East Bay Meditation Center

People of Color Yoga
2018-10-25 18:00 - 19:00, 2018-10-18 18:00 - 19:00, 2018-10-11 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | East Bay Meditation Center, 285 17th Street, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
Weekly Yoga Practice for Self Identified People of Color led by Satya de la Paz
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Build strength and flexibility while cultivating mindfulness in this all levels hatha yoga class. Each class has a unique, inspiring theme and personalized instruction that will leave you feeling joyous and rejuvenated.
No registration required. No mat or special clothes required.

Loneliness, Imperfection & Resilience: A Buddhist-based approach
2018-10-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2018-10-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2018-10-10 19:00 - 21:00
with Mushim Ikeda
Loneliness is painful, and seems to be on the rise despite the easy connectivity promised by internet and social media. Feeling isolated because we are regarded as “different” by others can be a factor. How can we stay present to the sharp edges of our feelings about the imperfection of our lives, and mindfully build resilience, self-forgiveness, authentic connectivity and joy? This Buddhist-based approach will include reflective journaling, experiential exercises, mindfulness meditation (beginners are welcome), Dharma talks, and discussion. Bring your kindest and most whole self.
REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Teen Sangha: Fall Session
2018-10-24 19:00 - 20:45, 2018-10-17 19:00 - 20:45, 2018-10-10 19:00 - 20:45
EBMC Teen Sangha
Fall 2018
Wednesdays, September 5th to December 5th 7:00 pm – 8:45PM pm
EBMC Teen Sangha is a weekly meditation group for teens, ages 14-19
Led by Syra Smith, Nirali Shah, Anthony Maes, Raul Betancourt and Sarwang Parikh
Our focus is on creating deeper relationships with ourselves and each other, having fun, getting real and supporting each other. Learn mindfulness meditation and explore the dharma (Buddhist teachings) in creative experiential ways. No experience necessary. We are committed to maintaining a sangha (community) that is welcoming to people of all identities, cultures and backgrounds.
Registration: Registration is required and space is limited. Click HERE to register.
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Midday Sangha
2018-10-24 12:00 - 13:35, 2018-10-17 12:00 - 13:35, 2018-10-10 12:00 - 13:35
Midday Sangha at EBMC Wednesdays at Noon!
Join our peer-led multicultural sangha for silent meditation practice and community building.
Every Wednesday
12:00 – 12:45 Silent sitting, standing or lying down meditation with optional walking meditation.
12:45 – 1:35 Potluck lunch with facilitated conversation about our practice and being the dharma in the world
Midday Sangha Coordinating Committee:
Abe Doherty, Jenn Biehn, Kam McCallum, Karen Jackson, Manuel Vasquez, Preston Justice, Shawki, Yvette Flores

Alphabet Sangha
2018-10-23 19:00 - 20:30, 2018-10-16 19:00 - 20:30, 2018-10-09 19:00 - 20:30
A meditation group for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Same-Gender Loving, and Two-Spirit communities. Because that’s such a mouthful, we call ourselves the Alphabet Sangha.
Tuesdays
7:00 – 8:30 pm
For more information, visit the ALPHABET SANGHA WEBSITE

Dharma in Motion: Embodying Metta
2018-10-23 18:00 - 18:50, 2018-10-16 18:00 - 18:50
Embodying Metta: Yoga with Jess Dene Schlesinger
Tuesdays 6:00 pm – 6:50 pm / October 2 – November 27

Embodying Metta is a Trauma-Informed and Access-Centered Yoga class— invitational, consensual, and variations for differing abilities and access need are offered. Connecting breath with movement, we will work on developing lovingkindness for our complete selves, reminded that all bodies and minds are perfect and whole as is. Each class will focus on the accessing the vagus nerve (closely tied to our sympathetic nervous systems), gentle alignment, and embodying resiliency and lovingkindness.
Dharma in Motion is a weekly offering of access-centered movement practices for all ages and abilities. Teachers and modalities will rotate every 5-6 weeks. Drop in format, no experience necessary. Please wear clothing that allows for gentle movement.
Jess Dene Schlesinger began practicing yoga and meditation 17 years ago but found that most classes she attended were not accessible for her needs. With the support of Disability Justice activists, she created Access-Centered Movement, a trauma-informed framework that attempts to dismantle the hierarchy of bodies and minds. She uses her vast knowledge of physical therapy and holistic health, her lived experience as a disabled queer, and her intuitive and empathetic abilities to offer relief for trauma and pain. Aware that the ancestors of the spiritual traditions she practices are not her own, she is committed to decolonizing her practice and works to organize anti-racist white yoga teachers to do the same.

Liberation: A True Refuge
2018-10-22 19:00 - 21:00, 2018-10-15 19:00 - 21:00
A seeker’s path to healing and awakening
For LGBTQIA Identified
with Carol Cano
“Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a practice.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
This three-week series will give a basic understanding and overview of the essential Buddhist teachings and practices of mindfulness meditation. We will explore a cross-cultural approach to Queer spirituality by braiding our dharma practice with indigenous wisdom and develop a trusting relationship with the Great mystery of life.
We will practice deepening our relationship with intentional community and integrate practices in Nature. We will also build an altar that represents our teachers of past, present and future each time we meet. In the beginning of the class we will create an altar of freedom fighters, teachers of the heart and wisdom holders from our community. Each time we break the altar down we will acknowledge how precious life is and connect with our purpose in life.
We are not alone on this seeker’s path to Liberation.
REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

ONLINE: Trans/Gender-Expansive Deep Refuge Group
2018-10-22 18:30 - 20:00
Trans/Gender-Expansive Deep Refuge Group
Fourth Mondays (online over zoom)
6:30-8pm PM PST
This deep refuge group is by and for trans/gender-expansive people. Our goal is to provide a welcoming community space for trans/gender-expansive folks who are interested in exploring meditation and other aspects of Buddhist practice. Both beginners and experienced practitioners welcome!
To be added to the email list, please email tgedeeprefuge@eastbaymeditation.org with a quick note about your interest in the group. We look forward to practicing with you!

Every Body Every Mind Sangha
2018-10-21 18:00 - 19:30, 2018-10-14 18:00 - 19:30
Every Body Every Mind Sangha is a weekly practice group for people living with disabilities, limitations, differences and chronic illnesses.
Sundays
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Please come and take part in this time to meditate, share our lives and support with each other, and learn more about the dharma. There is no need to register for these weekly meetings, just come and share this path together!
Teachers include Charlie Johnson, Deb Kerr and others.
For more info, visit the Every Body Every Mind Sangha Website.

Beyond the Binary: Mindfulness of Gender
2018-10-21 10:00 - 16:30
Beyond the Binary: Mindfulness of Gender
We extend a special invitation to those who identity as non-binary, gender nonconforming and their allies.
with JD Doyle, Loujie Kim, Rene Rivera & Bri Barnett
What does it mean to be a boy? woman? genderqueer? gender nonconforming? transgender? agender? or none of the above? Gender identities and presentations profoundly impact all areas of our lives. Through meditations and interactive activities, we will embrace our experiences and explore our conditioning around gender and the dynamics of gender that are alive for each of us. As we open to all aspects of ourselves and others, we can nurture a world that is founded in inclusivity and freedom for all.
REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Finding Harmony in Work Life
2018-10-20 10:00 - 17:00
Bringing Work into Alignment with Spiritual Practice
Open to all
with Deb Kerr
Sometimes we struggle with incongruence between meditative life and work life. It may feel impossible to bring lovingkindness to a tough workplace environment. Or we feel like our occupation is unaligned with our spirituality. This class will look at ways to bring our work into more harmony with our mindfulness and compassion practices. We’ll be using stationary and moving meditation, interactive and reflective exercises to explore how we might apply what we practice in meditation to the workplace realities we face every day.
REGISTER HERE
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

Unhurried & Unbothered: Yoga for Radical Restoration
2018-10-19 18:00 - 18:45, 2018-10-12 18:00 - 18:45
Cultivating deep awareness requires us to slow down. There are many lessons waiting to be uncovered in silence, stillness, and slowness. Unhurried & Unbothered: Yoga for Radical Restoration is an invitation to practice slowing down as the antidote for the violent pace of capitalism. In each session, the daily demands so many of us face to move quickly and do more will be greeted with the call to move slowly, do less, and treat our bodies and minds with great tenderness. We will practices poses that are slow, sometimes repetitive, and restorative in nature. Multiple expressions of each pose will be offered and participants are invited to practice lying down, seated, or standing, according to their own body wisdom and access needs.

People of Color Sangha
2018-10-18 19:00 - 21:00, 2018-10-11 19:00 - 21:00
The People of Color Sangha is a growing tribe of people of color waking up and getting free!
Thursdays
7:00 – 9:00 PM
For more information, visit the: POC SANGHA WEBSITE

Family Practice: Opening the Heart through the Buddha's Teachings
2018-10-14 10:00 - 12:30
with Baruch Golden, Lev White, Hannah Hamler and Michele Ku
We invite you to come and help create the diverse family sangha at EBMC. We welcome families with babies, toddlers, and children up to age 13. Children under 5 will need to have a parent/caregiver stay with them.
This class features training on “Family Tea Time” and how mindful practices can bind the family together. We will also explore how meditation and meditative movement can contribute to successful family life. Parents/caregivers and young people will meet together and separately during the class. We are committed to creating a diverse family sangha. No prior experience is necessary.
Please bring a snack (without nuts) to share. Please note, each family only needs one registration. Thank You!
Registration: Registration is required and space is limited. Click HERE to register.
Cost: There is no registration fee for attending this event, nor most EBMC events. However, EBMC is not independently funded. The Center and the teachers will be sustained only by your voluntary donations (the practice of generous giving, or “dana”). Please donate generously, in proportion to your ability:
* Either online (you will be offered an opportunity during the online registration process to donate to EBMC; the teachers will not receive any part of this online donation).
* Or at the event, in the two baskets at EBMC, one for the Center, the second for the Teacher.
Thank you for your generosity. EBMC will be only be sustained through our collective generosity.
Fragrance-free: In order to protect the health of community members with environmental illness, please do not wear fragranced products (including “natural” fragrances) or clothes laundered in fragranced products to EBMC.
EBMC is wheelchair accessible.

ONLINE: Multiracial Peer-Led Deep Refuge Group
2018-10-13 19:00 - 21:00
The Multiracial Deep Refuge Group is a monthly exploratory Deep Refuge Group for and by people who identify as multiracial. Our meetings include periods of mindfulness meditation and sharing of narratives and perspectives as we come together to be seen and to see one another. By sitting and exploring our own unique stories, we can come to know and care for the common threads that bind us together. Our collective work bravely expands the narrative that informs multiracial experience today. Meets 7pm-9pm on the second Saturdays of every month. Online and occasionally hybrid (in-person at EBMC + online).
Newcomers welcome- please contact us before your first visit: mrdrcoordinators at googlegroups dot com
