Empathy from the Inside Out

Mindful Heart Programs’ Founder Dr. Radhule Weininger is teaming up with Santa Barbara Empathy Circles for a one-day retreat at Santa Barbara Middle School’s aptly named Lotus Theater on Saturday, July 12. Combining meditation with empathy circles, the event serves as an opportunity to put into almost immediate practice the compassion that is at the center of most Mindful Heart’s offerings through the ensuing circles.

The first half of the day will be devoted to meditation focusing on non-dual mindfulness to invite participants to a deep space of grounding, where wisdom and compassion are always present. Sustainable compassion practice will be used as a guide to help attendees hold themselves, others, and our world with utmost care. The discussion and meditation practice will be led by Weininger. 

After a one-hour pause for lunch, the group will break into small circles to practice empathic listening, each led by Santa Barbara Empathy Circles trained facilitators. Each participant will have multiple opportunities to be seen and heard while speaking about whatever is on their mind during the two one-hour sessions, and to serve as the listener, who reflects the essence of what was spoken without judgment of any kind, including expressing agreement or disagreement or even offering advice or pity. 

The Empathy Circles, which are also held every Sunday morning at 11 am just down the street at a space above the Riviera Theatre, are a safe way to express deeply held thoughts and feelings and know that you are being heard and held with empathy and compassion. The simple practice can have startling results. 

A debrief of the circles follows the second session, followed by a closing meditation led by Weininger. 

Participants should be prepared to spend some time outdoors on the grounds of the Santa Barbara Middle School campus and are invited to bring their own lunch, as there are no restaurants in the immediate area. (A refrigerator and microwave are available.) There is no official charge for the retreat, although funds raised by the suggested donation of $60 will go to help support Mindful Heart Programs’ mission to expand access to meditation for the benefit of individuals, our community, and the world.

Register for Empathy from the Inside Out at https://tinyurl.com/SBEmpathyCircle, or contact [email protected]

Mindful Relationships at Casa de Maria 

Weininger and David Richo, PhD, MFT – the revered former Adult Ed workshop leader who combines Jungian, poetic, and mythic perspectives to integrate the psychological and the spiritual – have a half-day retreat scheduled for later in the month at La Casa de Maria Retreat Center in Montecito. Focusing on Mindful Relationships, the July 26 event addresses the challenge of staying clear-minded and open-hearted when the world seems remarkably out of balance around us. In a three-hour retreat that features talks, discussion, and meditation practice, the leaders will offer suggestions on ways to stay mindful and compassionate in our personal relationships as an alternative to judging others who don’t fit our expectations. The retreat is free, although a $30 donation to Mindful Heart Programs is suggested. 

The required advance registration can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/MindfulHeartMaria 

Full Moon Meditation and More at East Beach

Peter Moreno, another Mindful Heart facilitator and a meditation co-facilitator at The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, hosts a full-moon meditation with crystal bowl and bells sound bath on East Beach at 8 pm on Thursday, July 10. The one-hour event, timed with the simultaneous sunset and moonrise, takes place near the volleyball courts, across the street from the condo complex on Cabrillo Boulevard. Bring a beach chair and blanket for the event, and dress warmly as it can get chilly after sunset by the ocean. 

The suggested donation is $10. Call Moreno (805) 453-1813 for details. 

Extended East Beach Endeavors

Santa Barbara Beach Yoga offers all-levels yoga classes on the sand every Saturday & Sunday at 10 am, hosting a one-hour session of peaceful yet invigorating movement sequences to harmonize body, breath, and soul on the beach in front of the Cabrillo Pavilion. The classes weave together the basics of alignment with movement and relaxing restorative poses as well as calming breath work by the sea with a fun and light-hearted offering. The sessions are not only held on the beach but incorporate the sand as a supportive prop, focusing on balancing and building confidence and strength. Posture variations will be offered throughout the experience to ensure accessibility for all.

Participants experience the voice instruction as well as music simultaneously through Santa Barbara Beach Yoga’s signature yoga headsets, with adjustable volume settings for each listener. A beach towel or blanket works better on the sand than a traditional yoga mat. 

The July 12 session is led by Kimberly Zimmerman, founder and operator of The Juicy Life Yoga and Juice Bar, who has more than 2,000 hours of teaching experience and is a certified Reiki Master. Vicki Yeung handles July 19 & 26 classes and Azizull Kaur leads the July 13, 20, & 27 sessions. Visit https://santabarbarabeachyoga.com.

Santa Barbara Beach Yoga also puts together a monthly full moon session supported by a sound bath – although yoga takes the place of meditation, and the events don’t always exactly coincide with the full moon. They’re held at the Carousel House across the street from the Pavilion, a unique space that was home to a 1916 merry-go-round for almost 20 years until 2017. August’s event is slated for Monday, August 11, at 6:30 pm.  

Visit https://santabarbarabeachyoga.com