fellowship for emerging leaders
social innovation and flourishing

We are now accepting applications for the 2020 Dalai Lama Fellows program. This one-year fellowship is designed to support a global movement of next generation leaders (20- 35 year-olds) who are working to address global challenges in locally adapted ways and promote human flourishing. Through the program, young leaders learn to develop greater self-awareness, resiliency, and insight as well as deeper connections to others, their communities, and the world. To date, the program has trained 175 fellows from 48 countries. 

LEARN MORE >

alejandro chaoul
secrets of tibetan yoga for modern life

Tibetan Yoga for Health and Well-Being
Thursday, November 7
7:00-8:00pm
Clemons Library, Room 220
Free and open to the public. No registration necessary.

CSC is honored to host Alejandro Chaoul, PhD for a talk on the once-secret ancient tools of Tibetan yoga. Chaoul will discuss how these practices can improve physical strength and support emotional and mental health. He will share his experiences of daily practice in different settings and cultures, with a focus on simplicity, accessibility, and ease that will help remove obstacles to well-being in our lives. Chaoul will also provide a contextual understanding of the history and lineage of Tibetan yoga to help us incorporate its ancient teachings into our modern lifestyle. Chaoul,  is a senior teacher with The 3 Doors, an international organization founded by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche with the goal of transforming lives through meditation.

LEARN MORE >

candy gunther brown
yoga & mindfulness in public schools

Why are Public-School Yoga and Mindfulness Popular and Controversial? 
Friday, November 8
12:00-1:00pm
Location: Ruffner Hall, G004
Free and open to the public. No registration necessary.

We are thrilled to welcome Candy Gunther Brown, PhD for a talk on the appeal of and most common objections to public-school yoga, mindfulness, and meditation programs. Drawing on her experience as an expert witness in four legal disputes, Brown will address whether such programs are secular, religious, or both. She will also discuss scientific evidence on whether these programs are safe, effective, and universally appropriate as interventions. After the talk, Brown will be available to answer questions and sign copies of her book Debating Yoga and Mindfulness in Public Schools: Reforming Secular Education or Reestablishing Religion? (Copies will be available for sale at a discount). Brown is professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University and author or editor of six books.

LEARN MORE >

maria Kozhevnikov
new findings on meditation for flow

Boosting Human Cognition with Vajrayana Tantric Practices
Friday, November 15
12:00-1:30pm
Location: New Cabell Hall, 236 Conference Room
Free and open to the public. No registration necessary.

Maria Kozhevnikov, PhD will present new research showing that certain types of meditation heighten awareness and lead to flow or peak experiences and enhanced cognitive functioning while others encourage relaxation. Since different practices are based on different neurophysiological mechanisms, she asserts that it may be appropriate to categorize meditation practices according to whether they involve relaxation or arousal, instead of calming across the board. Kozhevnikov is an associate professor at the National University of Singapore and visiting associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

LEARN MORE >

contemplative classes
free and open for everyone

CSC offers 10 free contemplative classes every week—no need to register, just drop in! Classes include Yoga for Stress Relief, Qi Gong, Mindfulness Meditation, T'ai Chi, Yoga for Better Sleep, and more. Receive a Juice Laundry gift card if you complete 20 classes! Open to everyone: students, faculty, staff, and community members. PLEASE NOTE: T'ai Chi has moved from the UVA Garden to Clemons Library, Contemplative Room 220. (Pictured above: McIntire student doing Qi Gong on the recent Pickard Contemplative Fellowship Retreat hosted by CSC and the McIntire School of Commerce.)

LEARN MORE >

mysore for beginners
Mondays - Thursdays!

Join instructor John Bultman, one of 27 KPJAYI-certified Ashtanga Yoga Teachers in the world, for Beginner Mysore Ashtanga yoga. Participants will receive individualized instruction in the Ashtanga yoga sequence within a group setting. They'll slowly memorize the sequence while linking the postures with the breath so that it becomes a moving meditation. Everyone receives instruction based on individual ability. Beginner Mysore is open to everyone and suitable for all body types and levels of experience. It's offered Monday-Thursday, 8:30-9:30am at the North Grounds Recreation Center (NGRC). Check out more Ashtanga classes at the link below.

LEARN MORE >

mindfulness with tish jennings
uva academic classes 

Tish Jennings, PhD will be teaching the following UVA classes this spring semester. More information on the contemplative classes offered by UVA to come!

• EDIS 3012 Mindfulness in Health and Human Development
  Mindfulness in Health and Human Development is designed to integrate cutting-edge science with practical applications for students preparing to work in caring professions or other work environments.
   
• EDIS 4012 Advanced Mindfulness in Health and Human Development
  This class is designed to prepare students to lead and teach mindful awareness practices to others.
   
• EDIS 5012 Mindfulness for Teachers
  Mindfulness for Teachers is designed help teachers develop the competencies needed to orchestrate healthy and supportive classroom dynamics, boost enjoyment of teaching, and cultivate a love of learning within the classroom. 
  
  LEARN MORE >