"Exploring the Four Flames Part I" with Dr. Dale Buegel on Saturday, September 21, 2024
2024-09-21 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
In collaboration with Palatine’s HYMC and Milwaukee’s HYMC
Via Zoom
“Exploring the Four Flames Part I”
with Dr. Dale Buegel
September 21, 2024,
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. CDT
Cost: $40.00
Register here
This workshop will focus on practices related to the flames at Manipura and Anahata chakras.

Via Zoom – Sunday Morning Guided Meditation with Swami Radha Bharati
2024-09-22 08:20 - 09:30, 2024-09-29 08:20 - 09:30, 2024-10-06 08:20 - 09:30, 2024-10-13 08:20 - 09:30
Via Zoom – Sunday Morning Guided Meditation
with Swami Radha Bharati
8:20 A.M. – 9:15 A.M.
Join for Morning Prayers: 8:20-8:30 a.m.
Sunday Morning Meditation: 8:30-9:15 a.m.

Join Swami Radha Bharati on Zoom for a guided meditation on Sunday from 8:20 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Sunday Book Study Group Via Zoom with Swami Ma Radha Bharati, Michael Smith, and Jim Nelson
2024-09-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-09-29 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-10-06 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-10-13 10:00 - 11:30
Sunday Book Study Group Via Zoom
with Swami Ma Radha Bharati, Michael Smith, and Jim Nelson
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Swami Radha, Jim, and Michael will continue the study of spiritual topics in the fall of 2024. The Book Study Group is reading “Guru Disciple Relationship Volume-I by Swami Veda Bharati. Join us for very interesting discussions. Everyone is welcome.

Via Zoom Summer 2024 Series - Kaivalya Pada with Dr. Stephen Parker (Stoma) Psy.D., 500-RYT
2024-09-23 19:00 - 21:00
New Dates: Cancelled for August 19, 2024…begins August 26, 2024
“Yoga Sutras” Summer 2024 Series – Kaivalya Pada
Via Zoom
with Dr. Stephen Parker (Stoma) Psy.D., 500-RYT

Mondays: August 26, September 9, 16, and 23, 2024
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Class will not meet on September 2, 2024
Begins at 7:00 p.m. with Meditation guided by Stoma
Study of the “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” with Dr. Stephen Parker (Stoma) Psy.D., 500-RYT

Chapter 4, the Kaivalya Pada

Cost: $55.00 for the series
$15.00 for drop-in
If you live in a time zone that does not allow for you to attend the Yoga Sutras sessions in real time, register for the 4-week series and you will be sent Vimeo links to the recorded sessions as soon as they are uploaded to Vimeo

Cost: $55.00 for the 4-week series
$15.00 for a single session
Register here for all four sessions
Register here for a Single Session on August 26, 2024
Register here for a Single Session on September 9, 2024
Register here for a Single Session on September 16, 2024
Register here for a Single Session on September 23, 2024
If you live in a time zone that does not allow for you to attend the YogaSutras sessions in real time, register for the 4-week series and you will be sent Vimeo links to the recorded sessions as soon as they are uploaded to Vimeo.

Everyone is welcome!

The Summer 2024 series of the “YogaSutras” with Stoma is being offered to anyone who desires to learn more regarding the gifts of meditation and yoga given through this text.

Everyone is welcome!
Join Dr. Stephen Parker (Stoma) for this special ongoing study of the text, the “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.” We will the study the fourth chapter, the “Kaivalya Pada.”
We also will be using as texts either “The Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali,” or “The Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali with Bhasvati,” both by Swami Hariharananda Aaranya. Or you can use any commentary on the “YogaSutras” that you have available.

Meditation I Hybrid Class: "Learning the Basics" with Paul Emerson, Ph.D. Tuesdays: September 17 – October 22, 2024
2024-09-24 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-10-01 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-10-08 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-10-15 18:30 - 20:00
Meditation I Hybrid Class : “Learning the Basics”
Tuesdays: September 17 – October 22, 2024
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Paul Emerson, Ph.D.
Cost $75.00 for the six-week series.
Register here.
Section 1: (live at the Meditation Center, can zoom in when you can’t make it)
Section 2 (zoom only – zoomed from the Meditation Center)
If you have already taken Meditation I and would like to attend this class, the cost is $37.50. Email us at info@themeditationcenter.org stating your intention to retake Meditation I and we will register you at half the cost.
This class introduces the student to the basics of meditation in the Himalayan Tradition. Relaxation techniques, pranayama (yogic breath), ideal sitting postures, and the use of mantra will be taught to help the student focus the mind and relax the body. Beginning Raja yoga philosophy is also included in this class. Treat yourself to the many benefits of a regular meditation practice.
Paul Emerson is a biomedical engineer with a Ph.D. He is the authority on the physiology of breathing for The Meditation Center and has been teaching yoga for over 30 years. Paul has worked as a research scientist, has been a manager of clinical research with a major biomedical company and a university instructor. In addition, he holds eight patents in the areas of dialysis and sleep therapy. he is a scholar of ancient yoga texts. Paul was certified by the Rockford School of Yoga and began teaching in 1975.

Wednesday Mornings In Person and via Zoom – Gentle Hatha Yoga (Drop-In) with Sig Martell and Rosann Chamberlain
2024-09-25 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-10-02 10:30 - 12:00
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS In Person and Via Zoom – GENTLE HATHA YOGA (DROP IN)

Time: 10:30am to Noon
Instructors: Sig Martell, Rosann Chamberlain, and Susan Guthrie
Fees: $12.00/class ($10.00 for seniors and students)
DROP-IN HATHA CLASSES (ONGOING)
Everyone is Welcome! These classes are for all levels. Instructors excel at leading the class in relaxation, gentle asana (yoga positions) and pranayama (breath). Relieve stress, achy joints, improve balance at all levels and increase your sense of well being. No registration necessary, just show up.

In Person "Yoga for Stress Relief" Series with Eric Ness Tuesdays: October 1-22, 2024
2024-10-01 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-10-08 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-10-15 18:00 - 19:00
In Person “Yoga for Stress Relief” Series with Eric Ness
Tuesdays: October 1-22, 2024
6:00 -7:00 p.m. CDT
Limited to 8 students.
Register here.
Are you a busy professional struggling to find balance in the chaos of modern life? Do you yearn for a moment of calm amidst your hectic schedule? “Yoga for Stress Relief” is designed with you in mind.
Why This Class?

Tailored for busy lifestyles: Flexible attendance – come when you can, leave if you must.
Stress-busting techniques: Learn practical methods to manage stress in daily life.
Accessible to all: No prior yoga experience or fitness level required.
Mind-body connection: Discover how to use your breath and body awareness as anchors in stressful situations.

What to Expect
In this class, you’ll experience:

Gentle, mindful movements to release physical tension
Guided relaxation techniques to reduce stress
A supportive, non-judgmental environment

This isn’t a high-intensity workout – it’s a journey towards inner peace and resilience. Whether you’re on-call, can only stay for part of the class, or need to step out for a phone call, you’re welcome here.
The Benefits

Reduced stress and anxiety
Improved focus and productivity
Tools to manage daily stressors more effectively

Join us and discover a new way of navigating life’s challenges. Your path to a calmer, more centered you begins here.
Eric Ness has been teaching meditation and yoga for over ten years. His teaching is based on the experiences that he had while immersed in a meditational environment. He deepened his study of meditation while participating in the residential program at the Meditation Center. He also trained for three years at the Swami Rama Institute for Meditation in India. His calm teaching style brings students the tools they need to move toward a peaceful state of mind. Eric is a member of the TMC Spiritual Committee.

Thursday Satsang In Person and Via Zoom: "Fall Navaratri 2024", Puja Officiated by Emilio Bettaglio - October 3, 2024
2024-10-03 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang In Person and Via Zoom – October 3, 2024
Fall Navaratri 2024
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

5:30-6:45 p.m.: In-Person Gentle Hatha Yoga with Sig Martell
7:00-8:00 p.m.: “Fall Navaratri 2024 with Emilio Bettaglio”
8:00-8:30 p.m.: Meditation Guided by Eric Ness
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers

Shardiya (fall) Navaratri is the invocation and celebration of Mother Divine, one of the most important observations in the Himalayan Yoga tradition. She, Shakti “… by whom this whole world, whole universe is upheld and sustained…” ~Swami Veda.
Join Emilio at The Meditation Center on the first night of the waxing moon on Thursday, October 3rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Hall of the Tradition. The Satsang will be in person and on Zoom to celebrate the opening of the nine nights of Navaratri with a guided puja. This will be followed by Swami Veda’s audio recording of Lalita Sahasranama, the Thousand Names of Lalita.
You are also invited to join us for eight additional evenings at 8:00 p.m. to hear the audio recording of Lalita Sahasranama by Swami Veda. This special recording is a contemplation and meditation in itself; each of the thousand names of Mother Divine is a mantra and Swami Veda’s recitation is a wonderful experience of creative dynamic energy.
The final and ninth evening will be on Friday, October 11th at 7:00 PM when the Lalita Sahasranama audio file will be played first, followed by the puja to close the observance. Again, this will be held in the Hall of the Tradition and will be in person and via Zoom.
All nine sessions will be zoomed; the first and final sessions on October 3rd and the 11th will be in person and on zoom.
The Durga mantra that will be chanted during the pujas is the “Sarva Mangala“ mantra.
Read a detailed explanation of the “Sarva Mangala” mantra.
Read here the “Sarva Mangala” mantra.
Listen here to Swami Veda Bharati recite the “Sarva Mangala” mantra.
Read here the text of the “Sri Lalita Sahasranama,” the “Thousand Names of Lalita.”
Listen here to Swami Veda reciting the “1,000 Names of Lalita, the Mother Divine,” “Sri Lalita Sahasranama”

To support the work of The Meditation Center and register you can donate here (suggested donation $15.00) for Thursday Satsang or make a general donation by clicking on the “donate” button on the “Support TMC” website page.
Or donate through PayPal.
Note: There is parking available for TMC visitors in the St. Boniface lot across the street from the Center.

Postponed Until February 2025 - "Writing is for Everybody" with Michelle Skally Doilney - Saturday, October 5, 2024
2024-10-05 10:00 - 12:00
Postponed Until February 2025
“Writing is for Everybody” with Michelle Skally Doilney
In Person and Via Zoom
Saturday, October 5, 2024
10:00 a.m. – Noon

Yes. You are a writer with something to say, just for yourself, maybe for others.
Join me to learn or deepen your writing practice with no pressure, no editing, and no criticism. With paper and a fast-writing pen (for this workshop), we’ll free our thoughts and find our voices in a safe and comfortable environment.
In class, one of us might think we wrote the worst, most boring thing ever written. All of us will realize we wrote something totally unexpected. It’s all ok. No good or bad, no right or wrong.
Learn or deepen this practice to help you write other pieces, from projects at work to memoir or stories for your family. Experience your mind and thoughts from your own different view. Find peace, release, or just have fun.
We’ll combine writing practice with other practices for centering (no religion or spirituality; adapted to any-body).
Please bring a notebook (simple cheap spiral or sketchbook for unlined pages is best) and a pen (ink pen writes fastest but use what makes you comfortable) to class.
Michelle Skally Doilney is a student and initiate in the Himalayan Tradition since 1997, and a certified Hatha Yoga teacher since 2002. She is a lifelong writer, adding writing practice to the mix as a teen, and studies directly with Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones and most recently, Writing on Empty, since 2017. Michelle is currently consulting and teaching using feng shui, yoga, and writing practice. She is working on several writing and art projects drawing from her love of travel and photography.
www.practicalenvironments.com

"Ayurveda: Ritam! The Rhythm of Life" via Zoom - An Opportunity in October to Study with Cynthia and Gary Gran
2024-10-05 13:00 - 15:00
In collaboration with Palatine HYMC and Milwaukee HYMC
An Opportunity in October to Study with Cynthia and Gary Gran
“Ayurveda: Ritam! The Rhythm of Life” via Zoom
October 5, 2024
1:00-3:00 p.m Central Time
Cost: $25.00
Register here.

Thursday Satsang via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC: "Devotion to the Divine Mother as Exemplified in the Lives and Teachings of H.H. Sri Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati " with Stephen Parker (Stoma), PsyD, 500 E-RYT - October 10, 2024
2024-10-10 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC
October 10, 2024
“Devotion to the Divine Mother as Exemplified in the Lives and Teachings
of H.H. Sri Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati “
with Stephen Parker (Stoma), PsyD, 500 E-RYT
7:00-8:30 p.m. CDT

5:30-6:45 p.m.: In-Person Gentle Hatha Yoga with Maja Radovanlija
6:15-7:00 p.m. – Vegan Soup
7:00-8:00 p.m.: “Devotion to the Divine Mother as Exemplified in the Lives and Teachings of
H.H. Sri Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati ” with Stephen Parker (Stoma), PsyD, 500 E-RYT
8:00-8:30 p.m.: Meditation Guided by Stephen Parker (Stoma)
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers
8:45 p.m.: Listen to Swami Veda’s recorded recitation of “1,000 names of Lalita, Sri Lalita Sahasranama.”The 8th night of Navaratri

During this time of Navaratri, join Stoma for a compelling discussion regarding the devotion of Swami Rama and Swami Veda to the Divine Mother. Come with your questions and stories of your experiences.

“Love Whispers”
by H.H. Sri Swami Rama
It whispers from the heights,
It whispers from the depths,
It whispers from the mountains and the streams.
It whispers from above and below,
From the petals of flowers,
From my little brooklet’s flow.
It whispers from there and everywhere.
Love is a whisper divine.
But among all the whispers I have ever heard,
Her whisper is supreme,
Fulfilling all my wishes
And life’s greatest dream.
( Love Whispers, page 1)

To support the work of The Meditation Center and register you can donate here (suggested donation $15.00) for Thursday Satsang or make a general donation by clicking on the “donate” button on the “Support TMC” website page.
Or donate through PayPal.
Note: There is parking available for TMC visitors in the St. Boniface lot across the street from the Center.

Chakra Series with Dr. Dale Buegel:Chakras-Chakras – Maṇipūra and Anāhata Chakras on Saturday, October 12, 2024
2024-10-12 10:30 - 12:30
Sponsored Jointly with Milwaukee HYMC
Register now for the session
on October 12th.
Chakra Series with Dr. Dale Buegel
via Zoom
These workshops are being offered in person in Milwaukee AND via Zoom.
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Register here for October 12th
Cost: $30.00 per session
Zoom links and recordings will be sent to those who sign up.
This workshop series will focus on the relationship between two or more chakras, their energetics, the relationship of their elemental essences, and methods to study the chakras and their relationships.
Chakras – Maṇipūra and Anāhata Chakras
Saturday, October 12
In this workshop we will continue exploration of methods of study applied to this pair of chakras, the two flames of these chakras, as well as Viṣṇu granthi.
Register here for October 12th
Upper Granthi and the Minor Chakras
Saturday, November 9
This third workshop in the series will study more in-depth methods of working with saṃskāras and their relationships to the chakras, the role of the element ākāśa and the void, and the relationship of ājñā chakra to Rudra granthi.
Register here for November 9th
Zoom links and recordings will be sent to those who sign up.

"Ayurveda: Rasa! The Essence of Life" via Zoom - An Opportunity in October to Study with Cynthia and Gary Gran
2024-10-12 13:00 - 15:00
In collaboration with Palatine HYMC and Milwaukee HYMC
An Opportunity in October to Study with Cynthia and Gary Gran via Zoom
Ayurveda: Rasa! The Essence of Life
October 12, 2024
1:00- 3:00 p.m.Central Time
Cost:$25.00
Register here.
There’s a classic story called “The Return of the Sages.” It comes to us from Ayurveda, the ancient Science of Life & Longevity. In this story, the sages had been living and working in the world for some time, and felt they had gradually lapsed into some poor habits. They wanted to know how to restore and maintain their health as they aged. So, they returned to the Himalayas for a rest and to receive further teachings from the deep Well of Wisdom that is Ayurveda. The teachings they received included the principles of healthy aging and rejuvenation, known as Rasayana.
In this workshop, we’ll explore what the sages learned:

The multi-layered meaning of Rasa, the ‘sap’ or ‘juice’ of life.
The signs of aging and the depletion of Rasa.
How to rebuild our Rasa to slow the natural aging process.

Please join us for this fascinating and truly transformative afternoon of satsang to share and ponder the longevity teachings. All are welcome.
“If you are constantly expelling the toxins from the body, you can control the aging process, expand the span of life,
and lead a healthy life.”
– Swami Rama
Our goal as always, will be to move towards greater balance and harmony with Life. May all be well. May all know peace.
Gary & Cynthia Gran have been treading the Himalayan path since the late 1970s. They met at the old Glenview Center in Illinois and have served the tradition in various capacities over the years. They are both certified yoga teachers and Ayurvedic educators. They have published more than eighty articles on yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. They enjoy desert gardening, cooking and hiking at their home in Tucson, Arizona.
Gary Gran, CYT, DAy.
Cynthia Gran, DAy. E-RYT 500, YACEP

Wednesday Evening Writing Sanctuary with Simone De Los Santos "Using Writing as a Spiritual Tool"
2024-10-16 18:30 - 20:00
Wednesday Evening Writing Sanctuary with Simone De Los Santos
“Using Writing as a Spiritual Tool”
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Suggested donation: $15.00
Please join in as Simone facilitates a workshop experience about writing as a spiritual practice.

Within a dedicated time and space we’ll create a circle of safe support to explore and practice this inner work of writing sadhana.

You are welcome to join us in person in the beautiful energy of the Center or enjoy from the comfort of your own home on Zoom. Bring your notebook and favorite pen.

Simone De Los Santos is the current Ashramite at the Meditation Center. Her path is creative and spiritual.

As a youth she spent time in both Chicago and Puerto Rico, nourished by the cultural heritage of both worlds. She moved to Minneapolis and earned a degree in Fine Art, specializing in color and painting. During her college career a color consulting practice was born. She has had the honor of working on many historical buildings throughout the Twin Cities, earning her a Historical Preservation Award from the City of Saint Paul.

All the while, processing her world daily through the practice of writing remains the gem of her work. Through decades of practicing writing, yoga, meditation and ayurvedic practices she has transformed the the darkness and challenge of what it is to be human, into the light of peace, spaciousness, awareness and growth.

Thursday Satsang In Person and Via Zoom: "Swami Hari: A simple forest monk" presented by Daniel Hertz - October 17, 2024
2024-10-17 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang In Person and Via Zoom – October 17, 2024
“Swami Hari: A simple forest monk”
A presentation by Daniel Hertz MS, BCB, E-RYT 500
5:30-6:45 p.m.: In-Person Gentle Hatha Yoga
7:00-8:00 p.m.: “Swami Hari: A simple forest monk”
A presentation by Daniel Hertz MS, BCB, E-RYT 500
8:00-8:30 p.m.: Meditation Guided by Swami Radha Bharati
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers

Swami Hari Harananda Bharati spent many years living in near-isolation at the holy Himalayan Shiva shrine of Tarkeshwar. Over the course of thirty-five years, he pursued Swami Rama to become his disciple, but was always turned down and sent away. Then late one night, Swami Rama unexpectedly showed up at Tarkeshwar and told Swami Hari he would initiate him the next morning. Daniel will share several stories about Swami Hari and also explain how he became Swami Hari’s personal assistant for several years. In addition, he will show several photos of Swami Hari and play a rare recording of Swami Hari leading a kirtan at Tarkeshwar.

BIO:
Daniel Hertz, MS, BCB, E-RYT 500 has been on the faculty of The Meditation Center since 1995. He is the author of a book about Swami Hari entitled Swami Hari: I am a simple forest monk. It is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Swami-Hari-simple-forest-monk/dp/1456505874

Global Full Moon Meditation via Zoom from Palatine Guided by Pandit Dabral,, October 17, 2024, 9:00-10:00p.m. CT
2024-10-17 21:00 - 22:00
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Global Full Moon Meditation Via Zoom
9:00-10:00 p.m. CDT
This Full Moon Meditation via Zoom will begin guided by Pandit Dabral followed by a silent meditation until 10:00 p.m.
This event is courtesy of the Palatine Himalayan Yoga & Meditation Center – HYMC.
To get the Zoom link and for more information aregarding the global full moon meditation schedule
visit HYMC’s website here.
“You are lovingly invited to sit in meditation for an hour wherever you are, in your home or with friends. Total beginners and longtime practitioners, non-initiates and initiates are welcome. If you cannot sit for the entire hour, sit as long as you are able; as Swami Veda has said, ‘Let the quietness of the mind continue even after you rise..’” (Courtesy of AHYMSIN.org January 2023 newsletter).
Everyone is welcome!
“Yoga Philosophy views the mind as Universal field; its waves passing through us and becoming our individual minds. This Universal mind is a radiant force and is also known as a Universal Guru within.”
“When all sit together at the same time even in different parts of the world, they connect to the Universal Guru mind and generate a strong field, like so many magnets being joined together and forming a much stronger magnet; the strength of each then equals the combined strength of all.”
– Swami Veda Bharati –

Postponed until November...Via Zoom and Live-Streamed at TMC "Gentle Yoga and Meditation" with Cynthia Gran, E-RYT 500, DAy., YACEP - October 18, 2024
2024-10-18 18:30 - 20:00
Cancelled until November
Via Zoom and Live-Streamed at TMC
Students may drop-in to view the livestream
“Gentle Yoga and Meditation” with Cynthia Gran, E-RYT 500, DAy., YACEP
Cancelled – Friday, October 18, 2024
6:30–8:00 p.m.
Cost:$12.00
In these classes, we will incorporate simple hatha yoga asanas, some pranayama and a short meditation. By doing asanas with a consistently deep awareness of our breathing as we move, we work our way into the deeper realm of our being. We move from the gross to the subtle. We move into stillness. We touch our inner resources for strength and self-healing, with a greater sense of our true nature. Meditation comes very easily after this sequentially profound series. All levels of practice are welcome.
Cynthia Gran, E-RYT 500, DAy., YACEP, has been treading the Himalayan path since the late 1970s. Cynthia and her husband, Gary, DAy. CYT, first attended the old Glenview Center in Illinois where they met and have served the tradition in various capacities over the years. They are both certified yoga teachers and Ayurvedic educators. They have published more than eighty articles on yoga, meditation and Ayurveda.

Nature of Existence and Role of Yoga Practices in Healing: THE ROLE OF NĀDIS AND PANCHA-PRĀṆAS with C. Rajan Narayanan, PhD - In Person and Via Zoom
2024-10-19 10:00 - 12:00
In Person at TMC and Via Zoom
Nature of Existence and Role of Yoga Practices in Healing
THE ROLE OF NĀDIS AND–PANCHA-PRĀṆAS
with C. Rajan Narayanan, PhD

Saturday, October 19, 2024
10:00 a.m. – Noon
Cost $30.00
Register here.

Program focused on presentation, discussion, Q/A, to demonstrate healing
potential within the structure of cosmic existence of the psychosomatic being.

C. Rajan Narayanan PhD, AYTh, former C-IAYT
Dr. Narayanan is the Executive Director of Life in Yoga Institute (https://lifeinyoga.org/) and Secretary of the Board of CYAI. He has been a spiritual guide and trainer for yoga teachers andtherapists. He has conducted many training events since 1998.
