AI Anxiety + Human Flourishing

AI Anxiety + Human Flourishing

Wed, Nov 18 - Thu, Nov 19 2026, All day (Requires Registration)

AI Anxiety + Human Flourishing will be held November 18-19, 2026 at the Contemplative Commons. Registration is now open! At a time when anxiety is increasingly felt about the rapid advancement, widespread adoption, and future uncertainty of artificial intelligence, this symposium convenes changemakers in emerging technology, higher education, and the contemplative sciences to address the driving question, “How can we prepare young adults for the future of AI?”

Upcoming
Events

Students practice Ashtanga Yoga, reaching their arms up towards the ceiling in a room with wooden floors

Ashtanga Yoga: Mysore-Style

Mondays to Thursdays

6:00 - 9:00am

Open to All

a group of students sits on a wooden floor in the Contemplative Commons and meditates, overlooking the foliage below from the floor to ceiling window

Midday Mindfulness

Mondays to Fridays

12:00 - 12:20pm

Open to All

Contemplative Commons from across the Dell

Faith, Play, and Practice: Analog Hour

Wed, September 30 2026
Wed, October 14 2026
Wed, October 28 2026
Wed, November 11 2026
Wed, December 2 2026

3:00 - 4:00 PM

Open to All

Four people sitting on cushions experiencing the exhibit in the Conservatory

Synaisthesis Open Hours

Mondays to Thursdays

3:00 - 7:30pm

Sunday and Saturdays

12:00 - 5:30pm

Fridays

3:00 - 5:30pm

Open to All

Students on yoga mats with arms raised in the Contemplative Commons

Fridays

11:15am - 12:15pm

Sundays

12:15 - 1:15pm

Wednesdays

5:30 - 6:30pm

For UVA students

Nora Brookfield demonstrating a yoga pose before a window at the Contemplative Commons

Yoga for Connection

Wednesdays

7:00 - 8:00pm

Open to All

Four students painting in the Contemplative Commons first floor gallery. More students are further back in the hallway.

Thursdays

3:00 - 6:00pm

Open to All

Poster showing Karianne and her discussion on resonance

Salon: Resonance

Thu, Oct 29 2026, 5:00 - 6:30pm

Requires Registration

People stretching in front of yoga mats in the Contemplative Commons looking out at summer greenery

Therapeutic Yoga for Stress Management

Thursdays

5:00 - 5:45pm

Open to All

People meditating on mats

Yoga for Better Sleep

Thursdays

6:00 - 7:00pm

Open to All

Special Events

Poster showing Karianne and her discussion on resonance

Oct 29 — Special Event

Salon: Resonance

Where has sound moved you? Live music, a quiet forest, a harsh city street, a voice across the table. Some sounds settle us. Others set us on edge. Why? In her work with sound and energy healing, people report a shift, and Karianne observes it too. These subtle changes reveal something deeper: sound moves through the body, shapes attention, and influences the environments we inhabit, inside and out. The Salon will begin with a short sound bath meditation, then open the conversation from that grounded place, with sound as our point of connection. Where has sound moved you? Live music, a quiet forest, a harsh city street, a voice across the table. Facilitator: Karianne Michelle. Requires Registration.

Split picture show crafting and yoga at the Contemplative Commons

Oct 31 — Special Event

All Hallows All-Level Yoga and Crafts

Join us for some Halloween day community events: an all-levels yoga class (all levels, all bodies) from 11:00am-12:00pm (Studio 3C) and some seasonal creativity from 12:30-2:00pm (Gallery). A cozy, low-key space to make something festive and take a breather before afternoon and evening festivities. Everyone welcome. Open to All.

The Omnisonan Project: Synaisthesis

Nov 13 — Special Event

Synaisthesis Premiere

Join the Contemplative Sciences Center and TechnoSonics for the debut of this live neuroart creation in the Conservatory. In partnership with TechnoSonics Festival, the Omnisonan Project, a new ensemble in the Contemplative Commons, launches its debut immersive light and sound exhibit, Synaisthesis in the CSC Conservatory. Omnisonan is a neuroart collaboration between Karianne Michelle (sound bowls), Matthew Burtner (computer music), R. Lee Kennedy (digital lighting), and David Acunzo (neuroscience). Requires Registration.

Two hands reaching toward each other

Nov 13 — Special Event

Conflict, Power, & Dialogue: Faculty & Staff Lunch Series

The Space Between Us is a highly interactive workshop designed for faculty who want to navigate disagreement more effectively, provide direct and constructive feedback, and build stronger professional relationships across differences in perspective, status, and expertise. Drawing on mindfulness, mediation, contemplative traditions, and conflict transformation, participants practice four essential skills: tuning inward to recognize their own reactions, observing without evaluation to separate facts from assumptions, expanding beyond positions to understand underlying needs and interests, and exploring conflict with curiosity rather than defensiveness. Requires Registration.

AI Anxiety + Human Flourishing

Nov 18 19 — Special Event

AI Anxiety + Human Flourishing

AI Anxiety + Human Flourishing will be held November 18-19, 2026 at the Contemplative Commons. Registration is now open! At a time when anxiety is increasingly felt about the rapid advancement, widespread adoption, and future uncertainty of artificial intelligence, this symposium convenes changemakers in emerging technology, higher education, and the contemplative sciences to address the driving question, “How can we prepare young adults for the future of AI?” Requires Registration.

The University of Virginia Rotunda in the snow

Dec 10 — Special Event

Faculty Winter Wellness Retreat Day

As the semester’s demands crest alongside holiday pressures, join us for a faculty-centered day dedicated to rest, connection, and renewal. Rooted in the spirit of hygge, the practice of finding warmth and coziness in the everyday, this retreat for UVA faculty members isn’t about escaping the season; it's about remembering to pause in the busyness. The day offers two full rounds of programming blending movement, nature, community, and stillness to help you navigate winter blues and end of season stress. Choose your own adventure of T’ai Chi, nature connection, two interactive workshops offering practical tools to carry into the new year, and a restorative soundbath. Requires Registration.

Drop-in Events

Students practice Ashtanga Yoga, reaching their arms up towards the ceiling in a room with wooden floors

Ashtanga Yoga: Mysore-Style Sessions (Mon-Thu)

Mondays to Thursdays

6:00 - 9:00am

Mysore-style classes provide students the opportunity to expand their experience and knowledge through individualized instruction and allow for traditional ashtanga yoga sequences to be modified to suit individual needs. This is a great class for beginners and those looking to deepen their relationship with yoga and establish a regular, personalized, and sustainable practice. Open to All.

a group of students sits on a wooden floor in the Contemplative Commons and meditates, overlooking the foliage below from the floor to ceiling window

Midday Mindfulness

Mondays to Fridays

12:00 - 12:20pm

Join us for a midday contemplative break led by the Contemplative Sciences Center staff and guest instructors. While practices shared may come from various traditions, they aim to invite participants to explore the mindful qualities of present-moment awareness, curiosity, and non-judgment. These are free, drop-in sessions for all of the UVA and Charlottesville community. Open and accessible to beginners and advanced practitioners alike.

Open to All.

Contemplative Commons from across the Dell

Faith, Play, and Practice: Analog Hour

Wed, Sep 30 2026 Wed, Dec 2 2026

Faith, Play, and Practice: Analog Hour is a chance for students and community members to engage in hands-on and screen free activities in the Contemplative Sciences Center. Step away from your daily grind and enjoy a mid-week contemplative practice that engages your childlike sense of play. Facilitators will guide participants through a new exercise each session that encourages deep reflection and presence. Learn more about the spiritual significance of mindful moments and share a meal with the Theological Horizons community.

Open to All.

Four people sitting on cushions experiencing the exhibit in the Conservatory

Synaisthesis Open Hours

Mondays to Thursdays

3:00 - 7:30pm

Fridays

3:00 - 5:30pm

Synaisthesis is an immersive light and sound exhibit in the Conservatory at the Contemplative Commons. A collaboration between Karianne Michelle, R. Lee Kennedy, David Acunzo and Matthew Burtner, the installation is open daily. Experience standing-wave acoustics and binaural beating patterns along with the synchronized lighting. Open to All.

Students on yoga mats with arms raised in the Contemplative Commons

Fridays

11:15am - 12:15pm

Wednesdays

5:30 - 6:30pm

Yoga is for everyone! Come and enjoy beginner friendly yoga practices led by members of our student peer programming team who have completed their yoga teacher training! Friday and Sunday classes meet in Studio 3B (300). Wednesday classes meet in Studio 3D (304). For UVA students.

Nora Brookfield demonstrating a yoga pose before a window at the Contemplative Commons

Yoga for Connection

Wednesdays

7:00 - 8:00pm

An upbeat, heart-centered class with an energizing flow that builds a feeling of vitality and community. Come to studio 3C to create space for authentic connection with yourself and others. Instructor: Nora Brookfield. Open to All.

Four students painting in the Contemplative Commons first floor gallery. More students are further back in the hallway.

Thursdays

3:00 - 6:00pm

The Peer Programming Team will be holding a weekly, rotating art or craft in the Contemplative Commons to provide an opportunity for anyone interested to enjoy some relaxing arts and crafts while engaging in community. Each session will feature an art or craft relevant to the time of year (pumpkin painting in October, snow flakes in December, etc.), along with some tried and true options that have been enjoyed in the past, such as crocheting, color by numbers, sticker making, and more!

Upcoming Sessions:

Open to All.

People stretching in front of yoga mats in the Contemplative Commons looking out at summer greenery

Therapeutic Yoga for Stress Management

Thursdays

5:00 - 5:45pm

This yoga practice will help lower stress, calm the nervous system, and release physical tension in the muscles. Through yoga, we can cultivate a sense of calm and balance, even amidst life‘s uncertainties and challenges. Instructor: Cindy Crace. Open to All.

People meditating on mats

Yoga for Better Sleep

Thursdays

6:00 - 7:00pm

In this restorative practice we will focus on calming the body, slowing the breath and focusing on the present. This yoga practice will increase circulation and endorphins that encourage relaxation which help you into a state of inner peace for a restful sleep. This class is taught Thursday 6-7pm in studio 4A. Open to All.

Yoga class touching toes

Ashtanga Yoga: Sanskrit-Counted Led Primary Series

Fridays

6:30 - 8:00am

In this class, the instructor leads participants through the entire ashtanga primary series, pairing movement with in- and out-breath to the traditional Sanskrit-counted vinyasa. The aim is for participants to flow through the poses and breathe together in a moving group meditation. As time does not allow for the instructor to explain the poses or the flow between them, this class is most suitable for those with experience practicing Ashtanga yoga. Open to All.

Students around a table discussing yoga with John Bultman

Chai & Chats (Yoga Q&A)

Fridays

8:00 - 9:00am

We will discuss yoga-related topics from philosophical ideas to questions about poses over a cup of chai. All are welcome. No physical practice required. Led by John Bultman. Open to All.

Photo divided into three images: sound bowls, tai chi pose, yoga pose

Friday Rest Fest

Fridays

1:00 - 4:30pm

Join us Friday afternoons for these contemplative activities specially curated to help you reconnect with your body and feel refreshed for the weekend. Drop in to any class. All are open to the public.

Open to All.