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Upcoming
Events

Mondays to Thursdays
6:00 - 9:00am
Open to All

Starts August 18

Fridays
6:30 - 8:00am
Open to All

Starts August 21

Mondays to Fridays
12:00 - 12:20pm
Open to All

Starts August 25

Tuesdays
5:30 - 6:30pm
Open to All

Starts August 25

Wednesdays
7:00 - 8:00pm
Open to All

Starts August 26

Thursdays
5:00 - 5:45pm
Open to All

Starts August 27

Thursdays
6:00 - 7:00pm
Open to All

Starts August 27

Fridays
8:00 - 9:00am
Open to All

Starts August 28

Fridays
1:00 - 4:30pm
Open to All

Starts August 28

Sundays
4:00 - 5:00pm
Open to All

Starts August 30

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Open to All

Starts August 31

Tuesdays
8:00 - 10:00am
Open to All

Starts September 1

Special Events

to Student-Led

The Peer Programming Team will be leading a contemplative Bird Watching walk around the Perimeter Loop starting at the O-Hill trailhead weekly, open to all. Bagels will be provided and additional sets of binoculars will be available, although participants are encouraged to bring their own if available. The walk will focus on mindful awareness, taking time for participants to be aware of all their senses. Though bird watching is a big part of the experience, it is not the only reason to come and join in on the outdoor engagement.

Open to All.
Special Event
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. Transportation will be provided. For UVA students.
Special Event
AI Anxiety + Human Flourishing will be held November 18-19, 2026 at the Contemplative Commons. Stay tuned for registration information!  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.

Drop-in Events

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.

Starts August 18

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.

Starts August 21

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.

Starts August 25

Tuesdays
5:30 - 6:30pm
How are the body and the breath connected to how we feel? This class explores how we can use our autonomic nervous system to reach a different state of presence. Each session opens with a form of embodied movement, often a vinyasa flow or something dynamic. Once the body is warm, we shift into breathwork sequences or meditation, drawing on practices refined over centuries in yogic traditions and adapted here for a modern, practical context. No prior yoga or meditation experience is required. Open to All.

Starts August 25

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.

Starts August 26

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.

Starts August 27

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.

Starts August 27

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.

Starts August 28

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.

Starts August 28

Sundays
4:00 - 5:00pm

Instructors: Seunghun Lee and Katarina Turpeinen

Open to All.

Starts August 30

Join facilitator Samantha Lane for Movement Monday: The 360 Emergence conscious dance and embodiment practice from 5-6pm in Studio 1B. The 360 Emergence is a dynamic free-form, embodiment practice that bridges dance and personal growth, rigor and freedom, individuality and the global collective. The 360 functions as a living laboratory where collective care becomes the catalyst for heart-led coherence, respect and the evolution of human dignity.  Open to All.

Starts August 31

Sundays
2:00 - 5:00pm
Put away your phones, turn off your laptops and settle in for screen-free reading at the Contemplative Commons. Read for class (print out your coursework!) or just bring your favorite book or magazine. Comfy couches and snacks will be provided. Every Sunday from 2-5pm on the 4th Floor Alchemy space in the Contemplative Commons. Drop in and leave whenever you like. No registration required. For UVA students.

Starts September 6