Contemplative Practice

Join us for a contemplative experience and discussion on using the wisdom of the body to create a personalized self-care routine.

Throughout the day, attendees will explore how to build health professional resilience and address burnout in the complex world of medicine, while also reframing uncertainty in medicine as an approach to cultivating resilience.

Join the Contemplative Sciences Center and Contemplation@UVA for our Spring into Wellness Retreat Friday afternoon April 6th at Morven Farms.  Enjoy a variety of activities to restore, rejuvenate, and relax your body and mind from a sunset Japanese tea ceremony, yoga class for all levels, mindfulness exercises, and exploration of the beautiful Morven Farms grounds.  

This restorative 3-week series teaches postures and breathwork which aid sleep by lowering the heart rate, and calming the mind. We will use props to allow the muscles to completely release and relax.

Join us for this four-part series on scientifically supported approaches to managing stress and for prospering in times of adversity.

Each session in this 3-week series will look at a different area of practice with the intent of building integrative awareness. 

Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, movements, breathing techniques, and focused intention.

Join us for a relaxing and reflective evening to help us to settle our minds and unwind. We will begin each class with a personal check-in about the day, followed by a new breath and relaxation meditation technique.

In this 6-week series, you will learn how yoga can help you reduce stress and enjoy increased levels of fitness, health and well-being. 

These sessions will offer practical exercises and contemplative activities designed to heal and care for ourselves with added grace and balance.

This class will instruct on the basics of mindfulness meditation such as awareness of the breath, body, emotions, and thoughts.

Contemplation at UVA will be hosting weekly sessions in Clemons Contemplative Room 220 offering students an open space for conversation, meditation, and exploration of other contemplative activities.

This class focuses on poses that promote relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation through the use of props-blocks, blankets, bolsters, straps, etc..-that help relieve the effects of chronic stress, including weakness and fatigue brought on by our daily fast-paced activities. 

Set in a soothing candlelit environment, this class focuses on poses that promote relaxation and restoration. 

With the use of a biofeedback system that measures your heart-rate variability, you will be able to see your body's unique reaction to stress as well as its response to breathing techniques. 

Join movement, dance, improv instructor Brad Stoller for this exploration of body/listening, movement/stillness, and contemplative/wildness practice.

Offered weekly, we will explore breath and balance; and rest and rejuvenation. Emphasis will be on relaxing both mind and body while improving attention and the ability to be present. 

Join CSC contemplative instructors each Monday in exploring different elements of basic mindfulness meditation including awareness, breathwork, body scan and relaxation, stress reduction, emotional regulation, and resilience.

This course will introduce students to mindfulness practices, and prepare them to instruct their peers in mindfulness meditation in settings such as school, work, clubs, and sport.

This student-led meditation session is aimed at increasing our ability to be more present, aware, concentrated, and compassionate. The session includes a short guided relaxation meditation followed by 20 mins of silent meditation and reflection. Open to all.

This therapeutic class focuses on balancing strength and flexibility in the lower back, upper back, and neck. Practice is slow and gentle and suited for all levels.