Chair Yoga uses a chair for greater support and stability within the practice. With an emphasis on the breath, alignment, and taking things at your own pace, Chair Yoga brings simplicity to the practice for easeful connection with the healing and restorative benefits yoga offers.

Yoga begins right where I am –
not where I was yesterday or where I long to be.
– Linda Sparrowe

In each yoga session, experience conscious awareness of breath, observe sensations in the body, notice thoughts, and expand the heart center.

Dominican Center’s yoga sessions create a healing space for all ages, fitness levels, and physical conditions so poses and breath work are accessible to all. For those new to yoga or working with special concerns and injuries, poses are modified and supported with props and detailed instruction for comfort and safety. Props are provided by Dominican Center at no additional cost.

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy.

Chair Yoga uses a chair for greater support and stability within the practice. With an emphasis on the breath, alignment, and taking things at your own pace, Chair Yoga brings simplicity to the practice for easeful connection with the healing and restorative benefits yoga offers.

Yoga begins right where I am –
not where I was yesterday or where I long to be.
– Linda Sparrowe

In each yoga session, experience conscious awareness of breath, observe sensations in the body, notice thoughts, and expand the heart center.

Dominican Center’s yoga sessions create a healing space for all ages, fitness levels, and physical conditions so poses and breath work are accessible to all. For those new to yoga or working with special concerns and injuries, poses are modified and supported with props and detailed instruction for comfort and safety. Props are provided by Dominican Center at no additional cost.

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

This gentle class offers a peaceful session to gradually build strength and range of motion. With this quiet practice, experience how mindful movement and breath work can deliver much-needed nurturing, rest, and clarity.

The body is my temple, asanas are my prayers.
– BKS Iyengar

Using gentle and mindful movement as well as nourishing breath work, Gentle Yoga encourages softly stretching and strengthening. In each session, experience conscious awareness of breath, observe sensations in the body, notice thoughts, and expand the heart center.

Dominican Center’s yoga sessions create a healing space for all ages, fitness levels, and physical conditions so poses and breath work are accessible to all. For those new to yoga or working with special concerns and injuries, poses are modified and supported with props and detailed instruction for comfort and safety. Props are provided by Dominican Center at no additional cost.

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

Calm the mind and nourish the body with Restorative Yoga. Restorative poses are held on a mat and deeply supported with yoga props. The practice seeks to balance the physical, mental, and spiritual while also experiencing profound rest and relaxation.

Don’t practice yoga to get better at yoga; practice yoga to get better at living.
- unknown

Using gentle and mindful movement as well as nourishing breath work, Restorative Yoga encourages softly stretching and strengthening. In each session, experience conscious awareness of breath, observe sensations in the body, notice thoughts, and expand the heart center.

Dominican Center’s yoga sessions create a healing space for all ages, fitness levels, and physical conditions so poses and breath work are accessible to all. For those new to yoga or working with special concerns and injuries, poses are modified and supported with props and detailed instruction for comfort and safety. Props are provided by Dominican Center at no additional cost.

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

Lectio Divina is a way of praying the Scriptures so that the Word of God may penetrate our hearts. This prayerful practice is a blend of silence and slow, prayerful reading of Scripture.

Occurs every Wednesday from 12:00 - 12:30 pm.

There is no cost or registration for this event.

Discovering the sacred in our daily lives through photography allows us to learn by the act of framing a moment in time. When you are in the flow of capturing photos, it becomes a spiritual discipline - you are praying with your eyes and your heart.

It's less what the eye sees and more what the soul feels.
- unknown

Spirituality Through a Camera Lens gently guides us in seeing the holy in our lives and capturing it in our photography. Over four sessions, participants of all levels will be coached through artistic and technical skills of camera use; complete photo assignments in and outside of each class; and share the sacred stories of their photographs with one another.  Please bring your camera to each session. Cell phones and cameras are welcomed.

Series Dates

• June 4, 2018
• June 11, 2018
• June 18, 2018
• June 25, 2018

Cost: $45 / students $10 (use the code camera at checkout for this price)

View Dominican Center's Refund Policy

FD: Spirituality

Come meet and talk with our Michigan Legislature candidates. At this non-partisan forum ask about state and local environmental issues that matter to you. This event is intended to educate you on your candidates’ environmental views; it is not part of any endorsement process. Former Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell will host this free event.

Kent County Candidate Forum on the Environment Sponsored By:

• Sierra Club
• Citizen’s Climate Lobby - Grand Rapids Chapter
• Schrems West Michigan
• West Michigan Environmental Action Agency
• Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

Read

Forum provides opportunity to discuss environmental issues with local political hopefuls at The Rapidian

Listen

The Eco Insider featuring the West Michigan Environmental Action Counsel, WGVU with Shelley Irwin

Become a Zentangle Apprentice!

Zentangle for Families is designed especially for children ages 7-10, and the young at heart! This artistic method of self-expression is a non-verbal way to communicate ideas and thoughts with a focus on the process of breaking complex patterns down into simple steps, opening the door to art and creativity for people of all ages and abilities.

A wonderful way for a person to grow in a quiet meditative atmosphere, expressing their creativity and sharing in the process with others.
- Zentangle Participant

Participants are encouraged to discover, explore, and embrace individual styles. Benefits include relaxation, expanded awareness, enhanced focus, new techniques for problem-solving, and new ways to see beauty or embrace the unexpected. Materials included. Each participant will receive an Apprentice Certificate upon completion.

Cost: $30 per adult, $5 per child; materials included.

Please call the front desk to register for this program. 616.514-3325.

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

Join us for an intimate evening of storytelling with Dr. Rosita Arvigo sharing the stories of her life’s learning from Traditional Healers and Midwives in Mexico, Central America and her time with Don Elijio Panti, born in Peten, Guatemala.  The story of Don Elijio Panti and Rosita Arvigo, is an exceptional example of how two people from two different cultures come together and learn from each other and infused the world with insight and truth.  Their story reminds us that while we are not entitled to the knowledge of traditional peoples, over time with respect and integrity, it is possible to bridge cultures.

This evening of storytelling is fully sponsored by Healing Traditions.  To register please contact Beth Townsend, founder of Healing Traditions  at  beth.ann.townsend@comcast.net.

Registration fee is $30.00/ per person. 

In this Creative Transformation program, Imagination - The Alley into Spiritual Growth, we will play with imagination as we drop more deeply in relationship with God. Cultivate an expansive love for self through creative writing and visual journaling. Techniques to create your visual journal will be demonstrated. Feel free to bring your own journal to the workshop.

To be spiritual is to create.
- Ernest Holmes

Creative Transformation programs are facilitated by Art Therapist Leara Glinzak. She is recognized as a gentle, interactive presence who guides participants through mindful, creative steps toward healing and growth in times of transition and change. No artistic experience required … only life experience.

Cost includes materials.

FD: Spirituality

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

The Ennegram: Tool for Personal Transformation workshop is designed for those who want to discover their personality type as well as for those who have studied the Enneagram to experience their knowledge of Enneagram by interacting with others.

The Enneagram program helped me to accept the person I actually am rather than the person I wish I were. It helped me to love myself better.
- Enneagram Participant

The Enneagram describes insight into nine distinct personality types. Coming to understand the Enneagram is coming to understand habits of thought and behavior for each of the nine personalities.

With the identity of your Enneagram personality gives you a clarity to understand yourself better in your habits of thought and behaviors. Knowing one’s self and what motivates is foundational for any psychological/and or spiritual growth toward becoming “fully human - fully alive.”

Cost includes continental breakfast, lunch, and snack.

FD: Spirituality

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

In this Zentangle program, Refill Your Well, draw inspiration from the Well-Well-Well tangle. We will focus on how a single action (tangle) can ripple out, creating beauty in all the areas it reaches. Finishing touches will include using colored pencils and water brushes to create a painted watercolor work of art.

Zentangle teaches us not to rush and to take good care of ourselves in the present moment — after all, the present moment is all there is.
- Cathy Malchiodi, Art Therapist

*Prerequisite: Exploring Zentangle: An Introduction

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

In Spiritual Direction Practicum, Part 2, participants go deeper into the realities of their own spiritual journeys, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the rules of discernment, the adult maturing of faith using the enneagram, and a celebration of that great cloud of witnesses of Spiritual Giants that remind us of God’s continual presence in this world and our lives.

For more information, please visit our Called to be a Spiritual Director page.

Dates of Sessions:

• September 7, 2018
• September 21, 2018
• October 5, 2018
• October 19, 2018
• November 2, 2018
• November 16, 2018
• November 30, 2018
• December 14, 2018
• January 4, 2019
• January 18, 2019
• February 1, 2019
• February 15, 2019
• March 1, 2019
• March 15, 2019
• April 12, 2019
• April 26, 2019
• May 3, 2019
• May 17, 2019

Every day 800 million people experience hunger. Hunger for Change explores the realities of food insecurity in the United States and around the world.

There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.
- Mahatma Gandhi

This is an 8-week, prayerful process that includes study, rich dialogue, and an immersion experience. This process inspires change and action to fully contribute to ending hunger in our local and global communities.

Program developed by JustFaith Ministries.

View Dominican Center’s Refund Policy

FD: Spirituality

Spiritual Companioning is a ministry that arises from one’s faith commitment to serve others. The two-year course deepens the sacred presence we offer one another. Through study, writing, group sharing, and prayer, participants cultivate a spiritual sensitivity toward societal and global responsibility. This spiritual formation course intentionally cultivates movement toward community, mutual solidarity, justice, and respect and dignity for all creation.

For more information, please visit our Spiritual Companioning page.

Spiritual Companioning applications:
Spiritual Companioning Application Part A
Spiritual Companioning Application Part B

Dates of Sessions:

• September 11, 2018
• September 25, 2018
• October 16, 2018
• October 30. 2018
• November 13, 2018
• November 27, 2018
• December 18, 2018
• January 15, 2019
• February 19, 2019
• March 19, 2019
• April 9, 2019
• May 21, 2019

A spiritual director holds sacred the many stories heard in a one-on-one relationship or in a trusted group. The Spiritual Director Practicum is a formation that depends on the understanding of how the Holy Spirit is present in our life and in the lives of others. The practicum is a two-year process filled with contemplative prayer, study, and practicing spiritual disciplines. Participants will journey with each other and with Spiritual Giants who will mentor them during this formation process. Participants will have opportunities to provide spiritual direction under supervision, and will receive spiritual direction throughout the process.

For more information, please visit our Called to be a Spiritual Director page.

Dates of Sessions:

• September 14, 2018
• September 15, 2018
• October 5, 2018
• October 6, 2018
• November 9, 2018
• November 10, 2018
• December 7, 2018
• December 8, 2018
• January 11, 2019
• January 12, 2019
• February 8, 2019
• February 9, 2019
• March 8, 2019
• March 9, 2019
• April 5, 2019
• April 6, 2019
• May 10, 2019
• May 11, 2019

Foundations in Spirituality is a serious reflective study that opens our minds and hearts to the teachings and life examples of the great Christian spiritual teachers that continue to deepen our present spiritual journey.

Christ will make His home in your heart as you trust in Him.
Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.
- Ephesians 3:17

Explore the rich preaching of St. Dominic; the unbreakable faith of St. Teresa of Avila; the deep spirituality of St. John of the Cross; the life-giving wisdom of the Beguines; the fortitude of John Calvin; the daily prayerful life of St. Ignatius; and the lives of many more that continue to enrich our own faith and spirituality.

The course introduces the practice of contemplative prayer and presence as basic to living a spiritual life. It is an experience that strengthens our own response to the longing in our hearts that seeks a deeper relationship with God.

The objectives of this course are to:

• Grow in understanding and appreciation of the diverse ways God has been present to and involved in the lives of the great spiritual teachers and guides throughout history
• Encourage awareness, commitment to, and integration of the spiritual journey in daily life through writing and living a personal rule of life
• Develop an understanding of contemplative attitudes and presence as basic to living a spiritual life
• Provide opportunity for an introductory study of writings from the spiritual classics for the purpose of reflection, discussion, and personal appropriation
• Foster respect for the diversity in past and present theology and spirituality.
• To present basic principles and tools for discernment that are useful for personal, prayerful decision making

Day and Times:  Class meets Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
A required book of readings will be available for purchase at Dominican Center.

Dates of Sessions:

• September 22, 2018
• October 20, 2018
• November 17, 2018
• December 15, 2018
• January 19, 2019
• February 16, 2019
• March 16, 2019
• April 13, 2019
• May 18, 2019

Building on our connected, common humanity, Foundations in Wisdom offers the tools, resources, and experiences to renew one’s spiritual foundation, as well as the resolve to live in this world with compassion and to respond with contemplative service.

Martin Luther King knew that God and God alone gives us the interior resources to bear the burdens and tribulations of life, especially those that come as we fulfill our call to serve others and stand for what is right in this world. Had he not known how to move from action back into prayer - how to tap into a deeper Source than mere human activism - we would have lost him to fear and discouragement; the forces of evil would have prevailed, at least for a little while longer.
- Ruth Haley Barton, Author
MLK Jr. and the Soul of Leadership

All faith traditions and wisdom teachers are rooted in their commitment to social justice and to those living in the margins of society. The givens of our faith include being good stewards
of the earth, empowering the vulnerable to live with dignity, and standing in equity with all peoples.

This spiritual formation experience guides participants toward a deeper understanding that will awaken and strengthen a commitment to justice.

• Companion with wisdom teachers who came before us - Dorothy Day, Howard Thurman, Monseñor Oscar Romero, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Teresa de Avila, St. Francis of Assisi.
• Companion with wisdom teachers still with us - Richard Rohr, Joan Chittister, Malala Yousafzai, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Margaret Benefiel, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pope Francis, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Pema Chödrön, Don Goergen, OP.
• Companion with prophetic wisdom yet to come.
• Journey near and far to witness and participate in the work of those making a difference in the lives of others.
• Develop resources for cultivating the practices of meditation and contemplation in today’s world.
• Share one’s story and have one’s story be heard through the art of holy listening and conversation.

Series Dates

• September 22, 2018
• October 20, 2018
• November 17, 2018
• December 15, 2018
• January 19, 2019
• February 16, 2019
• March 16, 2019
• April 13, 2019
• May 18, 2019

Cost: $600, plus book fees. If you would like information regarding a payment plan or scholarship, please email Margarita Solis-Deal, Director of Dominican Center: msolis-deal@Dominicancenter.com

View Dominican Center's Refund Policy

FD: Spirituality

Come and journey to the Emerald Isle. Breathe in the spirit of the land that is Ireland; experience the beauty and tradition of its people; and let the footsteps of the Celtic mystics and saints guide your walking and resting in this land of deep and ancient spirituality.

For more information

Nancy Brousseau, OP
nbrousseau@aol.com or 616.560.4580

Cost

$2,999, includes round-trip airfare from Chicago, first class/select hotels, and most meals

FD: Evangelization