The Meditation Center

Thursday Evening In Person: Gentle Hatha Yoga (Drop In) 5:30-6:45 p.m. Everyone is Welcome
2025-04-03 17:30 - 18:45, 2025-03-27 17:30 - 18:45, 2025-03-20 17:30 - 18:45, 2025-03-13 17:30 - 18:45 (America/Chicago)
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.

Wednesday Mornings In Person and via Zoom – Gentle Hatha Yoga (Drop-In) with Sig Martell and Rosann Chamberlain
2025-04-02 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-03-26 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-03-19 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-03-12 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.

Tuesday Evening In Person "Yoga for Stress Relief" Series with Eric Ness Tuesdays: Ongoing
2025-04-01 18:00 - 19:00
Tuesdays On-Going In Person “Yoga for Stress Relief” Series with Eric Ness
6:00 -7:00 p.m. CST
Limited to 6 students
$10.00 for a single session
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.

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.

In-Person Meditation III: Mantra: The Key to Deeper Meditation (Prereq: Meditation II and Meditation I) with Jennifer Manion
2025-03-30 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-03-23 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-03-16 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-03-09 14:30 - 16:00
In-Person Meditation III
“Mantra: The Key to Deeper Meditation”
with Jennifer Manion
(Prereq: Meditation II and Meditation I)

Sundays: March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6, 2025
(6th session will be determined later )
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m
Instructor: Jennifer Manion
Fee: $85
Meditation III fee includes an 11 CD or mp3 files series
Register here.
Learn the science of mantra in meditation and how it is a tool to help focus your mind and move through blocks to a deeper meditative experience.
This class opens the opportunity for the student to receive a personal mantra. We will also cover the use of a mala, japa practice and akandajapa, as well as what to expect during mantra initiation. The cost of the class includes the CDs/mp3 files of Swami Veda’s “Mantra and Meditation” lectures.
Jennifer found the Meditation Center in 2007 and was initiated into the Himalayan tradition in 2008 by Pandit Hari Shankar Dabral. She has taught hatha as well as Meditation I, II and III at the center and in studios in the Twin Cities, and is continuing on with the 600-hr teacher training program of the Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies International. She has served on the center’s board.
Jennifer earned her MA and PhD at the Johns Hopkins University, and has taught philosophy and women’s studies to college students in Minnesota and the East Coast. She has a particular interest in mantra practice and science, as well as the metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language underlying ancient Yogic texts.

Sunday Book Study Group Via Zoom with Swami Ma Radha Bharati, Michael Smith, and Emilio Bettaglio
2025-03-30 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-03-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-03-16 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-03-09 10:00 - 11:30
Sunday Book Study Group Via Zoom
with Swami Ma Radha Bharati, Michael Smith, and Emilio Bettaglio
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Swami Radha, Emilio, and Michael will continue the study of spiritual topics in 2025 The Book Study Group is reading “A Call to Humanity” (old title) or “Spirituality: Transformation Within and Without” (new title) by Swami Rama. Join us for very interesting discussions. Everyone is welcome.

Via Zoom – Sunday Morning Guided Meditation with Swami Radha Bharati
2025-03-30 08:20 - 09:30, 2025-03-23 08:20 - 09:30, 2025-03-16 08:20 - 09:30, 2025-03-09 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.

Thursday Satsang Via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC: “- Yoga and Sufism" with Gary Gran CYT, DAy - March 27, 2025
2025-03-27 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang Via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC – March 27, 2025
” Yoga and Sufism” with Gary Gran CYT, DAy
7:00-8:30 p.m. CST
Everyone is Welcome!

5:30-6:45 p.m.: Gentle Hatha Yoga with Michael Snodgrass
7:00-7:30 p.m. Guided Meditation Swami Ma Radha Bharati
7:30-8:30 p.m.: “Yoga and Sufism” with Gary Gran
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers

Please join us for an evening of Sufi stories, jokes, poetry, prayers, history, inspiration, and meditation!
Yoga and Sufism have much in common. They can be practiced in a religious context, but they are not religions. They can be described as two of the ‘unifying streams in religion’, representing the philosophy, art and science of pure spirituality. They are methods of practice, or pathways that point us to the inner experience of unity, truth, love, and harmony with all that is.
Even though Sufism has been described as the mystical teachings of Islam, its roots began long before the advent of Islam. Sufism contains elements from Hellenistic, Hermetic, Christian, Jewish, Arab, Turkish, Persian, and Indian sources. It is a beautiful expression of the Perennial Wisdom that can be traced in all the spiritual traditions of the world.
“If anybody asks you, ‘What is Sufism?’ … you may answer: ‘Sufism is the religion of the heart, the religion in which the most important thing is to seek God in the heart of humanity.’
~Hazrat Inayat Khan~

Both Swami Rama and Swami Veda stressed the universality of world’s spiritual traditions. They taught the importance of understanding various traditions, their basic philosophies and their practices.
“Knowledge of various paths leads you to form your own conviction. The more you know, the more you decide to learn. When you have sharpened the faculty of discrimination, you firmly tread your path without any doubts.”
~Swami Rama~
“Living With the Himalayan Masters”
“A qualified preceptor in the Himalayan tradition… should be able to see the association between the Himalayan Tradition and other paths, such as those of the Sufis, the Tao, Ch’an, Zen, theraveda, Tibetan, Christian and others – together with their basic texts and historical backgrounds.”
~Swami Veda Bharati ~
“The Himalayan Tradition of Yoga Meditation”

Please join us as we contemplate the beauty of the Sufi teachings.
All are welcome.
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.

Tuesday Evening In Person "Yoga for Stress Relief" Series with Eric Ness Tuesdays: Ongoing
2025-03-25 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-18 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-11 18:00 - 19:00
6 pre-register drop-in spots will be available each week.
Please pre-register online to reserve your spot!
Tuesdays On-Going In Person “Yoga for Stress Relief” Series with Eric Ness
6:00 -7:00 p.m. CST
Limited to 6 students
$10.00 for a single session
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.

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.

In-Person Wudang Mountain Tai Chi and Five Element Healing for Health and Longevity- Sunday Morning at The Meditation Center
2025-03-23 06:00 - 20:15
Sunday Morning at The Meditation Center
March 23, 2025
6:00-7:00 a.m.: In-Person Silent Meditation at TMC
7:00-8:15 a.m.: In-Person Tai Chi with Nikki Strong at TMC

Wudang Mountain Tai Chi and Five Element Healing for Health and Longevity
Sundays: March 23, April 6, May 4, 2025 – in person at TMC
April 27, 2025 – via Zoom
7:00 am – 8:15 am
This a “no fee” event
We will explore the graceful healing movements of Wudang Tai Chi and nourishing longevity promoting practices to balance and strengthen the 5 Elements of the human body, helping preparing our bodies for the transition from the end of Wintery cold… to the beginnings of Summery warmth.
As an extra bonus… at the very end of class we will engage in a subtle body relaxation exercise to help us integrate into our bodies the healing work we have done and to relax into focused awareness in order to best greet the new day… rested and renewed.
This class is open to all.
No previous experience necessary

Thursday Satsang via Zoom and In-Person Zoom Viewing at TMC: "The Yamas and the Niyamas" with Pandit Tejomaya - March 20, 2025
2025-03-20 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang via Zoom and In-Person Zoom Viewing at TMC
“The Yamas and the Niyamas” with Pandit Tejomaya
March 20, 2025
7:00-8:30 p.m.

5:30-6:45 p.m.: Gentle Hatha Yoga
7:00-7:30 p.m: Guided Meditation with Swami Radha Bharati
7:30-8:30 p.m.: “The Yamas and the Niyamas” with Pandit Tejomaya
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers
Yoga is Samadhi, and the five Yamas and five Niyamas are the foundation of Patanjali’s eight-limbed path to this peak of consciousness. Yet we won’t likely find an Ahimsa class at any local yoga studio or an Ishvara Pranidhana club down the street, so how then to bring Patanjali’s first two limbs to life? How do we transform the philosophy of an inspiring book into lived experience?

This question festered inside of Pandit Tejomaya for a number of years until finally, by Guru’s grace, it led to a seven year period of focused Sadhana. Panditji will join us via Zoom on Thursday, March 20th to remind us of his personal, systematic approach to Sadhana of the Yamas and Niyamas. The practice is quite simple but deeply personal wth the potential for lasting inner transformation. There is certainly no “one way” to engage with the Yamas and Niyamas, but finding a personally meaningful way to bring these ten gems of Patanjali’s philosophy to life or to greater prominence in our Sadhana can be especially helpful in these challenging times where fear can get out of hand.

Pandit Tejomaya completed his seven year focused Sadhana of the Yamas and Niyamas eight years ago as he entered into his Vanaprastha years and yet the work was never “finished”, it simply opened new doors. Tejomaya will share a bit of how the transformation is continuing on today.

Pandit Tejomaya was initiated in the Himalayan Tradition by Swami Veda in 2008. He was initiated as a Pandit by Pandit Dabral, and received the name Tejomaya in 2012. He took the vows of a Vanaprastha, or Forest Dweller, in January of 2017.

Pandit Tejomaya resides on Gabriola Island in the Salish Sea of Canada’s British Columbia where he lives a life of sadhana and devotion.

“Intention and Yoga Practice” A Workshop with Dr. Dale Buegel - March 15, 2025, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
2025-03-15 13:00 - 16:00
“Intention and Yoga Practice”
A Workshop with Dr. Dale Buegel
Saturday, March 15, 2025
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Cost $35.00

Register here

All yoga practices have the potential to lead one to awareness of Shakti and her role in this universe. All movement has an energetic component, and hatha yoga is no different. It is developing awareness of the subtle effects of a yoga pose that helps advance ones spiritual practice. Attending to the subtleties of mantra japa also advance ones practice toward the goal of yoga. In this workshop we will examine the role of intention in ones spiritual endeavors, including the components of mind involved in the development of intention.

Thursday Satsang Via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC: “Tantraloka – Time & the Breath - Part III" with Gary Gran CYT, DAy - March 13, 2025
2025-03-13 19:00 - 20:30
Thursday Satsang Via Zoom and In-Person Viewing at TMC – March 6, 2025
“Tantraloka – Time & the Breath – Part III” with Gary Gran CYT, DAy
7:00-8:30 p.m. CST
Everyone is Welcome!

5:30-6:45 p.m.: Gentle Hatha Yoga
7:00-7:30 p.m. Guided Meditation
7:30-8:30 p.m.: “Tantraloka – Time & the Breath – Part II” with Gary Gran
8:30 p.m.: Evening Prayers

In one of Swami Veda’s last public teachings before entering silence in 2010, he introduced us to the “Siva Sutras”, a primary text in Kashmir Shaivism. During those talks, he recommended that we continue our study of Kashmir Shaivism, and pointed us to the famous “Tantraloka” of Abhinavagupta. In particular, he felt it was important for us to understand the correlation of time and the breath as taught in Chapter 6 of the “Tantraloka.”
Why is this teaching important for us to understand today? Through this teaching, perhaps we can begin to understand our true relationship with time, life on earth, the universe, and the very life force that sustains us all.
The “Tantraloka” (Light of the Tantras) is considered to be the magnum opus of Abhinavagupta, the 10th-11thcentury polymath of Kashmir. In 37 chapters, he synthesized the various schools of tantra into a unified whole.
Please join us as we contemplate our place in the universe together. All are welcome.
“The tantras speak of a weave, a warp and a woof of the universe… The entire universe is a grid of single energy, in which grid I too have a little place, a little corner. I am connected to the grid and cannot be separate from the grid… Experiencing it is the work of the Tantra.” – Swami Veda
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.

In-Person Wudang Mountain Tai Chi and Five Element Healing for Health and Longevity- Sunday Morning at The Meditation Center
2025-03-09 06:00 - 20:15
Sunday Morning at The Meditation Center
March 9, 2025
6:00-7:00 a.m.: In-Person Silent Meditation at TMC
7:00-8:15 a.m.: In-Person Tai Chi with Nikki Strong at TMC

Wudang Mountain Tai Chi and Five Element Healing for Health and Longevity
Sundays: March 9, 23, April 6, May 4, 2025 – in person at TMC
April 27, 2025 – via Zoom
7:00 am – 8:15 am
This a “no fee” event
We will explore the graceful healing movements of Wudang Tai Chi and nourishing longevity promoting practices to balance and strengthen the 5 Elements of the human body, helping preparing our bodies for the transition from the end of Wintery cold… to the beginnings of Summery warmth.
As an extra bonus… at the very end of class we will engage in a subtle body relaxation exercise to help us integrate into our bodies the healing work we have done and to relax into focused awareness in order to best greet the new day… rested and renewed.
This class is open to all.
No previous experience necessary
