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?”

Sydney Wong viewing birds through binoculars

Contemplative Bird Watching Walks

Tuesdays

8:00 - 9:30am

(Open to All)

On Tuesday mornings, 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.

Upcoming
Events

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

Four people sitting on cushions experiencing the exhibit in the Conservatory

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

Graphic of banjo and guitar

Bluegrass Acoustic Jam Session

Wed, Oct 21 2026, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Open to All

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

Yoga for Connection

Wednesdays

7:00 - 8:00pm

Open to All

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

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

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

Yoga class touching toes

Ashtanga Yoga: Led Primary Series

Fridays

6:30 - 8:00am

Open to All

Special Events

Sign for Big Meadow with the moonrise in the background

Oct 23 24 — Special Event

Camping and Contemplation Under the Cosmos

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.

parent and student seated and talking

Oct 24 — Special Event

Catalytic Parenting

Join us for a one-hour conversation on being a positive catalyst for flourishing in your adult children’s lives. Learn how to optimize what you most hope for them while effectively managing your worry for them. Space limited Requires Registration.

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.

Drop-in Events

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.

Four people sitting on cushions experiencing the exhibit in the Conservatory

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.

Graphic of banjo and guitar

Bluegrass Acoustic Jam Session

Wed, Oct 21 2026

The weather is finally cooling down which means it is the perfect time to enjoy a bit of live music! Come join the Contemplative Sciences Center peer programming team and Hoograss for a Bluegrass themed Acoustic Jam Session! Refreshments will be provided, and we will have chairs and blankets available for seating, but feel free to bring your own as well to be comfortable and cozy on a fall night!

Open to All.

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.

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.

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.