MDZG has been wonderful. Zazen with them over zoom each morning at 8 am has helped me start off the…read moreday with a very meaningful meditation practice (just sitting). Grateful to Myosho Baika and everyone at Mount Diablo Zen Group.

Mt. Diablo Zen Group is led by Baika Heaton, Zen Priest and Dharma teacher. This group meets…read moreWednesday evenings for Zazen (meditation), study and discussion. Once a month, one day or half day silent retreats are offered for a nominal fee. These retreats include Zazen, Qi Gong, rest period, a mindful meal, a short service and Dharma talk. All members are encouraged to establish a daily meditation practice, with consideration for their daily life schedule. Celebrating it's tenth year this May, Mt. Diablo Zen Group offers an intimate setting and access to the teachings in the Soto Zen Buddhist Tradition.

Serene and beautiful monastery grounds. Happy to discover a hidden gem in the hills. When you first…read moreturn in you'll drive along a small tree-lined road and go up the hill to their gated entrance. You may have to call their intercom to enter through the gate if they are not currently hosting an event. When you first visit, go to the reception office for an intro about the monastery and their activities. You can join their regularly scheduled meditation classes and dharma classes. The building to the left of that is where they hold Buddhist classes and talks. To the left of that is a small hill and walking nature loop to see a Kuan Yin statue placed within a circular, eight petaled lotus mandala. The walk has beautiful views of the surrounding distance. Down towards the right is the temple, which is only open to the public during events. They recently finished some renovations inside their main temple and outside gardens. The gardens behind and below the temple opens to expansive views too, yet is still undergoing construction. You can see a small pagoda with a Kuan Yin statue and a rectangle platform with a statue of the Buddha. Inside the temple, it is common etiquette to remove your shoes, place them in a shoe cabinet along the wall, and wear socks inside (no bare feet allowed here) during events. There are bathrooms and a water station too. I joined a recent Friday meditation gathering and it was nicely organized and run very well. They have a welcoming sangha community too.

Beautiful scenery and grounds. The peace I felt was incredible. I love it here. I highly recommend.read more

I'm sharing this because I wish I found someone like Casey sooner…read more I've had two sessions so far, and both were deeply personalized and exactly what I needed. In the first session, we revisited childhood memories and worked on rewriting the emotional experience I carried as a child, especially not being able to understand why my parents were busy and working (even though they were doing their best with what they knew). We ended with a chakra rebalancing meditation that helped my nervous system settle in a way I didn't expect. The second session focused on my recent grief and the patterns it has been triggering in my relationships. Casey guided me through an imagery meditation where I practiced giving myself the love, safety, and security I've been trying to find externally, and leaving the pain in the past where it belongs. It felt like emotional closure, but also like learning a new way to care for myself. Casey truly feels like a walking hug. She's present, loving, grounded, and radiant. I felt held the entire time, and I left feeling more supported than I've ever felt in a romantic relationship. The biggest gift is that she's helping me learn to provide that same compassion and safety to myself, and heal my codependency from the inside out. She has been one of the most profound people the universe has placed on my healing path. If you're considering working with her, I can't recommend her enough

My daughter and I attended our first mommy and me yoga experience yesterday evening at Rarity…read moreRituals, and it was truly such a beautiful experience. We've never officially practiced yoga before, so we had no idea what we were doing but Casey was extremely patient, kind, and helpful, guiding us and assisting whenever we needed it. I loved how intimate the class felt. At times, we don't enjoy being around large groups, so the smaller, more personal setting made us feel at ease (and honestly, so much more present ). Casey's studio is incredibly comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, which created a calming and welcoming environment from the moment we walked in. I truly appreciated how kind and warm both Casey and her daughter were toward us. Their energy made us feel safe, welcomed, and comfortable to just be ourselves. The moment we got back into the car, my daughter kept asking if we were going to do this again and that alone says everything. This was such a special bonding experience for us, and we're so grateful to have shared our first yoga class here. We look forward to another class soon. Thank you so much !

Amazing reiki session with Deanna on a therapeutic heated biomat that releases negative ions…read more Deanna has a soothing voice and gentle touch and her studio is super cute with easy parking. She records a debrief after the session and send you the takeaways. Can't wait to be back soon!

From the very first monemt I saw her there was an instant connection. You can feel her warmth and…read moreuplifting energy. I feel everyone you meet in this world is there for a reason and Deanna is definitely someone that I was meant to meet. Her experience and knowledge along with her special touch are just what I needed when I needed it. It's hard to explain any of this. You have to experience it for yourself in order to truly understand it. All I can say is that she has all these special touches that she adds to her practice thag makes it that more special. The attention to detail and her willingness to connect with you truly make her an exceptional human being. I look forward to continuing my journey and seeing what else life has in store for me.

5/5 stars First and…read moreforemost, Meera has completely revolutionized the way I see and practice yoga in many more ways than one! I first started working with Meera almost 2 years ago (I have been practicing for about 10 years now) when she started offering weekly virtual classes during the beginning of the pandemic. This immediately helped me with my mental health using her unique flows, sometimes it almost felt like dancing, to calm my mind as the stress of my tech job began seeping into my personal life. Fast forward 6 months and I was so happy to join her studio sessions and workshops in person at Yoga Garden where she went deeper into both the physical (offering outstanding adjustments) and mental (through breath work, meditation, and even chanting!) aspects which continued to help improve my overall wellbeing and even got me through some of the most stressful points of my career to date. Fast forward again to today and I'm so excited to have joined her new private 1-1 in-person offering. She has built numerous highly personalized routines and she not only teaches me when we are together but has helped me to build a sustainable self-practice that I use daily. The practice includes a combination of asanas (typical movement poses and flows), pranayama (breath work which has improved both my lung capacity as well as calming the constant chatter in my mind), and chanting (something I had never previously considered and which has allowed me to build more focus into my daily life). Meera offers a style of yoga that I have yet to find anywhere else where she conducts a truly holistic practice rather than the traditional, fitness-forward, style which is exactly what I have needed to enjoy a well-rounded lifestyle. I would encourage anyone looking to experience yoga that goes all the way back to its holistic roots to give Meera's sessions a try. Her sessions and style have flipped standard studio yoga on its ear to the point where it has become a major part of my life and has given me a completely new outlook on how I approach my health and wellness and is something I will absolutely carry on for the rest of my life! 10/10 I would recommend Meera to all ages, demographics, and lifestyles!

Meera was an excellent teacher. Learned so much and felt so much more relaxed and grounded after…read morethe practice. Looking forward to more sessions with Meera!

Attended the Free Taichi and Qi Gong classes by Alex at the Civic Park in Walnut Creek two Sundays…read moreago. It was a very focused and peaceful session. Alex was very clear with his instructions. I felt that it really helped me in centering my mind and aligning my body. Thank you Alex for the session.

I've been attending this Yoga Tai Chi Qigong Class since March of this year and it's been extremely…read morebeneficial to my health,both emotionally and physically. It helps me my focus become clearer for the rest of the day & it helps reduce stress. Though I deal with chronic pain 24/7 it helps relax my muscles enough so that my body can tolerate dealing with the pain better. Alex gives really helpful instruction during the entire practice. I would highly recommend this class to anyone. Though it's quite early on a Sunday morning,it is SO worth going to! ***The title posted here of this class should be modified so that people are not confused,as it's not a Yoga class,it is a Tai Chi class.***

Got my Zentangle start here. Great teaching , fun instruction and very compassionate learnig…read moreexperience for me Loved it..

I had no real idea what Zentangle was so I took a real chance taking one of Elaine's classes…read more Elaine took the time to teach me from step one and I can't believe how much I enjoyed the class. Since then I have taken 3 more classes and 3 of her workshops. I have found the information she teaches to be calming and peaceful. Zentangle is a creative and expressive form of drawing and Elaine teaches it amazingly well!

This is really a hidden gem up in the hills. I've been here several times amd always have a…read morewonderful experience. On my most recent visit, I went through the stations of the cross. It is a beautiful set up and great for a quiet moment of meditation. The people in the gift shop are helpful in explaining the grounds as well as gift items. Note that it's best to call ahead to check access. Since sometimes there are school events which preclude taking a tour of the grounds.

Nice, decent rooms with a private shower. Tasty variety of…read morefood, usually plentiful. Just one lunch the chicken was severely rationed, so much that even the women were commenting. Not easy to sleep with the noise of students yelling to each other at 11PM Saturday night. And breakfast is at 8:00! From 10PM is supposed to be silent, but no supervision from the group nor is there anyone from the retreat center to enforce.

After my first float session I felt like a giant ball of stress finally pulled apart. The…read moreexperience gave me so much clarity that would be hard to replicate with yoga or exercise. I appreciate how clean and well maintained the facilities are. The staff was also highly professional. They provided clear instructions and everything you could need for your session. I plan to come back!

I genuinely cannot say enough good things about this place. It's awesome!…read more From the moment you walk in, you feel looked after. The whole space has such calm, grounding, chill energy and it is always absolutely immaculate. Cleanliness is clearly a huge priority, which adds to it being so easy to fully relax and switch off. Rebecca, the owner, is one of the kindest, sweetest people I have met. You can feel how much care she puts into the space and into every person who walks through the door. All of the staff are attentive and warm, and they make you feel completely comfortable whether it is your first visit or your fiftieth. I regularly use the float tank and I honestly reap the benefits every single time. It helps me reset mentally, de-stress, sleep better, and just feel more grounded in myself. I have also used the infrared sauna and it is just as amazing. Everything is thoughtfully set up so you can fully unwind. They offer services for all needs and comfort levels, so if a float pod isn't for you, then there are larger, more spacious rooms for you to try too! Everyone here is so knowledgeable and supportive and always ready to answer any questions. If you are even slightly curious about floating or infrared sauna, this is the place to try it. It is such a special space run by genuinely lovely people, and I am so grateful to have found it. Thank you folks! I'll see you again soon!

This is an awesome program that benefits so many deprived children in times of need in the USA and…read morearound the world. Pretty shameful for one review to complain that his teenage son had to pay $20.00 to volunteer. The money is used to pay for the food and transporation around the world. Would have been more appropriate to pay for his son to reinforce what a good deed it is. Cudos to the teenager who wanted to help in anyway.

Super community-engagement activity for people/groups who will donate their time for 3 hours to…read morefill bags to feed the world's hungry. And, it is local!