most memorable was in a cave in the remote wilderness of Northern Patagonia.

In this 15-minute guided relaxation practice, you can choose to lay down or stay seated (on a chair or meditation cushion), as you are guided to gently calm the body and the mind. We will learn to release tensions in order to calm the body, and practice returning our attention to the sensation of the body in order to calm the mind.

This short session will help students to "reset" their nervous systems, and may be beneficial on its own, or in conjunction with Gentle Yoga which will begin directly following the meditation.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

In this class we will explore gentle stretches, gentle movement, learning to release tension, and with a focus on cultivating greater ease in the body and in the mind. Students will be guided to turn their attention inward, developing a greater sense of connectedness to their body, and letting their own body guide them through the postures, finding the level of practice that is best suited to their individual needs.

All levels are welcome; variations will be offered to accommodate each individual.   Those with injuries, chronic pain, or stress disorders may find particular benefit as we will focus on calming the body and mind.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

More Info: http://NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Dream Group - Facilitated by Susan Smartt and Lisa Harrison

All dreams come in the service of health and wholeness.
~Jeremy Taylor

"Working with dreams" means remembering and exploring the dreams with an eye to their symbolic meaning. Each one of us is uniquely blind to the deeper meanings of our own dreams, and group dream work helps us see what amazing gifts are there below the surface of their obvious appearance. Work with your dreams for personal growth, remembering one of the most important things Jung said about dreams and dreamwork: "It is not in understanding our dreams which brings about transformation, but the intensity with which we engage the images."

A lunch time dream group will meet for 1 hour. Please bring a dream and be prepared to share a dream title.

The group will choose one dream per session to explore in detail using the projective technique, The Haden Method.

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

The Spring Forest Qigong practice sessions are open to the public as well as to practitioners of qigong; no prior experience with qigong is necessary. The practice session varies from week to week but in general consists of a qigong exercise for one's well being, some techniques for helping oneself to heal from specific ailments (common to the time of year), and the session closes with a 15 -20 minute gentle healing meditation

Facilitated by Eileen Meagher

Eileen Meagher has been studying qigong since 2003 with Master Chunyi Lin, International Master of Qigong and Tai Chi and Creator of Spring Forest Qigong.  In 2009, she was certified as a Master Healer and Instructor of Levels I and II of Spring Forest Qigong.  She renewed her teaching certification in August of 2014. 

For further information call her at 423-902-8380 or email her at [email protected]

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

The Tara Mandala Sangha practices Tibetan Buddhism under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione, Director of Tara Mandala Buddhist Retreat Center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. All are welcome. Wear comfortable clothing for sitting meditation. The group's practice changes, so please refer to the Facebook Page or contact them for up to date information.

Facilitated by Jenn Fahey

Jenn holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and has been studying and practicing meditation since 2003. She has been leading the Tara Mandala Chattanooga group since 2009 under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione and has attended retreats at Tara Mandala in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Key West, Florida. Jenn is committed to meditation, contemplation and mindfulness being a part of her daily life and sharing the benefits with her community and beyond.

Donation Suggested

Website: www.taramandala.org

Contact: Jennifer Fahey
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Presence With Yoga offers a gentle and user friendly approach for those desiring a  slow style of yoga or who may have physical limitations. Benefits include ease of movement, strengthening and flexibility, focus and relaxation. Class ends with fifteen minutes of meditation.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

Contact: Sue Reynolds
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

If you just don't have time to devote an hour to a guided meditation practice, come by for a 15 minute guided relaxation meditation, guaranteed to give your day a boost! Led by Sue Reynolds, this meditation can be combined with her 10:30 yoga class or can be attended on its own. So even if it is a crazy week, why not take 15 minutes to develop your mindfulness.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

This class will focus on developing the skill of paying attention to our inner and outer experiences with acceptance, patience, and compassion. By intentionally practicing mindfulness, deliberately paying more careful moment-to-moment attention, we can live more fully and less on ‘automatic pilot,’ thus, being more present for our own lives. This class is appropriate for new as well as experienced meditators. 

Led by Janka Livoncova. 

Janka Livoncova has been practicing meditation since 1994 and teaching since 2004. Janka maintains a daily meditation practice and regularly attends meditation retreats. She is currently enrolled in the 2 year Community Dharma Leader Training Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California.

Members:  FREE
Non-Members:  $5

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Chattanooga Insight is dedicated to the teaching and practice of meditation and mindfulness in the Insight/Vipassana tradition. Informed by Buddhism and other contemplative traditions, we will explore themes such as mindfulness, insight, daily life practice, and the transformative power of presence.

Guiding teachers: Kittisaro and Thanissara.

Donation Suggested

To sign up for the newsletter, send an email to Yong Oh at [email protected].

Contact: Yong Oh
Email: [email protected]

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Each meeting includes a period
of quiet sitting meditation followed by discussion or reading on
mindfulness topics from a perspective free of religious or supernatural
beliefs but informed by positive humanist ideals. Discussions are peer-
based in nature involving shared leadership responsibilities. Meditation
practitioners of all experience levels, including beginners, are welcomed
as are participants in other meditation groups, which this meetup
should complement. There is no required fee for attendance, but small
donations are accepted solely to reimburse the Center for Mindful Living
for its generosity in making available meeting space.

Centering Prayer is one of the two main forms of Christian meditation practices, with the intention of sitting or resting quietly in the presence of God.  

The Centering Prayer group, which meets Mondays from 1-2 will begin a new study the end of this month, on March 27.  Newcomers are always welcome.  This group is free for members and donation based for non-members.

After our time of shared silence in Centering Prayer, we will begin watching the DVD entitled Jesus and Buddha:  Paths to Awakening.  The Four Noble Truths are the distilled essence of Buddhist teaching.  The wisdom found in these Truths is closely related to the wisdom found in the teachings of Jesus.  Master teachers Richard Rohr and James Finley will guide us in an exploration of the parallels between these two traditions.  HEAR and SEE in new ways and allow yourself to awaken to God’s presence in every detail of your daily life. There will be a short time for discussion after each DVD presentation.

Fr. Richard Rohr is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher bearing witness to the universal awakening within Christian mysticism. He is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dr. James Finley lived as a monk at the cloistered Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where the world-renowned monk and author, Thomas Merton, was his spiritual director. He is currently a clinical psychologist who leads contemplative retreats attracting those from all religious traditions who seek to live a contemplative way of life in the midst of today's busy world. 

Join us!

Dr. Barbara Ray facilitates the group.  Dr. Ray,  a former professor of special education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has practiced Centering Prayer for many years and was trained by Contemplative Outreach as a Centering Prayer facilitator in 2008.   

Any interested person is invited.

By Donation

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

NO REGISTRATION NEEDED.

Cross Your Legs

A Meditation Check-In

How’s your practice going?  Wanna talk about it?  

Come join a group of well-intentioned people who are just trying to find a moment to meditate amidst their busy lives.

We’ll use the time to (hopefully) reinvigorate our practice and remember why we try to meditate in the first place.  

Oh yeah, we’ll do some meditation too.  

The practice highlighted is called Shamatha-Vipassana (but feel free to bring whatever practice you like to do).  More information about Shamatha-Vipassana can be found here.

About the Teacher

Paul is a community organizer and organic farmer who became interested in meditation somewhere along the way.  He has studied meditation for eight years in a tradition that draws from ancient Buddhist methods and incorporates modern cognitive science.  He has taught meditation to various audiences, including inmates at a Federal Prison.  He has also spent time on various meditation retreats. The most memorable was in a cave in the remote wilderness of Northern Patagonia.

In this 15-minute guided relaxation practice, you can choose to lay down or stay seated (on a chair or meditation cushion), as you are guided to gently calm the body and the mind. We will learn to release tensions in order to calm the body, and practice returning our attention to the sensation of the body in order to calm the mind.

This short session will help students to "reset" their nervous systems, and may be beneficial on its own, or in conjunction with Gentle Yoga which will begin directly following the meditation.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

In this class we will explore gentle stretches, gentle movement, learning to release tension, and with a focus on cultivating greater ease in the body and in the mind. Students will be guided to turn their attention inward, developing a greater sense of connectedness to their body, and letting their own body guide them through the postures, finding the level of practice that is best suited to their individual needs.

All levels are welcome; variations will be offered to accommodate each individual.   Those with injuries, chronic pain, or stress disorders may find particular benefit as we will focus on calming the body and mind.

Facilitated by Rachel Kaufman

Rachel Kaufman is registered with Yoga Alliance as RYT-200.  She completed her training at the Chattanooga Yoga School in 2013, and has continued her studies with a focus on gentle, therapeutic yoga and meditation.  For more information please visit her website: ilovelivingyoga.wix.com/livingyoga.

More Info: http://NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

The Spring Forest Qigong practice sessions are open to the public as well as to practitioners of qigong; no prior experience with qigong is necessary. The practice session varies from week to week but in general consists of a qigong exercise for one's well being, some techniques for helping oneself to heal from specific ailments (common to the time of year), and the session closes with a 15 -20 minute gentle healing meditation

Facilitated by Eileen Meagher

Eileen Meagher has been studying qigong since 2003 with Master Chunyi Lin, International Master of Qigong and Tai Chi and Creator of Spring Forest Qigong.  In 2009, she was certified as a Master Healer and Instructor of Levels I and II of Spring Forest Qigong.  She renewed her teaching certification in August of 2014. 

For further information call her at 423-902-8380 or email her at [email protected]

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

The Tara Mandala Sangha practices Tibetan Buddhism under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione, Director of Tara Mandala Buddhist Retreat Center in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. All are welcome. Wear comfortable clothing for sitting meditation. The group's practice changes, so please refer to the Facebook Page or contact them for up to date information.

Facilitated by Jenn Fahey

Jenn holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and has been studying and practicing meditation since 2003. She has been leading the Tara Mandala Chattanooga group since 2009 under the direction of Lama Tsultrim Allione and has attended retreats at Tara Mandala in Pagosa Springs, Colorado and Key West, Florida. Jenn is committed to meditation, contemplation and mindfulness being a part of her daily life and sharing the benefits with her community and beyond.

Donation Suggested

Website: www.taramandala.org

Contact: Jennifer Fahey
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Presence With Yoga offers a gentle and user friendly approach for those desiring a  slow style of yoga or who may have physical limitations. Benefits include ease of movement, strengthening and flexibility, focus and relaxation. Class ends with fifteen minutes of meditation.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

Members: FREE
Non-members: $10

Contact: Sue Reynolds
Email: [email protected]
More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

If you just don't have time to devote an hour to a guided meditation practice, come by for a 15 minute guided relaxation meditation, guaranteed to give your day a boost! Led by Sue Reynolds, this meditation can be combined with her 10:30 yoga class or can be attended on its own. So even if it is a crazy week, why not take 15 minutes to develop your mindfulness.

Facilitated by Sue Reynolds

Sue Reynolds (RYT- E 500) began yoga practice in 1972. She has studied with many master teachers, earned several teaching certifications and has enjoyed introducing yoga to Chattanoogans for over three decades. Chattanooga's first yoga studio was opened by Sue in 1999.

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

This class will focus on developing the skill of paying attention to our inner and outer experiences with acceptance, patience, and compassion. By intentionally practicing mindfulness, deliberately paying more careful moment-to-moment attention, we can live more fully and less on ‘automatic pilot,’ thus, being more present for our own lives. This class is appropriate for new as well as experienced meditators. 

Led by Janka Livoncova. 

Janka Livoncova has been practicing meditation since 1994 and teaching since 2004. Janka maintains a daily meditation practice and regularly attends meditation retreats. She is currently enrolled in the 2 year Community Dharma Leader Training Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California.

Members:  FREE
Non-Members:  $5

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED

Chattanooga Insight is dedicated to the teaching and practice of meditation and mindfulness in the Insight/Vipassana tradition. Informed by Buddhism and other contemplative traditions, we will explore themes such as mindfulness, insight, daily life practice, and the transformative power of presence.

Guiding teachers: Kittisaro and Thanissara.

Donation Suggested

To sign up for the newsletter, send an email to Yong Oh at [email protected].

Contact: Yong Oh
Email: [email protected]

More Info: NO REGISTRATION NEEDED