Community Programs

Welcome to the Mindfulness Community

This community offers a space to continue or renew your mindfulness practice through regular Saturday sits and Mindful Thursdays. These events are scheduled throughout the year.

How to sign up for community events?

To ensure access, pre-registration is required through the form below. You’ll get the details via email after you register.

Seasonal Saturday Sits 2025

Enjoy a three-hour mini retreat in the spirit of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Iyengar yoga. Sliding-scale rates apply.

• *The next mini-retreat will be hosted in a spacious Mt Pleasant location near VCC Clark station and Emily Carr University. Address available upon successful registration for the program!

Fee and reminders

Sliding-scale rates are back on Saturday events due to popular demand!

The sliding-scale rates are from: $18-$32 CAD for one Saturday morning session. Participants of Saturday sits can choose the pricing level that is most appropriate for their situation, starting from $18 per 3-hour session. If this is too much, please email me to make alternative arrangements.

Reminders:​

• The room will open at 8.45am and we will begin at 9am, sharp. Please allow enough time for your arrival and parking, if driving. See the below FAQ for parking info.
• You can wear comfortable clothes in layers, as the room temperature may fluctuate.
• One of the mindfulness practices will involve lying down on the floor. Please bring a yoga mat, 1-2 blankets, or a thick towel for this. You will also have the option to remain on a chair for any mindfulness practice.
• Another part of the class will include a gentle breath and alignment yoga session from 11am-12pm. You will have the option to remain for the yoga part or leave as you see fit. This is taught by an experienced Associate Instructor. Check her profile here.
• You can prepare whatever makes you comfortable (e.g., water bottle, meditation cushion or bench, back support, etc.).
• No refunds or course transfers are available for cancellations within seven days of the course start date.
• See the below FAQs for more helpful information.

How to apply:

The registration opens a few weeks before each mini-retreat. Please make sure to pay using your preferred payment method, or send an e-payment to my e-mail: info@janklimas.com. The exact address will be sent to you upon acceptance to the class. ​

*New FAQ

When will I know if I’m enrolled in the class?

• New applications are processed on an ongoing basis. You will be notified seven to ten days before the class starts. Classes with fewer than five registrants will be cancelled and a refund provided. Please be aware of this when making arrangements to attend this session.

Where will the session take place?

• The next session will be hosted in a spacious Mount Pleasant location near the VCC Clark Station and Emily Carr University. This is a private meeting room; the address will be shared with participants via email upon acceptance to the class.

How do I get there? Is there free parking?

• The venue is within walking distance from bus stops of many major bus routes such as lines 99/9 and 84 as well as the Skytrain millennium line. Time-limited, on-street parking is located throughout the neighbourhood. Give yourself plenty of time to find parking before the class starts.

Are refreshments provided?

• No refreshments will be served during the session, but you are welcome to bring your own snack, covered beverage /water bottle. There is a water tap available in the classroom. There is also a coffee shop within walking distance from the venue, and you are welcome to visit it before or after the session. There will be a short break around 11 a.m., but participants are encouraged to take their own breaks between practices, as needed.

What about accessibility?

• Yes, the space is accessible by wheelchair through a ramp located on Fraser Street. There are no steps to the actual classroom. There is one gender neutral washroom. The mindful movement practice is optional, and instructions on adjustments will be provided.

What if I’m late?

• Feel free to step into the room, find a free chair/spot, and join the group in practice. We will start at 9 a.m. sharp, but no one will be turned away for being late. We will keep the door slightly open for a short while after the class starts.

Do you allow pets?

• No, sorry. Pets are not allowed (except for service animals). If you need to bring a trained service animal required because of a disability, we kindly ask that you email us as soon as possible. Your service dog must always remain under your control during travel, and must be harnessed, held on a leash, or tethered while in class.

Can I park my bike inside the classroom (if it’s raining)?

• Space is limited, but there is an outdoor bike rack available right next to the venue.

Do I need to have any mindfulness or yoga training to participate in this class?

• While it’s helpful to have some previous experience in mindfulness, yoga, or both, it is not required. The yoga we do will be a series of gentle all-level stretches. However, we will practice over an extended period of time, and this might not be the best starting point for people experiencing any kind of psychosocial challenges. Everyone is encouraged to have a look at and stay within their window of tolerance. If you have any concerns or questions about this, feel free to email me directly at info@janklimas.com

Do I have to do yoga?

• Yoga practice is optional, just like any other practice. There aren’t any yoga props available in the space. Please bring your own yoga mat and 1-2 blankets, if possible. Feel free to bring any other props if you like, including cushions, belts, or blankets.

Who’ will be teaching the (optional) light Iyengar yoga practice?

• The optional Iyengar yoga practice will be taught by an experienced associate instructor. Check her profile here.

Graduate MBSR Programs 

(currently on hold)

Congratulations for completing the 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program!  Now that you are on the mindfulness journey, you can continue developing and nurturing this path.  To support you with this, I am offering all MBSR graduates various ways to connect with our MBSR community, and to deepen your understanding of mindfulness.

Take the MBSR again

Take the eight-week MBSR again as an alumna/ alumnus. For more information and to register click here.

Many people find that taking the MBSR program again provides them with opportunities to further establish their mindfulness practices.  If you are interested, please e-mail me (info@janklimas.com) before filling the online application form as space is limited.

All-Day Session for MBSR/ MBCT Graduates

You can join just the All-Day retreat that is part of the eight-week MBSR program. Similar to the eight-week MBSR program, the All-day Retreat will provide alumni with the opportunity to engage in formal MBSR mindfulness meditation practices, as well as investigation of themes of perception, automatic, habitual stress reactivity, mindfulness-mediated stress response and interpersonal communication.

Prerequisites

As a stand-alone retreat, the MBSR All-Day session is only open to those who have completed the eight-week MBSR or MBCT program.  You will also be practicing with other participants from the current eight-week MBSR program.

​The All-Day session will provide you with 7.5 hours to deepen your mindfulness practices and connect with other MBSR and MBCT participants.  The practices will include body scan, mindful yoga, sitting meditation, walking meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and mindful eating.

The retreat will be in silence most of the day, and the day will end with a debrief of your experience. The dates of future MBSR All-Day sessions will be posted here. Sign up for the Newsletter below to stay up to date with the upcoming sessions.