40-Day Spiritual Festival 2025 from June 1- July 10 (Guru Purnima), 2025
2025-06-19 08:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-20 08:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-21 08:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-22 08:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-23 08:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-24 08:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-25 08:00 - 23:30, 2025-06-26 08:00 - 23:30 (America/Chicago) and 5 more dates
40-Day Spiritual Festival 2025 from June 1- July 10 (Guru Purnima), 2025
Read here “42nd Annual 40-Days Spiritual Festival, June 1-July 10, 2025″ courtesy of AHYMSIN.org.
The festival is 40-days of purification of all aspects of our being through chosen practices.
Some options for practices are :
Begin or increase the Sangha “Akhanda-mandala mantra” japa to honor Gurudev Swami Rama
Begin or increase the Sangha Ganesha mantra japa…practice embodying Ganesha in stillness, in his stillness.
Decrease screen time, especially in the evening; put down the phone, turn off the computer.
Find ways to honor Earth Mother: walk in silence in the woods, feed the wild animals, nourish the ants, pick up trash in nature, contemplate one of the five elements in nature.
Fast one day a week, could be partial fasting or simply eliminating one preferred food item.
Contemplate that which helps you be still.
Do self-study and journal your experiences.
Study “Sutra 1.33,” the Brahma Viharas, especially Upeksha (equanimity in the face of evil.

Thursday Evening In Person: Gentle Hatha Yoga (Drop In) 5:30-6:45 p.m. Everyone is Welcome
2025-06-19 17:30 - 18:45, 2025-06-26 17:30 - 18:45
Thursday Evening In Person Gentle Hatha Yoga (Drop In)

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Instructors: Varies…Chris Young, Michael Snodgrass, Sunita Gangopadhyay, Susan Guthrie, Eric Ness
Fees: $10.00/class
Thursday Evening 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.

Thursday Satsang Via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC: "The Mystic and Tantra" with Charles B Crenshaw Jr. M.S., M.Div.W., C-IAYT - June 19, 2025
2025-06-19 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang Via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC – June 19, 2025
“The Mystic and Tantra”
with Charles B Crenshaw Jr. M.S., M.Div.W., C-IAYT
7:00-8:30 p.m.

5:30-6:45 p.m.: Gentle Hatha Yoga with Michael Snodgrass
7:00-7:30 p.m: Guided Meditation with Swami Ma Radha Bharati
7:30-8:30 p.m.: “The Mystic and Tantra” with Charles B Crenshaw Jr. M.S., M.Div.W., C-IAYT
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers
Let’s explore the connections between tradition and mysticism looking at the origins of mysticism and tantra through what might be called an interfaith lens, but truly through the lens of non-dual awareness. Charles is particularly suited for this discussion as he was trained as an interfaith minister in his younger years.
CHARLES CRENSHAW
Charles B Crenshaw Jr. M.S., M.Div.W., C-IAYT a graduate of the Program in Eastern Studies, Comparative Psychology that Swami Rama founded, is an ordained interfaith minister and was co-director of the Himalayan Institute New York City for several years with his wife, Carol. After retreating at Sadhana Mandir Trust (Swami Rama’s ashram) in
1994, he worked at Himalayan Hospital Trust Rehab department doing yoga therapy. Currently he assists with the Teachers Transformation Program for SRSG, when needed, and is on the board of the non-profit educational organization he and his wife co-founded.

FREE International Day of Yoga Events at The Meditation Center - June 21, 2025
2025-06-21 06:00 - 12:00
On Saturday, June 21, 2025
International Day of Yoga
All events are FREE!!!

Celebrate Yoga International Day
at The Meditation Center In Person
June 21, 2025
7:30-9:00 a.m.: Meditative Movement: Tai Chi and Qigong with Nikki Strong
9:00 a.m.-Noon: Special In-Person Meditation I Summer Intensive – Part One
with Paul Emerson PhD. Continued on June 28th, Part 2, 8:45-10:15 a.m. – No cost.
9:30-10:00 a.m.: In TMC backyard, Healing Qigong & Tai Chi Movement with Nikki
10:30 a.m.-Noon: Himalayan Gentle Yoga Class with Cynthia Gran

Special In-Person Meditation I Summer Intensive with Paul Emerson PhD - June 21 and June 28, 2025
2025-06-21 09:00 - 12:00
Join us on International Day of Yoga
A summer intensive…
Special In-Person Meditation I
with Paul Emerson PhD
June 21, 2025:
9:00 a.m.-12 Noon (with break)
June 28, 2025:
8:45-10:15 a.m.
This is a no cost class in recognition of International Day of Yoga!
You may RSVP here
For those wishing to take a meditation class but didn’t have time for one of our 6 session weekday classes we’ll have a weekend intensive.
All of the contents of our normal Meditation 1 class in two short sessions. Learn how to relax in time for a summer full of activities and social commitments Then consider attending our Meditation 2 class in the fall of 2025.
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.

Celebrate Yoga International Day at TMC on June 21, 2025...Join Cynthia Gran, DAy, E-RYT 500, YACEP, In Person at The Meditation Center (TMC) for Transformative Himalayan Yoga Classes
2025-06-21 10:30 - 12:00
Celebrate Yoga International Day at TMC on June 21, 2025
No cost this Saturday!
Join Cynthia Gran In Person at The Meditation Center (TMC)
for Transformative Himalayan Yoga Classes
Drop in on any Saturday for class.
Experience the Unique Power of Himalayan Yoga
As taught by the yogis from the Himalayas— Himalayan Yoga combines gentle postures, breathwork, and mindful relaxation techniques to connect body, mind, and spirit resulting in healing from within. Whether you’re new or experienced, this practice will leave you feeling relaxed, focused, and rejuvenated.
Benefits of Himalayan Yoga:

🌿 Enhanced flexibility, balance, and holistic strength
🌿 Tools/Techniques to cope with stress, anxiety and bring mental clarity
🌿 Energizing breathwork to uplift and restore overall health

🕒 Class Schedule: Every Saturday | 10:30 – Noon. Starting November 23, 2024.
💲 Pricing: Heartfelt donations ($10 suggested or pay what your heart desires and what you can…). All donations will go to support The Meditation Center.
📍 Location, parking & other essentials: The Meditation Center (TMC), 631 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Free parking is available across the street from TMC in the Church’s parking lot. Bring a water bottle. Yoga mat, pillows and blankets provided. Please arrive 5 minutes early and get comfortable in “the Hall of Tradition” on the main floor. No registration needed.
About Your Instructor:
Cynthia Gran, DAy, E-RYT 500, 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. They are currently in Minnesota for the summer teaching at The Meditation Center.
No prior experience needed – “Come as you are, and discover the calm within”

Via Zoom – Sunday Morning Guided Meditation with Swami Radha Bharati
2025-06-22 08:20 - 09:30, 2025-06-29 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.

Postponed - Special Sunday Book Club Study Group Session via Zoom : A Book Report with Susana Matos Allongo - "Cave in the Snow"by Tenzin Palmo - June 22, 2025
2025-06-22 10:00 - 11:30
Postponed …stay tuned for the new date.
Special Sunday Book Club
Study Group Session via Zoom with Susana Matos Allongo
June 22, 2025
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Susana will present a book report on “Cave in the Snow” by Tenzin Palmo (1998)

This is the incredible story of Tenzin Palmo, a remarkable woman who spent 12 years alone in a cave 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas.
At the age of 20, Diane Perry, looking to fill a void in her life, entered a monastery in India — the only woman amongst hundreds of monks — and began her battle against the prejudice that had excluded women from enlightenment for thousands of years.
Thirteen years later, Diane Perry a.k.a. Tenzin Palmo secluded herself in a remote cave 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas, where she stayed for twelve years. In her mountain retreat, she faced unimaginable cold, wild animals, floods, snow and rockfalls, grew her own food and slept in a traditional wooden meditation box, three feet square. She never laid down.
Tenzin emerged from the cave with a determination to build a convent in northern India to revive the Togdenma lineage, a long-forgotten female spiritual elite.
She traveled around the world to find support for her cause, meeting with spiritual leaders from the Pope to Desmond Tutu.
She agreed to tell her story only to Vicky Mackenzie and a portion of the royalties from this book went to help the completion of her convent. (Synopsis of book written by Michael Smith)

Extended Registration for In-Person Meditation I : "Learning the Basics", A 5-Week Series with Rodney Huff (Rajni), Mondays: June 2 - June 30, 2025
2025-06-23 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-06-30 18:30 - 20:00
5-Week In-Person Meditation I Series: “Learning the Basics”
with Rodney Huff (Rajni)
Extended Registration!

Mondays: June 2 – June 30, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fee: $62.50
Register here.
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.
If you have already taken Meditation I and would like to attend this class for 5 weeks, the cost is $31.25. Email us at info@themeditationcenter.org stating your intention to ret

Rodney Huff (Rajni) first came to the Center in January of 2000 and quickly took as many classes as he could. Since then he has traveled to India to study at Sadhana Mandir and Sadhaka Grama in Rishikesh. He began teaching Hatha yoga in 2003 and has been a regular teacher of Hatha Yoga (I & II) as well as Meditation I. Rodney is grateful for the opportunity to teach at a place as special as the Meditation Center. The teachings he received transformed his life, and he hopes that each of his students can have an equally rewarding experience.

New! In-Person Tuesday Evening Drop-In Gentle Hatha Class with Cynthia Gran DAy, E-RYT 500, YACEP, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
2025-06-24 20:00 - 20:30
New! In-Person Tuesday Evening
Drop-In Gentle Hatha Class
with Cynthia Gran DAy, E-RYT 500, YACEP
7:00-8:30 p.m.
No registration is necessary
Everyone is welcome!

Donate in person with cash, check, or on TMC’s square app.
Suggested donation: $10.00
Join Cynthia for a deeply relaxing gentle yoga class that will be ended by a short meditation.
About Your Instructor:
Cynthia Gran, DAy, E-RYT 500, 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. They are currently in Minnesota for the summer teaching at The Meditation Center.
No prior experience needed – “Come as you are, and discover the calm within”
Location, parking & other essentials: The Meditation Center (TMC), 631 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Free parking is available across the street from TMC in the Church’s parking lot. Bring a water bottle. Yoga mat, pillows ,and blankets provided.

Wednesday Mornings In Person and via Zoom – Gentle Hatha Yoga (Drop-In) with Sig Martell and Rosann Chamberlain
2025-06-25 10:30 - 12:00
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS In Person and Via Zoom – GENTLE HATHA YOGA (DROP IN)

Time: 10:30am to Noon
Instructors: Sig Martell and Rosann Chamberlain
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.

Thursday Satsang In Person at TMC and Via Zoom: “The Moon" with Gary Gran CYT, DAy - June 26, 2025
2025-06-26 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang – June 26, 2025
The speaker will join us in person at TMC
The talk will be live-streamed via Zoom
“The Moon” with Gary Gran, CYT, DAy.
Everyone is Welcome!
7:00-8:30 p.m. CT

5:30-6:45 p.m.: Gentle Hatha Yoga with Michael Snodgrass
7:00-7:30 p.m. Guided Meditation with Gary Gran
7:30-8:30 p.m.: “The Moon” with Gary Gran
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers

Who hasn’t experienced the beauty of the moon in the night sky? All cultures speak of the moon. Science tells us the moon has a strong influence on the tides and life on earth. The poets speak of the moon’s cooling rays and her radiant beauty. Jyotish, the astrological science of light, calls the moon “the Queen of Heaven.” The moon waxes and wanes month by month, creating a powerful ritam, the rhythm of nature here on earth. Ayurveda, the science of the life-force, recognizes the moon as a magnetic force-field, a living presence, and the very juice or soma of our life. And in yoga, the moon is equated with manas, our mind.
Please join us for this evening’s reflection upon the moon, her influence, her beauty, and her many mysteries. We will draw from the teachings of Ayurveda, yoga and astrology to help illuminate the moon within and without.
Swami Veda once posed the question, ‘How do we know the moon is beautiful?
Because there is a moon within us!’
Then quoting the Visvasara Tantra:
‘Whatever is in the universe, is in the body; whatever is in the body is in the universe.
What is here is elsewhere. What is not here is nowhere else.’
“Who will reflect the purest moon in the lake of his mind?” –
Ryokan (1758-1831)
Gary Gran, CYT, DAy. was in attendance at the 1985 workshop and will be sharing theteachings from his personal notes. He and his wife Cynthia 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 are currently wintering in Tucson, Arizona where they enjoy desert gardening, cooking and hiking.
To support the work of The Meditation Center and register you can donate here or make a general donation by clicking on the “donate” button on the “Support TMC” website page.
Or donate through PayPal.
There is parking available for TMC visitors in the St. Boniface lot across the street from the Center.

Cancelled - Special In-Person Meditation I Summer Intensive with Paul Emerson PhD - June 21 and June 28, 2025
2025-06-28 08:45 - 10:15
June 28th has been cancelled!
A summer intensive…
Special In-Person Meditation I
with Paul Emerson PhD
June 21, 2025:
9:00 a.m.-12 Noon (with break)
Cancelled – June 28, 2025:
8:45-10:15 a.m.
This is a no cost class in recognition of International Day of Yoga!
You may RSVP here
For those wishing to take a meditation class but didn’t have time for one of our 6 session weekday classes we’ll have a weekend intensive.
All of the contents of our normal Meditation 1 class in two short sessions. Learn how to relax in time for a summer full of activities and social commitments Then consider attending our Meditation 2 class in the fall of 2025.
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.

Join Sunita Bhardwaj Gangopadhyay In Person at The Meditation Center (TMC) for Transformative Himalayan Yoga Classes
2025-06-28 10:30 - 12:00
Join Sunita Bhardwaj Gangopadhyay In Person at The Meditation Center (TMC) for Transformative Himalayan Yoga Classes
Drop in on any Saturday for class.
Experience the Unique Power of Himalayan Yoga
As taught by the yogis from the Himalayas— Himalayan Yoga combines gentle postures, breathwork, and mindful relaxation techniques to connect body, mind, and spirit resulting in healing from within. Whether you’re new or experienced, this practice will leave you feeling relaxed, focused, and rejuvenated.
Benefits of Himalayan Yoga:

🌿 Enhanced flexibility, balance, and holistic strength
🌿 Tools/Techniques to cope with stress, anxiety and bring mental clarity
🌿 Energizing breathwork to uplift and restore overall health

🕒 Class Schedule: Every Saturday | 10:30 – Noon. Starting November 23, 2024.
💲 Pricing: Heartfelt donations ($10 suggested or pay what your heart desires and what you can…). All donations will go to support The Meditation Center.
📍 Location, parking & other essentials: The Meditation Center (TMC), 631 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Free parking is available across the street from TMC in the Church’s parking lot. Bring a water bottle. Yoga mat, pillows and blankets provided. Please arrive 5 minutes early and get comfortable in “the Hall of Tradition” on the main floor. No registration needed.
About Your Instructor:
Sunita Bhardwaj Gangopadhyay brings 18 years of affiliation in the Himalayan Yoga and meditation tradition. She has completed a 200-hour Teacher Training Program with Himalayan Yoga. Dedicated to helping students find balance and peace, Sunita focuses on making each class accessible and rewarding, regardless of experience level. Sunita has a PhD in Physics and a retired executive who worked in high tech industry for 25 years. She is currently the president of the Board at The Meditation Center. Native of India, Sunita currently lives in Eden Prairie, MN. She is married with two children.
No prior experience needed – “Come as you are, and discover the calm within”

On Summer Break! The Sunday Morning Book Study Group with Swami Ma Radha, Michael Smith, and Emilio Bettaglio.
2025-06-29 10:00 - 11:30
On Summer Break!
SUNDAY BOOK STUDY GROUP VIA ZOOM
WITH SWAMI MA RADHA BHARATI, MICHAEL SMITH, AND EMILIO BETTAGLIO
10:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
The Sunday Morning Book Study Group with Swami Ma Radha, Michael Smith, and Emilio Bettaglio is now on summer break.
Stay tuned for the announcement regarding the new book title. The Sunday Study Group will resume in the early fall after the August Dunrovin Silence Retreat. Watch for updates at the end of the summer.
