Special Events
Open Meditation Sessions
Quarterly Community Gathering
Courses
Workshops
Guest Teacher Talks
Meditation Retreats
Yoga and Qigong
Mindfulness in the Twelve Steps
Community Practice Groups
See the Newsletter or visit the Center to learn about more practice opportunities.
Note that some programs require registration—see details in program areas.
Residential Retreat Information & Registration
Special Events
Community Practice Intensive
This will be an intensive practice period for those interested in integrating daily life with more formal practice and study. The practice period ends with a daylong retreat on Thursday, June 20. Led by Mark Nunberg. Email the center to register.
Monday, June 3 – Thursday, June 20
Community Discussion: Humans, Animals, and Non–Harming with Greta Gaard, Mark Berkson, Deane Curtin, and Mark Nunberg
Please join us for this first annual community discussion examining the ethics of our relation- ships with animals. Please register by contacting the center.
Thursday, June 27, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Annual Ongoing Volunteer Meeting and Potluck
Saturday, July 27, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
3rd Annual Festival of Giving
Please share in the good music, good food, and fun times as we offer something back to our greater local community.
Saturday, September 7, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Open Meditation Session
Open meditation is available on a drop-in basis for anyone wishing to practice silent sitting or walking meditation. Stay for as many 30-minute periods as you would like. Please arrive and depart with the bell, which is rung every half hour.
Monday – Saturday, 6:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Weekly Practice Groups
Common Ground offers practice groups three times a week: Wednesday and Sunday evenings and Sunday morning. These weekly groups are designed to be a cornerstone for one’s practice by providing ongoing instruction and teachings that help illuminate the simple but challenging practice of mindfulness. The Buddha taught that mindfulness is the way to go beyond habits of distraction and grasping. To walk this path of wisdom and compassion, we need the support of a community that shares this intention. Each session includes a guided meditation, dharma talk, and discussion. Both experienced and beginning meditators are welcome. No registration required. Led by Mark Nunberg.
Wednesday, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, 10:30 – 11:40 a.m.
Sunday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday Morning Children’s Practice
Please join us for this dharma-focused experience for children led by community volunteers most Sundays. The practice for children ages 2 1/2 through 7 years is held in the community room during Sunday morning weekly practice group. Parents should plan on staying with their child until she or he feels comfortable. In addition, one parent should assist the teacher every second visit. When not assisting, parents are expected to join other community members in the meditation hall. Please email children@commongroundmeditation.org for more information and schedule.
Sundays, 10:30 – 11:40 a.m.
Please note: The childrens program will not meet July 7 – Sept 1
Pre-Teen Practice
The pre-teen group is for children 8-12 years who want to explore Buddhism, mindfulness, and compassion for self and others. The practice is held during Sunday morning weekly practice group. Parents are expected to join other community members in the meditation hall. Please email preteen@commongroundmeditation.org to register.
Sundays, 10:30-11:40 a.m.
Please note: The preteen program will not meet July 7 – Sept 1
Teen Practice
You are not alone! Join others your age who are interested in learning how to be more mindful in daily life, relate to difficult emotions, and show up in a good way for your friends, family and others you care about. This group is held during the Sunday morning weekly practice group. If you are interested or at least curious, contact shelly@commongroundmeditation.org.
Sundays, 10:30 – 11:40 a.m.
Please note: The teen program will not meet July 7 – Sept 1
Lovingkindness Practice Group
This practice group is for people interested in developing the heart by training in the four beautiful emotions of metta (lovingkindness), compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. Each session includes instruction, a guided meditation, a short dharma talk, and time for questions and discussion. This monthly group meets on the first Friday of each month. No registration required. Led by Mark Nunberg.
Fridays, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2; 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Practice Meetings
People interested in meeting with Mark Nunberg to discuss their practice can call to set up an appointment. These practice meetings are usually scheduled for 30 minutes and are available to people with specific questions about their meditation practice or for people who are interested in deepening their practice through regular meetings with a spiritual friend.
Quarterly Community Gathering
Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to meet the community that practices at Common Ground and recommit to living a life dedicated to kindness, generosity, and the awakening of wisdom and compassion. Mark Nunberg will give a dharma talk, then the community will recite the Refuges and Precepts. A potluck will begin at 11:45 a.m. Feel free to bring along family and friends. If you plan to come to the sit or talk, you can store food in the refrigerator until the potluck begins. The quarterly gathering replaces the regular weekly practice group on this Sunday. The Sunday morning children’s program will be held as regularly scheduled, as will the open sitting time from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. No registration necessary.
Sunday, June 30, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Summer Work Day
Come and join other community members in our commitment to maintaining our place of practice. The Center is in need of our loving touch. We will be cleaning areas that have been less attended to and doing other building maintenance. No skill is required. Please email the Center to register.
Sunday, June 30, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Courses
Please contact the center to register for courses.
Introduction To Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation leads to insight into the nature of our hearts and minds, revealing an inherent clarity, openness, and ease. This course includes exploration of the intention behind practice, an introduction to insight (vipassana) meditation techniques, instructions for working with common obstacles, an overview of the practices of lovingkindness, and a discussion on how mindfulness can be part of one’s daily life. Email the Center to register.
Intro Class with Mark Nunberg, six Tuesdays, June 11 – July 16, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.;
Intro workshop with Gail Iverson, Sundays, May 12 or August 4, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Buddhist Studies Program: Understanding Impermanence
The Buddhist Studies Program is designed for people who have attended three or more mindfulness meditation retreats and have a commitment to daily meditation practice. The course includes dharma talks, small and large group discussions, and guided sitting time. Participants will be expected to use the teachings as a focus of their meditation and daily life practice. Led by Mark Nunberg. Email the Center to register.
Seven Mondays, June 24 – August 19, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m., No class July 8 or August 5.
Optional sitting period, 7:00-7:30 p.m.
Healing in the Present Moment: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
This eight-week program is an introduction to mindfulnes meditation practice following the stress reduction program pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Participants will learn and practice mindfulness meditation techniques, including body scan, sitting and walking meditation, gentle yoga, and qigong.
Eight Tuesdays, June 18 – August 6, 9:10 – 11:40 a.m. and Daylong retreat Thursday, July 25, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Led by Alex Haley
Alex Haley is co-founder of the Mindfulness for Students club at the U of M and is currently going through the Teacher Training Program run jointly by Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Society in. Practicing since 1998, Alex works with several different young adult groups around the Twin Cities. Alex was trained as a Community Dharma Leader by Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
Introduction to Lovingkindness Practices
This two-week class is for those wanting to develop the beautiful qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity in their minds. Led by Mark Nunberg.
Tuesdays, August 13 and 20, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Workshops
Please contact the center to register for workshops.
With Craig Vollmar: Forgiveness
The practice of forgiveness is a key to open our hearts to authentic happiness. The goal of this workshop is to help us use the wisdom of our experience and practice to work through these difficult emotions. In time, with practice, the negative emotions that lock our hearts will dissipate of their own accord and we will begin feeling contented and respond to life without hostility and ill will. Craig Vollmar is a founding board member of Common Ground and leader in the Twelve Step group.
Saturday, April 20, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
With Louise Delagran, Jean Hammink, Mariann Johnson, and Wendy Morris: Mindfulness and Leadership
In this workshop we will explore mindfulness practice in the context of leadership, considering questions such as: What does it mean to live out our awareness practice as leaders? How does the practice of mindfulness influence the way we understand skillful leadership in the world? The day will include small and large group dialogue, meditation, and mindful movement.
Saturday, April 27, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Mariann Johnson is a facilitator/mediator with M.T. Johnson & Associates and an MBSR instructor. Wendy Morris is an Executive Leadership Fellow at the Center for Integrative Leadership, University of Minnesota. Jean Hammink does training, coaching, and consulting using the framework of emotional intelligence and her mindfulness meditation practice. Louise Delagran is an Instructional Designer at the Center for Spirituality and Healing, University of Minnesota.
With Amma Thanasanti: Individuation and Anatta
This workshop will use guided and silent meditation and Insight Dialogue to explore the theme of anatta and individuation. Insight Dialogue, developed by Gregory Kramer, is a structured process of meditation in dialogue with another that stabilizes the qualities of meditation while speaking and listening together. (See metta.org) (Amma) Thanasanti Bhikkhuni first encountered the Dhamma in 1979 and lived for 20 years as a nun in the Ajahn Chah Forest Tradition. She has been teaching intensive retreats for over 15 years. In 2009 she left her monastic community to return to the U.S. to found Awakening Truth, a Bhikkhuni training monastery integrating ancient teachings of the Forest Tradition into the modern world. Amma’s work spans rigorous understanding of Buddhist teachings, depth psychology, subtle body somatics, non-dual meditation, and the Divine Feminine. She teaches meditation as an art and skill, integrating body, heart, and mind with finesse and compassion. In 2010, after being a nun for 19 years, she received ordination in the first Theravada dual Bhikkhuni ordination in North America with Ayya Tathaaloka as her preceptor. Currently she resides in Colorado Springs at the Shakti Vihara hermitage.
Saturday, May 11, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
With Ajahn Jotipalo: Metta as a Concentration Practice
Ajahn Jotipalo became interested in Theravada Buddhism after sitting several Goenka retreats. While on staff at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, he met Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Punnadhammo. After leaving IMS, he spent three months with Ajahn Punnadhammo at the Arrow River Hermitage in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He requested the “Going Forth,” taking anagarika ordination on July 8, 1998 and ordained as a bhikkhu with Ajahn Pasanno as preceptor in 2000. He is presently living at the Pacific Hermitage, a branch of Abhayagiri in the Pacific Northwest.
Saturday, May 25, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
With Cheri Maples: Open Mind, Loving Heart
Meditation and mindfulness practices teach us to steady the mind, which cultivates our capacity for an open mind, a loving heart, and wise attention. We learn how to nurture the ability within each of us to be less fearful, more content, and more loving. In the process, we develop compassion for ourselves and others. Cheri Maples was ordained a Dharma Teacher by Zen master and peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh in 2008. She is co-founder of the Center for Mindfulness and Justice, and a keynote speaker, consultant, and trainer. Cheri worked in the criminal justice profession for 25 years as a police officer, the Head of Probation & Parole, and the Assistant Attorney General in Wisconsin. She also has extensive experience as a community organizer and a social justice advocate. She has incorporated all these experiences into her understanding and teaching of the Dharma and her practice of engaged Buddhism. This event is a collaboration with Blooming Heart Sangha in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and Common Ground.
Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
With Spruce Krause: Laughter Yoga- A Direct Practice of Joy
Join with others as we experience the joy of laughing – no jokes or comedy involved. Laughter Yoga is a practice of going beyond constricted habits of mind and replacing them with a present moment lightness and wholehearted release. The practice involves deep breathing and a deep commitment to being fully in the now. When we are laughing there is no past, no future, and no mind chatter. Laughter increases one’s sense of well-being and promotes a wholesome community. Please wear comfortable clothing-your belly laugh will thank you. Spruce Krause, M.A., Counseling Psychology, Life Coach and Certified Laughter Yoga Leader has been a part of the Common Ground community for about 12 years (she’s lost track of exactly when she first walked in the door, but it has changed her heart/mind & life). Spruce has over 20 years experience supporting individuals and groups in body/mind healing and personal transformation with a playful touch.
Sunday, June 2, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
With Mark Nunberg: Living the Practice – Relating Wisely to the Uncertainties of Environmental Health and Change
It is not uncommon for us to feel confused, numb, angry, and overwhelmed when we hear about environmental change and uncertainty. The health of our planet, our homes, our bodies and minds all depend on the continuous balancing of internal and external processes that condition our lives. It is no surprise that we often prefer distraction and denial rather than a clear seeing of this uncertain dynamic. In this workshop we will explore how taking an honest look and meeting change with wisdom and compassion can be the cause for ease, not anxiety. Relating wisely to change not only releases unproductive tension, it allows for a more skillful and wholehearted response. The Living the Practice workshops include talks, guided meditations, guided reflections, and large and small group discussions designed to open our understanding about the essential art of awakening wisdom and compassion in our lives. The lunch break will allow for informal discussions and social time. Mark Nunberg is the guiding teacher at Common Ground. Email the center to register.
Saturday, June 22, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
With Marc Anderson: Mindfulness and Drumming
Music making is a beautiful example of engaged mindfulness. It requires embodied focus, deep listening, intuitive flow, and an open heart. Group drumming is a rich expression of music making that connects us in community, expands our creative horizons, and bring us directly into our bodies. This workshop combines meditation practices with hands-on drumming and group singing. Using basic drumming techniques, traditional African rhythms, storytelling and introspection, participants have a chance to experience the beautiful dance between stillness and expression in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. This workshop is for all who are interested. There are no experiential pre-requisites. Drums are provided. Marc Anderson has earned an international reputation as a world class percussionist, stalwart sideman, composer, record producer, music educator, cultural anthropologist, zen priest, and the founder of M2, an organization that offers mindfulness training in schools, the workplace and in the community at large. He has performed with hundreds of great artists in venues ranging from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing to the stage of A Prairie Home Companion. Marc has appeared on more than 250 recordings and has produced a number of records, including his two solo recordings, Time Fish and Ruby. In support of his work, Marc has received grants fellowships and commissions from The Minnesota State Arts Board, The McKnight Foundation, The West Bank School of Music, The American Composers Forum, The Trust For Meditation, The McNeely Foundation, and The Jerome Foundation.
Sunday, June 23, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
With Ajahn Chandako: Views, Beliefs, Tolerance, and Bhikkhuni Ordination
Views and perceptions create the reality we inhabit. How we approach our views either disturbs or leads to experiencing the natural state of the mind. Working with views, beliefs, and opinions is a full time practice that directly affects our feelings of pleasure, pain, happiness, or freedom. This workshop will first explore the nature of human views and then apply it to the relevant topic of full ordination for women in the Theravada Tradition. There will be two presentations by Ajahn Chandako interspersed with sitting meditation and ample time for discussion. Ajahn Chandako was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1990 in the Thai Forest Tradition in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Born in 1962 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, his interest in the teachings of the Buddha grew as he studied towards a BA degree in Religious Studies from Carleton College (1984). After practicing intensive meditation in various monasteries in Thailand and traveling in Tibet, Nepal and India, he settled in Wat Pah Nanachat, The International Forest Monastery, Thailand. Ajahn Chandako is now the Abbot of Vimutti Forest Monastery, near Auckland, New Zealand. He is the author and translator of several books.
Saturday, July 13, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
With Gail Iverson and Ramesh Sairam: Mindfulness and Physical Pain
Mindfulness meditation can help practitioners understand the complex nature of pain and provide tools to reduce the suffering associated with it. This half-day workshop will include guided meditation, lectures, and group discussions. It is open to everyone, but may be especially useful for people experiencing physical pain and those (professional and otherwise) who help people in pain. Gail Iverson has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1987 and has been serving as Chair of the Board of Directors at Common Ground. Ramesh Sairam is a practicing psychiatrist in St. Paul who has been practicing mindfulness meditation at Common Ground Meditation Center for five years.
Sunday, July 14, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
With Rita Gross: What the Buddha Really Said about Gender
Rita Gross is an internationally known feminist scholar-practitioner, a senior teacher in Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche’s meditation center, Lotus Garden, and a senior teacher of Shambhala Buddhism. She is professor emerita of comparative studies in religion at UW, Eau Claire. Her work on Buddhism and gender has been influential in academic and Buddhist communities. She is the author of Buddhism After Patriarchy, and Soaring and Settling: Buddhist Perspectives on Contemporary Social and Religious Issues, and A Garland of Feminine Reflections.
Saturday, July 20, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
With Craig Vollmar: Transforming Anger
This half-day workshop seeks to bring relief to those of us who suffer from anger and resentments. With practice, this powerful energy can be transformed from anger to kindness and joy. All are welcome. Craig Vollmar is a founding board member of Common Ground and leader in the Twelve Step group.
Sunday, August 11, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Guest Teacher Talks
Please join us for these special evenings of dharma (spiritual teachings) and connection with the Common Ground community. These drop-in programs are an opportunity to hear guest teachers and experienced community members speak about their practice. The evening begins with a 30-minute meditation period followed by a talk and discussion. The evening concludes with informal social time, tea, and treats.
With Myoshin Kelley: Finding Inspiration for Practice
Many times we struggle to find energy or inspiration for practice. This can result from not seeing clearly the preciousness of this human life and the tenuousness of it. As a result are chasing after things in life that have no potential to bring us true happiness. In this evening we will explore the thoughts that can bring interest and energy and help us turn our minds in the direction of deep peace and joy. Myoshin Kelly attended her first meditation retreat in 1975. Since then, she has practiced intensively with several renowned Buddhist meditation masters. She lived at the Insight Meditation Society for 15 years where she trained as a teacher. From 2003 – 2009 she was the teacher in residence at the Forest Refuge working with people on extended retreat. She is a long- time student of Mingyur Rinpoche and travels internationally leading meditation programs for the Tergar Meditation Community.
Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
With Amma Thanasanti: Individuation and Anatta
(Amma) Thanasanti Bhikkhuni first encountered the Dhamma in 1979 and lived for 20 years as a nun in the Ajahn Chah Forest TraditionShe has been teaching intensive retreats for over 15 years. In 2009 she left her monastic community to return to the US to found Awakening Truth, a Bhikkhuni training monastery integrating ancient teachings of the Forest Tradition into the modern world. She. Amma’s work spans rigorous understanding of Buddhist teachings, depth psychology, subtle body somatics, non-dual meditation, and the Divine Feminine. She teaches meditation as an art and skill, integrating body, heart, and mind with finesse and compassion. In 2010, after being a nun for 19 years, she received ordination in the first Theravada dual Bhikkhuni ordination in North America with Ayya Tathaaloka as her preceptor. Currently she resides in Colorado Springs at the Shakti Vihara hermitage.
Friday, May 10, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
With Ajahn Jotipalo: Buddhist Holidays – Vesaka Puja
Ajahn Jotipalo became interested in Theravada Buddhism after sitting several Goenka retreats. While on staff at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, he met Ajahn Amaro and Ajahn Punnadhammo. After leaving IMS, he spent three months with Ajahn Punnadhammo at the Arrow River Hermitage in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He requested the “Going Forth,” taking anagarika ordination on July 8, 1998 and ordained as a bhikkhu with Ajahn Pasanno as preceptor in 2000. He is presently living at the Pacific Hermitage, a branch of Abhayagiri in the Pacific Northwest.
Friday, May 24, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
With Cheri Maples: Mindfulness and Compassion in Daily Life
Cheri Maples was ordained a Dharma Teacher by Zen master and peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh in 2008. She is co-founder of the Center for Mindfulness and Justice, and a keynote speaker, consultant, and trainer. Cheri worked in the criminal justice profession for 25 years as a police officer, the Head of Probation & Parole, and the Assistant Attorney General in Wisconsin. She also has extensive experience as a community organizer and a social justice advocate. She has incorporated all these experiences into her understanding and teaching of the Dharma and her practice of engaged Buddhism. This event is a collaboration with Blooming Heart Sangha in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and Common Ground.
Friday, May 31, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
With Kamala Masters and Steve Armstrong
Kamala Masters and Steve Armstrong are beloved teachers and have been offering retreats through TCVC for the past 18 years. They are members of Common Ground’s advisory board and have each been practicing since 1975.
Sunday, June 23, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
With Rebecca Bradshaw: Knowing Your Buddhist Personality Type Can Help Your Meditation
Rebecca Bradshaw teaches at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, at other locations in the United States, and at Kyaswa Monastery in Sagaing, Myanmar. She is a psychotherapist and the guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley, MA.
Monday, July 8, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
With Ajahn Chandako: The Beauty of Cessation
Ajahn Chandako was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1990 in the Thai Forest Tradition in the lineage of Ajahn Chah. Born in 1962 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, his interest in the teachings of the Buddha grew as he studied towards a BA degree in Religious Studies from Carleton College (1984). After practicing intensive meditation in various monasteries in Thailand and traveling in Tibet, Nepal and India, he settled in Wat Pah Nanachat, The International Forest Monastery, Thailand. Ajahn Chandako is now the Abbot of Vimutti Forest Monastery, near Auckland, New Zealand. He is the author and translator of several books.
Friday, July 12, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
With Nicole Taras
Nicole Taras has been living with a significant physical disability and practicing the application of Buddhist principles for over 20 years.
Friday, August 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
With Mary Jo Meadow
Mary Jo Meadow has meditated for more than 50 years in three traditions. She is a Catholic sister vowed to the Theravadan nuns’ precepts and the mother of eight adult children, and has four great-grandchildren. She teaches vipassana in the U.S., Australia, Europe, and Canada.She is professor emeritus of psychology and religious studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and the author of seven books. She offers spiritual guidance and writes and lectures on spirituality.
Friday, August 23, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Meditation Retreats
Retreating from the distractions of daily life is an essential part of the path of awakening. Please join us for these important opportunities to deepen mindfulness. Those who are new to meditation should attend the intro class or several weekly practice groups before their first retreat.
Please contact the center to register for retreats. You can also call (612) 722-8260 or drop in and sign up.
Half-Day Retreats
Saturday, May 4, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. with Mark Nunberg
Saturday, June 8, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with Mark Nunberg
Saturday, July 6, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. with Mark Nunberg
Saturday, August 3, 1:00-5:00 p.m. with Gail Iverson
*Saturday, August 10, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. with Shelly Graf and Gabe Keller
*This retreat is for young adults ages 16-25
Day-Long Retreats (Please bring a bag lunch.)
Saturday, May 18, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. with Gail Iverson
Saturday, June 29, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. with Mark Nunberg
Saturday, August 24, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. with Mark Nunberg
Common Ground Residential Retreats
Heart of the Forest Camping Retreat
with Ajahn Chandako
July 20 – 27. Registration begins May 20.
Labor Day Retreat at Holy Spirit Retreat Center
with Mark Nunberg
Sunday, August 25 to Monday, September 2 or Thursday, August 29 to Monday, September 2. Registration begins June 25.
To register for Common Ground residential retreats, go to the retreats website: http://links.commongroundmeditation.org/residential-retreats.
TCVC Residential Retreats
June 14 – 23 with Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters. Visit www.tcvc.info for more information.
Yoga and Qigong
All yoga and gigong classes and workshops are drop-in, no need to register. All workshops are taught by Nancy Boler.
Mindful Yoga Weekly Practice
In these sessions we practice yoga poses in a way that promotes ease in the mind. We explore physical alignment that results in both physical and mental freedom. In this way, the poses provide an opportunity to consciously cultivate a wholesome, joyful relationship with the body. With practice, mindful yoga supports wise attention in all of our daily activities. Open to adults of all ages and all levels of experience.
Tuesdays (Level II) and Wednesdays (Level I), 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.; Fridays (Level I), 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Yoga Nidra Workshops
Yoga means “to connect or unite,” and Nidra describes a state of mind calmer than a sleep state. In these workshops we study and practice relaxation techniques that allow us to “let go” into this deep state of stillness. The result is unification and peacefulness in all aspects of our being. The effects of practicing Yoga Nidra can be better sleep, freedom from anxiety, and the ability to simply relax when you want to. The workshop includes explanation of Yoga Nidra, a short practice of yoga poses, then 45 minutes of being guided into deep relaxation and Yoga Nidra.
Sundays, April 28, May 5, June 2, July 7; 4:00- 5:30 p.m. Attend one or all.
Restorative Yoga Workshop
Restorative yoga focuses on relaxing the body in restful postures. In these modifications of classical yoga poses, the muscles remain quiet; the shape and alignment of the pose is determined by props such as blankets or straps. Tension is released through steadiness of breath and awareness. This workshop is appropriate for all ages and levels of yoga practice. No registration required.
Sundays, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21; 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Attend one or all.
Nancy Boler has been teaching since 1999. She draws from her background in Kripalu yoga, Iyengar yoga, and Mindfulness Meditation. Her class instruction focuses on physical alignment, breath awareness, yoga philosophy, and development of wholesome mind states.
Drop-in Qigong
Qigong is a deeply satisfying healing practice that integrates mindful awareness, breath, and movement. This practice develops relaxation, concentration, and vitality. Please join us. Led by Mark Nunberg and Merra Young.
Wednesdays, 9:05 – 10:05 a.m., ongoing.
Mindfulness in the Twelve Steps
Weekly Practice Group
This ongoing program is for those seeking spiritual development by practicing the principles of the Twelve Steps and the Buddha’s teachings in everyday life. This program supplements recovery and is designed to reveal to us that consistent mindfulness practice is vital to spiritual progress. This practice group is open to all who have an interest in mindfulness and the Twelve Steps. Led by Patti S., Emil J., Elene L., Gail I., Ollie S., Anita R., and Craig V..
Fridays, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Twelve-Step Recovery and Mindfulness Meditation Retreat
These four hours without distractions provide a unique opportunity for self-discovery and seeing, through mindfulness meditation, how we contribute to our own suffering. We will have periods of sitting meditation, gentle stretching, group discussions, a short talk, and a mid-day break for tea and walking outdoors. The environment will be informal and the instructions simple. This will be a unique experience for many of us that will provide a more in-depth 11th step practice. If you have a yoga mat, please bring it for the gentle stretching exercises. No previous meditation retreat experience necessary. Led by Craig V.
Saturday, June 15, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Community Practice Groups
People of Color Community Group
Together, treading the path to the understanding of truth. The People of Color Community Group gathers to sit together and share the teachings of the Buddha, honoring our shared experience and community. We practice in the awareness that our happiness and wellbeing are not separate from the happiness and well-being of others, and share the wisdom and influences of the Dharma in our community and in our daily lives. The aim of our practice is to cultivate mindfulness, wisdom, and joy in our community. Beginning in December 2012, POC Community Group will be discussing the Four Noble Truths as reflected in the essays and stories in Dharma, Color and Culture. Practitioners of color looking for support in their practice are invited to join this group on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. For more information, contact Stacy at pocleader@commongroundmeditation.org.
Community Poetry Evening
Join us for an evening of opening to the heart through poetry. Connect with fellow community members through sharing the beauty of the spoken word and reflecting on the richness of our human experience. All are warmly invited to participate in this informal and inclusive gathering–writers, readers, or listeners! Refreshments and social time follow the event. Please feel free to bring a poem or two to share. For more info, email: poetry@commongroundmeditation.org.
Saturday, July 20, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Dharma Flicks
Join Common Ground friends for a movie and discussion. No registration necessary.
The Unmistaken Child – Saturday, June 1, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Ikiru – Saturday, August 3, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Dharma Friends
Dharma Friends is a drop-in, practice/social group for young adult practitioners (“20-40 somethings”). Meetings are at Groundswell Coffee Shop in St. Paul. For more information, contact dharmafriends@commongroundmeditation.org.
Third Saturday of the month, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Engaged Mindfulness
This monthly practice group explores responding with mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom to suffering in the world around us. For more information, contact Leigh Rosenberg by emailing the center. Meetings are at River’s Way Meditation Center in the Ivy Arts Building, 2637 27th Ave S, Suite 201.
Sundays, May 26, June 23, July 28, August 25; 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Full Moon Peace Walks
Please join us for our monthly Full Moon Peace Walk, which includes a mindful outdoor walk, and sitting meditation. Bring a flashlight and an old blanket to put on the ground if you would like. No registration necessary.
Thursdays, May 23, June 20, July 18, August 22; 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Gay Men’s Group
This is a supportive network that integrates mindful living with issues relevant to gay men. We typically meet on the fourth Sunday of each month from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Tom (thomashowley80@msn.com).
Mental Health Professionals Group
This closed group has openings for new members 1-2 times per year. For more information, visit our web page.
