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Beth Johnson
DharmaYoga and Meditation
Welcome
Bio
What Is DharmaYoga?
What Is a DharmaYoga Class Like?
What Students Say About DharmaYoga
Welcome
I offer a variety of classes to support students in their efforts to use
meditation and yoga for both stress reduction and spiritual transformation. See
the class schedule for dates and times.
A good place to begin is with a DharmaYoga class — a comfortable introduction to both yoga and meditation, perfect for the beginner, advanced beginner or returning yoga student. To learn how to meditate in the Buddhist tradition, consider the
Meditation for Beginners 4-week course. This will introduce you to the practice of moment-to-moment awareness using the breath as your focus, and more.
Once you have received basic meditation instructions and guidelines, you are ready to establish a daily practice of sitting and walking meditation on your own at home. This takes discipline. To help, I offer two early morning
sitting groups. It’s a great support to sit with a small group of dedicated, like-minded individuals.
Students who seek meditation for stress reduction are well served by the training they receive in class and if they do the practice 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week they can maintain the stress reduction benefits without much more additional support.
Students who seek spiritual transformation can delve deeper by taking part in the monthly
half-day meditation retreats and the ongoing
dharma study group. Students can also opt to work with me one-on-one in ongoing monthly sessions of spiritual mentoring, or use me as a resource to seek a teacher.
Private instruction is also a good alternative for people brand new to meditation who are not inclined to groups and classes but who want the concentrated attention and expertise of a longtime meditator to help them use meditation to benefit themselves and others. The meditation practices that I teach are grounded in the classical wisdom tradition of Tibetan Buddhism that has been handed down by teacher to student since the time of the Buddha. This is a path of awakening with a 2,500 year history. They are ancient teachings for modern times intended to reduce and eliminate suffering.
DharmaYoga classes are the perfect complement to all this mind training, relaxing and preparing the mind/body. You’d be surprised how easy it is for a meditator to get stuck in her head! DharmaYoga helps you embody your experience, inviting you to be with yourself just as you are.
Beth Johnson
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Bio
Beth Johnson began the practice of Tibetan Buddhism in 1993 with Lama Yeshe Jinpa. For the past 7 years she has studied with Dan Jorgensen, a student of the late Kalu Rinpoche, lineage holder of the Shangpa Kagyu tradition. Beth is a certified Dharma Hatha Yoga teacher registered with Yoga Alliance. She did her yoga training with Taisan Sheridan and received her teacher certification in 2002.
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What is DharmaYoga?
DharmaYoga is a bridge between Buddhist mindfulness and Hatha yoga embodiment. Its purpose is to unify the mind and body in the present moment. Buddhism tells us that our basic goodness and sanity are indestructible. DharmaYoga gives us the tools to experience this directly in our mind/body.
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What Is a DharmaYoga Class Like?
In a DharmaYoga class, we begin by centering in stillness and extending loving kindness to ourselves and others. Then we move into guided yoga postures that stretch, open and strengthen the body. We close with relaxation and meditation. In a DharmaYoga class there is nothing to achieve or create. Instead, it’s about being with what already naturally exists. We learn to be present with our own experience just as it is.
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What Students Say:
“I have to say that some of those "hip opener" poses really helped me after our hikes at Mt. Rainier! My husband and son had hip pointer pain but I did not.”
Anita S.
“I now see my chiropractor half as often thanks to your yoga classes.”
Jan H.
“Thank you for teaching me the emotional freedom technique (EFT). With your guidance I was able to manage the scary transition into an empty nest, and renew my relationship with my spouse.”
Diane P.
“I so appreciate your gentle spiritual guidance. With it, I have been able to recognize the lies I tell myself about my experience that keep me trapped in suffering. With this awareness and tools of the dharma I feel confident that I am on the path to a true and lasting happiness.”
Kathy G.
“You are a conscientious and effective teacher.”
Mark B
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Beth's Email
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