Beloved Yoga Inviting Peace: Art, Yoga, Meditation & Sound

Inviting Peace: Art, Yoga, Meditation & Sound

Led by Maryam Ovissi, Reggie Hubbard, Susan Knoblauch & Heather Hagaman

Join us for an evening to invite peace through the layers individually and collectively. We will begin with co-creating an art piece that brings to life the essence of community!

Then roll out your mats, pull up a chair and bring out the bolsters and blankets for a restoring yoga practice where we will weave in spaces of meditation and close with a sublime healing sound bath led by Maryam and Reggie.

This event has been co-organized as a way to address the tangible layer of stress prevalent around the elections. We are offering it free to support collective healing and peace cultivation. All are welcome. It is a space of inclusion and diversity.

5 - 5:30 pm Welcome/lounge art activity with Susan & Heather

5:30 - 7:15 pm Yoga & Sonic Sound Meditation Immersion with Maryam and Reggie

Reggie Hubbard's website: activepeaceyoga.com

Maryam Ovissi

Maryam Ovissi, Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapist & Yoga Teacher

C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, RCYT, RPYT, YACEP

"Yoga is a proven system and philosophy that provides tools for the individual to develop a self-care routine that meets them where they are. As a teacher, I am only the guide.”

~Maryam Ovissi

This philosophy is the foundation of Maryam Ovissi’s approach to wellbeing and has guided her through more than two decades of work in the yoga and health industry. Maryam is the founder of Beloved Yoga, a studio and wellness center operating in Northern Virginia since 2005. Her vision for making Yoga accessible for all came to fruition in February 2018, with the opening of the flagship location of Beloved Yoga: A Sanctuary for All, a serene, safe, multi-studio space in Reston, Virginia. Maryam’s passion for sharing the original teachings of Yoga with reverence, integrity and accessibility for all is what motivates her to be of service to the Yoga commUnity.

Maryam is a certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and under the tutelage of Bhekaji Lynch, she received her 500-hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) accreditation with Yoga Alliance. Maryam’s personal mission as a teacher of Yoga is to provide an opportunity for her students to have access to tools that allow self-healing, self-empowerment and self-realization. Her unique style provides space for multi-level practitioners to journey through Yoga in group, semi-private and private classes. In her private Yoga teaching, Yogic tools are offered that serve the person and their personal intentions.

“Transforming trauma into teachers is one of the greatest secrets for discovering peace and happiness in this life. In my opinion, Yoga is one of the most effective tools to support this transformation. “ ~Maryam Ovissi

Moved by the declining mental and physical health statistics of Americans today, Maryam created Beloved Yoga’s signature Befriending Yoga Therapy program to offer classes that serve a range of clients and a variety of health conditions. Trauma-informed teachers offer private and semi-private classes designed for a variety of health issues including lower back pain, hip and knee replacements, spinal fusions, invasive surgeries, traumatic physical injuries, chronic conditions, emotional stress and mental imbalances from cognitive to stress-induced confusion. Maryam’s specialties in trauma lie in her experience with medical trauma, including invasive surgeries, cancer and all the layers of treatment around cancer, as well as complex medical conditions that create medical trauma. Maryam co-developed Befriend the Journey with Cancer with Anu Kaur.

Maryam received a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Arts Management from Boston University in 1998, and soon thereafter she became an avid student of Yoga. She began studying privately with her first teacher, Simin Yahaghi, in California. Maryam has been teaching Hatha, Hatha Flow, Vinyasa, Prenatal and Baby & Me classes since 2001. She honors the lineage and teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya through her principle teachers, the Mohan Family. Maryam upholds the principle that the Yoga practice is a personal and individual journey and not a one-size-fits-all practice. Although A.G. & Indra Mohan, Dr. Ganesh Mohan, Bhekaji Lynch continue to serve as her main teachers, she claims nothing can replace the gifts and wisdom born forth by showing up for herself every day through Sadhana (personal practice). She stays committed to the path of the student.

Recognizing the need for teachers who offer safe instruction and instill the ancient teachings of Yoga, Maryam founded the Beloved Yoga School in 2008 to offer teacher training programs. Under the guidance of Maryam, the Beloved Yoga School offers Yoga Alliance registered trainings and Approved Professional Development programs by IAYT, including a 200-hour teacher training, a 300-hour advanced teacher training, a prenatal teacher training, and the Beloved Yoga Certification Program: Trauma-Informed Yoga, Pranayama & Yin. The Beloved Yoga School meets the standards set by Yoga Alliance and is a member school of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Maryam’s love expands to embrace the creative spirit. She serves on the board of the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art and the Southgate Community Center and is on the Advisory Board of the Gender and Policy Center, George Mason University. Maryam makes time to explore creativity in her own life through writing poetry and mark making. She released Soundscapes to Contemplate, a compilation CD of her poetry set to conscious electronic mantra music by artist and producer Saeed Younan. In 2020, she published Care of the Whole Self: Yoga Inspired Tools to Befriend the Self. Visit her website to learn more: maryamovissi.com

Reggie Hubbard

Reggie began his yoga journey in November 2014 seeking to alchemize and navigate extreme professional adversity. Through disciplined practice, ruthless focus and surrender to inner peace, he has adopted the yogic path, and is now a 500-hour certified yoga teacher who has extensively studied with leading teachers such as Faith Hunter, Amy Ippoliti, Yogarupa Rod Stryker, Sri Dharma Mittra and countless other amazing teachers he has encountered along the way.

Reggie teaches members of Congress, congressional staff, leading progressive organizations and individuals, sharing techniques for growing peace and ease as a foundation, not an afterthought. He also advises yoga communities, yoga studios, teachers and the broader wellness industry on the importance of diversity and inclusion, opening the practice to all and eliminating exclusionary cultures and habits.

His teaching practice is designed for all levels and lifestyles, the only thing required is an open mind. The focus of his teaching is to bring more peace and balance to activists AND to guide the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens. Achieving this balance is how we catalyze transformative change.

In addition to his yogic activities, Reggie has held many senior strategic and logistical roles across a variety of fields, ranging from global marketing, digital and community organizing, government relations, international education to Presidential campaigning. He currently serves as a senior political strategist for a leading progressive campaigning organization, managing their relationships, impact and communications with Capitol Hill. He received a B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and an MBA in international strategy from the Vlerick Business School in Belgium. In addition to his yogic activities, Reggie has held many senior strategic and logistical roles across a variety of fields, ranging from global marketing, digital and community organizing, government relations, and international education to Presidential campaigning. He currently serves as a senior political strategist for a leading progressive campaigning organization, managing their relationships, impact and communications with Capitol Hill. He received a B.A. in philosophy from Yale University and an MBA in international strategy from the Vlerick Business School in Belgium.

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