Breathwork + Acoustic Sound with Liz Bowden and Brad Rhodes, Monday, October 12, 7:30-8:45p

Guided by Liz Bowden and Brad Rhodes, this powerful practice of conscious breathing plus acoustic song quiets the mind, softens the nervous system, and releases what’s been stored in the body. A journey back home to yourself.

Together, we’ll move through a two-part transformational breath that soothes the mind, taps into the body’s innate capacity to heal, and opens a meditative space for what’s been held beneath the surface to rise.

Unlike traditional pranayama, this work is deeply experiential, creating real room for inner work. Through guided breath and intentional pacing, your body is invited to feel and release without overwhelm — leaving you lighter, calmer, and recalibrated.

Much can surface during breathwork, and Liz and Brad hold a safe, supportive space for you to release, soften, and deepen your connection to Self.

To close, Brad offers a live acoustic serenade, a tender moment of integration.

Please bring an eye mask along with your mat. Blankets and bolsters are provided.

Investment: $30 earlybird until 9/30, $35 after. Register HERE.

The next session with Liz and Brad is also on the books for November 16!

Abdominal Self Care Class with Lili Simons, Friday, October 16, 4-5p

In this class we will learn and explore our abdominal area, and how to take care of the belly with self massage techniques.  Through this work, you can learn to open the flow of energy and blood circulation in the abdominal organs, as well as to relieve stress and negative emotions stored in the belly.

Abdominal massage is a great tool for staying healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually. The abdomen is our vitality center, also called Hara.  When it is healthy, the rest of the body will follow.

Please bring a yoga mat and pillow.

Investment: $30. Register HERE.

Elemental Sound Healing with Juju Desta, Friday, October 16, 6-7:15p

Sound healing is an ancient practice that uses sound to relax the body and mind through allowing the vibrations of the various instruments to put one into a “yogic sleep.” In yogic sleep, the individual is neither fully asleep nor fully awake. In Aboriginal culture, it is referred to as the “Dream Time” state. The sounds vibrate with every cell of a living organism which in turn activates a natural healing process working through any physical, mental, or emotional blockages within the body.

Julian J. Desta is 200hr certified yoga instructor residing in Richmond, VA. Always having a passion for the creative arts, he was introduced to the practice of Sound Healing and Therapy when given his first singing bowl as a birthday present from a friend. Julian began researching the depths of sound and it’s powerful healing techniques. After a few years practicing Julian received his Sound Healing Certification from Mentor and friend Mark Toregson in 2019.

Specializing in a variety of instruments from the didgeridoo, to flutes, singing bowls, and drums, Julian has created a unique Sound Healing Experience called Elemental Sound Healing. Discovering relationship between sound healing and nature, he calls on the 4 elements of Air, Wind, Water, and Fire to channel through each practice to bring balance to the human system or what he likes to refer to as homeostasis.

Please bring whatever you would like to rest comfortably on the ground.  A mat, pillow, and blanket or two are recommended.

Investment: $30.  Register HERE.

Additional dates are set for 11/20 and 12/18.

Community Acupuncture with Meg Hardey, Sunday, October 18, 12-3p

Community Acupuncture is designed as a way of offering Chinese medicine in an accessible format. It's a means of giving back to our hardworking, overstressed community in a way that is affordable to all. It's ideal for both first time and seasoned acupuncture clients.

Community (or group) acupuncture is offered in a room with several zero-gravity chairs, where individuals can join each other in holding a healing space. Please wear loose-fitting clothing to your session, as most points will be from the elbows and knees down. There will be a short intake form and you will speak with our practitioner for a few minutes, have your pulse taken, and after points are inserted, your will be able to rest for about 30 minutes. People seek acupuncture for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) physical injury, acute and chronic pain, colds flu and immune support, reproductive health, allergies and respiratory issues, digestive health concerns, mental and emotional wellness, auto-immune conditions, insomnia, and more.

Relax and receive a 45-minute treatment for a sliding scale amount of $20-50 ($20 minimum is required to reserve your space, additional amount can be contributed post-treatment). Pre-registration is required, either by emailing hello@theyogadojorva.com or through our online booking system. Cancellations must be made by 24 hours prior to the appointment.

Register HERE.

Breathwork + Sound Bath with Katie Lemmert, Monday, October 19, 7:30-8:45p

75 minutes to step away from the noise and reconnect with yourself.

We'll begin with guided breathwork set to a thoughtfully curated playlist. Breathwork is an active meditation that helps quiet the thinking mind so you can reconnect with the wisdom of your heart. Using a consciously connected breathing pattern, we'll work with the body's energy, creating space to release what you've been carrying.

You'll be invited to sigh, laugh, yell, cry if it arises, or simply breathe with intention. There is no right way to experience this practice. Breathwork gives us permission to acknowledge what is present—whether that's stress, grief, anger, joy, or something you can't quite put words to. Rather than pushing those emotions away, we create space to witness them with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance, allowing them to move through us.

From there, you'll settle into deep rest as the sounds of Himalayan singing bowls, Italian gongs, chimes, and other therapeutic instruments wash over you, giving your nervous system time to integrate and restore.

You'll leave feeling more grounded, clear, and connected. No prior experience is necessary—just wear comfortable clothing and give yourself permission to reset.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or simply craving a deeper connection with yourself, this experience offers space to breathe, acknowledge, release, rest, and return to yourself.

Investment: $30 earlybird until 10/1, $35 after. Register HERE. Bring a yoga mat or sleeping pad and any other comforts you need. Blankets and bolsters will be provided. 

Katie Lemmert is a Richmond-based breathwork and sound facilitator and the founder of Sound Body & Breath. Trained in breathwork, yoga, trauma-informed practices, meditation, and sound, Katie creates grounded, accessible experiences that invite people to slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and find a little more space within themselves. Her approach is warm and approachable—there’s nothing to perform or get right, just an invitation to rest, breathe, and experience what unfolds.

Body love : A Somatic experience with molly bienstock, Friday, october 23 5:30-7p

We will move through three phases together. The first is called Unwinding + Unravelling where we’ll move in circles to safely open the joints. Phase two is called Shaking + Making Sounds where, with the support of some more upbeat music, we’ll start to bounce and let whatever sounds the body wants to make come out. In the last phase, we’ll enter Surrender + Service and lay our bodies down to rest and receive all the wisdom there is to be felt. This may also be a time to listen deeply to guides or well ancestors who wish to share loving messages with you.

We end class by coming back together in a circle and sharing our experience as a way to serve us in both integration and also to be in ritual space as a community.

Together we'll explore what it means to be in a body through the lens of somatic experience, parts work, and the importance of slowing down. Come enjoy an evening of yoga, movement, and dance as a ritual for forgiveness, belonging, and collective care.

Investment: $30. Register HERE.

Restorative and Yin Immersion with Lauren Nottingham, November 6-8

Join Lauren, E-RYT 500, YACEP, and TYD lead trainer, for a weekend of restorative and yin yoga.  This immersion is designed for all bodies and levels - whether you are interested in starting your journey with these healing modalities, or for the new or seasoned instructor looking to advance their teaching skills. 

Through shared experience and lecture, this immersion will dive into the differences and crossover between these two healing modalities, gross and subtle anatomy review and benefits (hello, nervous system reset button!), key poses of restorative and yin yoga, and sequencing + support for a home or in-studio practice.

Schedule: 
Friday 5:30-9:30
Saturday 11-7 
Sunday 10-7 

Required reading: 
*The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga by Bernie Clark
*Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times by Judith Hanson Lasater

Investment: Full weekend: $350 before 10/1, $400 after.  Partial weekend Saturday OR Sunday option: $200 (no earlybird, email trainings@theyogadojorva.com to confirm Saturday or Sunday). Register HERE.

This training is approved for 25 lead trainer core hours (22 contact, 3 non-contact) for our modular 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training program. You must attend the full weekend for 300-hour credit.  This course is also approved for 25 YA CEUs (22 contact, 3 non-contact) for full weekend attendance (partial weekend attendance CEUs also available) if you are registered with Yoga Alliance and NOT enrolled in our 300-hour program.

Yoga Nidra and Third Eye Acupuncture with Parham Neal-pishko and meg hardey, friday, november 13, 5:45-7p

Join Parham and Meg for 75 minutes of Yoga Nidra with third eye acupuncture in this special blend of Eastern healing forms.  Yoga Nidra translates to enlightened sleep and is a guided relaxation technique, a practice of quality over quantity.  No poses or postures, just blankets and brainwaves.

During your rest, Meg will offer acupuncture to the third eye, as well as acupressure shoulder presses.  The third eye point is known as Yin Tang, the point between your eyebrows. Yin Tang may help with insomnia, headaches, and stimulate the pineal gland.  Melt into a renewed state and activate the seat of your intuition. 

Investment: $35. Sign up HERE.

2027 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Adrian McCavitt and Lauren Nottingham, Weekends starting January 8 to March 28

The Yoga Dojo’s 200-hour Vinyasa Teacher Training will not only guide you on your journey of how to safely lead a Vinyasa-based yoga asana class, but you will also have modules in Yin and Restorative, Anatomy, Meditation, Pranayama, Prenatal, Mantra, Ayurveda, Yogic Philosophy, Ethics, Business, and more. All students will be able to register with Yoga Alliance for the RYT-200 designation upon completion of the program. Students with existing RYT status with Yoga Alliance will be able to use the training for CEUs. 

The Yoga Dojo TT will begin on Friday, January 8, 2027, and runs through Sunday, March 28, 2027 on a Friday to Sunday format on the following weekends:

1/8-1/10
1/15-1/17
NO CLASS 1/22 WEEKEND
1/29-1/31
2/5-2/7
NO CLASS 2/12 WEEKEND
2/19-2/21
2/26-2/28
NO CLASS 3/5 WEEKEND
3/12-3/14
3/19-3/21
}3/26-3/28 

Training Times:
Fridays: 5:30-9:30pm
Saturdays: 12:00-7:00pm
Sundays: 10:00am-5:00pm

Email trainings@theyogadojorva.com for more information or to apply.

Meditation in Motion with Izzy Shurte, January 23 + 24

Why & How to Meditate, What's It Got to Do with Yoga, and How to Teach or Incorporate Meditative Flows into Your Practice

In this weekend long module, you will learn:

*Latest research on mind body benefits of meditation
*Three proven meditation techniques
*How to build and sustain a dedicated meditation practice
*The ways that yoga asana and meditation are intertwined and mutually supportive
*How to weave meditation and meditative moments into teaching and asana practice
*90 minute master class each day emphasizing meditation in motion
*Opportunity to practice planning and teaching meditative yoga in a supportive community of fellow learners

This event is open to all students at any stage of their meditation journey, as well as yoga practitioners and teachers.

Schedule:
Saturday 9:30a-5p
Sunday 11:30a-5p

Investment: $200 earlybird by 12/31. $250 after. Register HERE.

This course is approved for 15 lead trainer hours in our Modular 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training (12.5 contact hours, 2.5 non-contact hours), OR for 15 hours of Yoga Alliance-approved Continuing Education.