BIPOC Peer-led In-person Practice Group
1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
This is a practice group for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). The pandemic has been an isolating time and it can feel nourishing to practice and connect with others who identify as BIPOC. We are a friendly group and beginners are welcome. There is a side room available for those who have children who do not need supervision. We practice for 30-minutes, followed by discussion.
Where: TCMC 1147 N Howard Blvd.
COVID Safety: If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms please do not attend.
Donations: TCMC is supported by your generous donations. We have a mortgage, utilities, and insurance expenses. There will be an opportunity to make a donation at this event, or you may donate online here. Donations are optional and no one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
Questions: Please email Celina at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Facilitators:
Celina Ramirez
Celina started practicing insight meditation regularly in 2006 after attending retreats at Spirit Rock in California. In summer 2022, she attended Spirit Rock's BIPOC Retreat and Family Retreat. She is a Tucson native and has worked at the University of Arizona for about 15 years.
John Ward
John has resided in Tucson, AZ for the past 5 years, relocating here after living on the east coast. He has attended retreats in Barre, Massachusetts at Insight Meditation Society, and was a sangha member at New York Insight.
Classic Sunday Morning Sits - In-person
TCMC has resumed the classic silent sits that we conducted for years. This is a great opportunity to sit together in-person again.
Only on the 2nd, 4th Sundays of the month, the in-person sits at TCMC will start at 8:30 am with a 25 minute silent sit followed by a 5 minute break. There will then be a 30 silent sit that starts at 9:00 am. You may arrive at 8:25 or 8:55. If you would like a longer sit, you can sit through the break resulting in a 60 minute sit. You are also invited to stay and visit after the sit. We hope you will join us to come together in community once again.
On the first Sunday of each month we will have the Sitting Together program in-person with longer periods of sitting and walking meditation that will go from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm at TCMC. More Information
On the third Sunday of the month, Lhasha Tizer will be leading the Moving Into Stillness daylong retreat from 9:30am - 2:00pm in-person at TCMC. More Information
We ask you not to attend if you are sick with COVID like symptoms.
Donations are gratefully accepted to help support TCMC. If you prefer to donate online you may do so Here
For more information, contact Blake at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 520-775-1626
This class meets in person at TCMC. It is also offered in a hybrid format, so you may choose to attend in person or from home via Zoom. For those meeting in person, we enter the building through the back door, remove shoes and meet in the larger meditaiton hall in the front of the building.
Please note the time change, the class now meets from 6:00 - 7:15 pm.
Meditation can help us find more happiness and tranquility in life. The purpose of this ongoing class is to create a community of meditators to support each other along the meditative path. Each class will begin with 30-40 minutes of guided meditation exploring a wide variety of mindfulness meditation techniques. The guided meditation will have ample periods of silence to deepen your practice. This class is suited for beginners through advanced meditators.
Following a break, there will be a short talk on a meditation or mindfulness related topic. There will then be a period of Q&A and discussion. The discussion will allow for optional check-ins where you will have the opportunity to share your meditation experiences, challenges and wins.
You will be given optional meditation or mindfulness challenges and homework to increase your motivation and understanding. For example, meditate at least 5 minutes per day for the next week.
You may also schedule a one-on-one meditation interview with Blake to talk about your meditation practice.
September Topics
Sept. 4 - No class for holiday
Sept. 11 - Mindfulness and Free Will part 2
Sept 18 - How to Practice Mindfulness of the Body
Sept 25 - Working with physical pain and discomfort
When: Monday Evenings from 6:00 - 7:15 PM at TCMC 1147 N Howard Blvd in Tucson
Donations: This class and TCMC are supported by your generous donations. TCMC has a building mortgage, utilities and insurance expenses. The suggested donation is $5-10 per class or $20-40 per month. You may make a donation via Zelle, PayPal or credit card Here. You may donate via Venmo using this ID: @TCMC-Donate You may also make a donation in-person. No one one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
Registration: To register, email Blake at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Please let me know if you want to attend in-person or via Zoom. For security reasons the Zoom link will change each month. Once you register, I will send out the Zoom link.
Contact: Blake Barton - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 520-775-1626
Blake Barton - has been regularly practicing meditation for 20 years, and has been teaching meditation since 2012. He completed the 3 year Dharma Treasure, in-depth, meditation teacher training program. He has a passion for meditation and a lifelong interest in fitness, simple living, wellness, and health.
Nick Van Kleeck
Befriending Oneself Through Mindfulness and Meditation - A Compassionate, Body-Centered Approach to Happiness - taught by Nick Van Kleeck
This class meets online using Zoom, because Nick no longer lives in Tucson.
In this class, you will learn to relax your body, settle your mind and trust the inherent wisdom within you through meditation and other mindfulness techniques.
By bringing a gentle awareness to your experience, you can discover your innate capacity for freedom and awaken a natural openness and generosity of spirit.
The class consists of a 30-45 minute guided meditation followed by teaching and/or discussion. About half the time we will break into smaller groups to give everyone a chance to participate in discussion. Participation in the discussion section is always optional; you are welcome to leave after the meditation if you prefer.
When: Thursday Evenings from 6:30 - 7:30 PM
This class and Tucson Community Meditation Center (TCMC) is supported by your generous donations. Even though this class meets online we have mortgage, utilities, and insurance expenses.
Suggested Donation: $5-10 per class (sliding scale based on your financial situation) - No one will be turned away due to inability to pay. To make a donation please go here
or you may donate via Venmo using this ID: @TCMC-Donate
Nick Van Kleeck - has been meditating for over 30 years. His teachers include Gil Fronsdal, Upasaka Culadasa, Steve Hoskinson (Somatic Experiencing), Deane Shank (the Diamond Approach) and Robert Aitken.
Please go here for instructions for joining a Zoom class
The Zoom meeting invitation is below.
If you are having issues getting signed in contact Nick at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and he will help you figure it out.
Thursday night class
Every week on Thursday at 6:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/626998563?pwd=cVdMLzRVbmhlbkRUTVMzZyt6bEM2QT09
Meeting ID: 626 998 563
Password: 719069
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Meeting ID: 626 998 563
Password: 719069
