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Children sit on benches around a teacher pouring tea
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Elements of Peace

Elements of Peace is a Contemplative Sciences Center community partnership program. 

The Elements of Peace Summer Program offers youth (ages 11-15) a fun, screen-free experience for rest, reflection, and connection before the next school year begins. Rooted in contemplative and creative practices, we invite participants to slow down, reflect, and engage in authentic community-building and elemental immersion practices with earth, water, fire, wind, and space.
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CareLab Student collaborate at a table with laptops
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CARELab™ Mayor's Challenge for Community Change - 2026
CARELab™ is a community-based six-day Leadership/AI accelerator. Geared toward college students as well as motivated juniors and seniors in high school, the program equips emerging leaders with the skills, mindset, and ethical foundation to make a difference in their community. Through human-design thinking, mindfulness practice, and AI methodologies, student teams develop insights to address community challenges provided by Mayor Juandiego Wade.
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Selena Cozart surrounded by sound bath bowls.
Soundbath

Join us Saturday May 2 for a sound bath led by Selena Cozart. Free and open to the public.

Selena began her contemplative practice in a 115° heated yoga room in the early 2000s, moving through a 90-minute sequence repeated in the same order each session. Her entry into yoga was sparked by seeing a friend meditate in Easy Pose (Sukhasana) for over an hour — something she once believed was beyond her reach. Curious and determined, she took her first class and was hooked.
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A man doing summersault amidst graphics of flowers
Capoeira
Join us for Capoeira class with Reggie "Reisa" Harrison in Studio 1B on Saturday May 2, 2026 from 11am-12:30pm. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that blends dance, music, acrobatics, and spirituality, rooted in flow rather than fixed stances. Free and open to the public.
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Salon: Attention Ecology, facilitated by Tish Jennings
Salon: Attention Ecology
What is happening to attention in an "always on" culture? In this salon, we look at Attention Ecology and the science of mindful metacognition. Expect a thoughtful conversation linking stress physiology, media, and polarization with practical ways to strengthen reflection, resilience, and more constructive dialogue across difference.
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The Citizen Leader Fellows, a group of students, standing in the Contemplative Commons courtyard.
Citizen Leaders Fellows Final Presentations
The final presentations of the 2025-2026 Citizen Leaders Fellows are the culmination of a year-long fellowship for a select group of UVA international students, transfer students, and student athletes who designed innovative projects to promote student flourishing.
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Indian Classical vocalist, Ramneek Singh
Mysticism, Poetry & Performance
This concert features the importance of Basant or Spring in the mystical traditions of South Asia. Acclaimed Indian classical vocalist, Vidushi Ramneek Singh will render shabads (meditative hymns) from the Guru Granth Sahib in the ragas of Basant, Bahar and Hindol. She will also present aspects of Spring from the Sufi poetry of masters such as Amir Khusraw.  Accompanists include Shreyas Ravi (Harmonium) and Abhay Kulkarni (Tabla). This event is presented by the Poetry, Mysticism, and Performance Working Group at the Institute for the Humanities and Global Cultures (IHGC) and is cosponsored by the Contemplative Sciences Center and Mr. Sartj Alag.
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An Ayurvedic dish with colorful toppings
The Science of Life: An Ayurveda weekend with best-selling author Kate O’Donnell
Join an Ayurveda weekend workshop with author Kate O’Donnell. The event will include three separate workshops on Ayurveda over the course of the weekend. You may register for the whole weekend or for a single day. We are offering reduced prices for students.
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Tom Tom Festival Courage flyer
Roundtable: AI + Human Flourishing - Disruptions and Deeper Purpose
As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, economies, and daily life, a deeper question rises to the surface: What is all this innovation for? AI & Human Flourishing invites leaders, founders, policymakers, and technologists to zoom out from product features and market disruption to examine the broader societal and ethical implications of artificial intelligence. What does responsible innovation look like at scale?
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the iris and pupil of an eye behind a cloud surrounded in black
Beyond Ego - The Courage to Awaken, An Experiential Workshop
This workshop will begin with an introduction to the view that how we show up in our lives is often mediated by a constellation of parts and patterns that manage and protect us in an attempt to achieve a sense of safety and connection. Although these parts of us are well intentioned, mistaking them for the essence of who we are disconnects us from our already whole and awakened nature and limits our ability to courageously and responsively meet life and show up in this world from our greatest depth and integrity.
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Lara Bars and their ingredients: nuts, dates, etc.
Simple Ingredients: From My Kitchen to the Boardroom to What Matters Most: Lunch and Demo
Join us for a casual conversation over lunch with Lara Merriken founder of LÄRABAR. Merriken started Larabar in her kitchen with a simple fruit-and-nut recipe and a belief that simplicity mattered. The brand grew into a national success, eventually leading to its acquisition by General Mills. But even as the business succeeded, a deeper question began to emerge: what does it mean to build not just a successful career, but a meaningful life? In this conversation, Lara shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey from founder to coach and advisor, and reflects on what she has learned about resilience, reinvention, and the space between achievement and fulfillment.
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Prayer flags in front of a mountain vist with "MountainFilms on Tour, Charlottesville, VA" over it
Mountainfilm on Tour - Charlottesville
Mountainfilm on Tour visits Charlottesville on Saturday, April 18 at the Contemplative Commons. Join us for an evening of inspiring and captivating films handpicked from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. Watch the trailer.
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A graphic featuring a heatmapped image of Dell Pond with black and white musical instruments and speakers overlaid. Bold, white text in all caps reads: MUSIC BY THE DELL
Music by the Dell

The Contemplative Sciences Center Peer Programming team is inviting students and community members to come and enjoy live music (and free food and spike ball) on the Dell Field and Picnic Ground on Saturday, April 18 from 12:00 - 5:00pm. 

Featured performances by UVA student bands No Composure, PersuAsian, & The Coast.

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An Iyengar yoga class at Yoga CVille
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Introduction to Iyengar Yoga
The Contemplative Sciences Center is pleased to co-sponsor this event with Yoga Cville. Discover the foundational strength and precision of Iyengar Yoga, a method focusing on alignment, sequencing, and the intelligent use of props to make poses accessible to all. This beginner-friendly practice benefits any level of practitioner by building strength, flexibility, and mindfulness through sustained, structured poses, bringing balance to body and mind.
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UVA Compassionate Care Research
Compassionate Care Research Symposium
The University of Virginia School of Nursing; School of Education and Human Development; and Contemplative Sciences Center are co-hosting a half day pan-University Compassionate Care Research Symposium related to compassion research and scholarship across Grounds. This symposium will explore compassion related research with an interdisciplinary focus and is intended to spark connections and collaborations.
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Night Sky Cosmos
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Camping and Contemplation Under the Cosmos 2026
UVA Rec and the Contemplative Sciences Center are partnering to offer students a retreat under the sun and stars at the Big Meadows campground in Shenandoah National Park. Come experience the awe of the morning and night skies. The retreat includes star-watching, a hike, and morning yoga practice.
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