I was lucky enough to practice for over a year with two of the lovely yoga teachers at The…read moreBreathing Room, so I will relate my experiences with them. Heather is a cheerful and patient teacher, perfectly able to make comfortable even those very new to the practice of yoga. One of her loveliest classes consists of mindful breathing and relaxation; letting the body loosen up and let go of all the tension that we hold without knowing. I practiced with Julie as I became more familiar with the basic poses. Her style is gentle, encouraging, and promoting of mindfulness - of listening to your body and not pushing yourself to injury. I am particularly grateful to Julie because after I suffered a knee injury that greatly limited my ability to practice yoga, she helped me design a series of poses with extensive modifications so that I could strengthen my body without exacerbating my pain. Also, I confess that I admired Julie's selection of music for her class so much, that I asked her to share her playlist with me for my home practice (which she generously did). I recommend Heather and Julie's classes wholeheartedly, no matter the level of fitness or previous experience with yoga. The best way to keep up to date with their schedule is via their facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/breathinginvancouver).

What a comfortable, clean, and welcoming studios. I did the Yoga1-2 class at 8am on Saturday. The…read moreinstructor was very welcoming, showed me around and the room was all set up with props and such. The practice itself was opening, and stretching with many variations and options to go deeper or ease up. I really appreciate the cues for internal awareness and body awareness.

Wonderful place, lovely people, sound of flowing water, deer meandering through…read more Great place to get away and learn more about meditation and Buddhism. We enjoyed it very much.

A great place to practice meditation. Very tranquil and peaceful. I love to enjoy the nature.read more

Serene and beautiful area to pray, meditate and leave your worries…read more Parking & entrance is free to grotto. If you want to experience the garden and statues that is located on the cliff above, there is a $12 fee for entrance. Very helpful and cheerful young man inside the visitors center where you can learn more about the grotto and purchase candles to leave at the grotto alter. #BayArea (lol he was very knowledgeable about the bay )

I really wish I had more time here. This was one of the very last places to visited before I had to…read morefly home. I got here late about 30mins before closing so I only walked around for a little. It's so Beautiful, peaceful, & calm here. The Grotto is a 62-acres sanctuary founded in 1924. There are so many beautifully carved statues. All the statues are made from marble, granite, bronze, wood, polyester resin and fiberglass. On their webpage, The Grotto's Vision is To forever be a place where the human spirit can seek peace and consolation. The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother embraces and supports people of all cultures and all faiths who seek a place of prayer and meditation; The Grotto values the dignity of everyone. I'll definitely come back here the next time I'm in town so I can spend a bit more time exploring. There's a decent sized parking lot. It was empty as I got here close to closing but I'm sure it gets very busy here.

I have been to the Zen Temple only a handful of times. Each time I have been I have encountered…read moreonly kind and helpful people. The practice of Zen Buddhism always brings a lot of peace into my life. Gratitude for the space and the community.

I used to be an irregular member. My work schedule changed frequently which meant that sometimes…read moremonths would go by without being able to attend. Still, I always felt welcome and received as I popped in and out, especially by the teacher who completely understood my circumstance. Having our own space now allows a more robust schedule, including Thursdays and Sundays, and this means I can train weekly. When I was new, I loved the silent tea service which is offered in the evening on Tuesday. Such a simple ritual, but so full of depth! The free lunch after sitting meditation on Sundays offers a similar opportunity to practice mindfulness while eating and moving. The best part of the practice is the personal guidance that any participant can receive from the teacher. Her words and guidance have allowed me to navigate some terrible storms in my life, and they keep pushing me to open more and more.

I took the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Course at Pause Mediation.The studio itself is…read morebeautiful. In an old Portland brick building with amazing timber pillars and rafters. There are tall windows that let in a lot of natural light. I especially enjoyed getting there during dusk, when the crows outside were flying around discussing where the best place to roost for the night would be. Ryan Kenny is a compassionate, funny, and understanding instructor. It was suggested by my therapist to find this specific 8-week course. A friend of mine had been going to Pause Mediation classes for awhile, and had invited me several times, but I hadn't yet taken her up on her offer. The class is not easy, but it builds each week on practices. There are simple phrases and ideas that I remember that are very helpful in stressful situations. Being in the world today with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is so much to brood and worry about. Instead of obsessively reading the news and stewing in "what ifs?", I focus on what is right now. Right now my family (including my old parents) are healthy. I talk everyday to my brother and sister. I'm writing letters to other family members and friends. It has been a time for me to have the opportunity to slow down and that has helped with my practice. I am grateful for Ryan and his patient encouragement. If you are not ready to take the 8-week course, Pause Meditation offers many helpful classes, I've especially enjoyed the sound meditations and the aromatherapy.

Ryan and Raina really have it dialed in at Pause meditation. It's a beautiful space in downtown,…read moreeasy to get to, with a great vibe. They have a lot of meditation classes throughout the week that you can attend, even Saturday mornings. And they're also, from I hear, rolling out some corporate offerings, in line with corporate wellness. Ryan is even a local celebrity featured on the morning news in Portland. Not only is Ryan gifted at what he does and not only does he know how to cultivate community and make people feel welcome and connected, he is also deeply passionate about meditation and cultivating mindfulness. He lives and breathes what he teaches, walking his talk. Highly recommend Pause Meditation. You can't find a better meditation instructor in Portland!

I came here for a meditation lesson on a Tuesday morning. I have practiced meditation before but…read morewas not familiar with dhammakaya meditation. First I had an introductory session where the practice was explained to me in some detail by a lifelong practitioner and we did some light stretching. Then monk Victor came to lead the session. He also provided some guidance and led a very pleasant very refreshing meditation. Afterwards we talked for a while and shared some additional advice. It was a wonderful way to begin my day.

Lisa and Monk Victor are incredible and I have found a wonderful safe space within their walls at…read morethe Oregon Meditation Center. I have been going weekly for the past 2 months and I look forward to it every week to decompress and refresh after the stresses of day to day grind of work and life.

I wasn't raised religious. For the majority of my life, I've never understood the need for faith or…read morespirituality. Boy, my younger self was ignorant (but also carefree, I suppose). Life is hard. Everyone experiences strife in their lives. You need to be able to be at peace with yourself and come to terms with various situations. I've heard a lot about meditation over the years and decided to give it a try. I took a class through PCC and learned a lot about meditation and Buddhist teachings. The class I took was a 5 or 6 week course taught by Heather Rocklin (she's fantastic). Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of times where I fell asleep during meditation and I felt bored out of my mind, but you have to know that MEDITATION IS HARD. REALLY HARD. Really hard to get into and really hard to stick to, but the benefits of meditation are amazing. I'm not at the point where meditation is strictly a part of my routine, but I can already feel the emotional and mental benefits. If you're curious about Buddhist teachings, looking for some peace, or trying to get into meditation, check them out. http://meditationinoregon.org/ (click on their calendar to see current classes and drop-in options)

Everyone is warm and welcoming. The teachings touch my heart and the teacher's guided meditations…read moreare relaxing and move your mind in a positive direction.

This Theravada Buddhist, 'Insight' meditation community has gone through lots of changes in the…read morelast 18 months which is great to see. It is a very active Sangha (community) led group with both resident and visiting teachers from around the country who provide a variable teaching style while focused deeply on Dharma practice. They offer a bunch of different classes and on-site retreats and occasional social events. I found that the best way to see if this community was a good fit was to attend their Sunday program 10am-noon with a social hour following their service. (and there is no financial corruption or f. mismanagement which was suggested in a previous comment.). In Portland, we are so fortunate to have several other great Buddhist communities with very good teachers for practice.

Amazing place! Going through big changes! So many old…read morereviews and stories that do not reflect what is going on right now -be sure to check it out -a place of peace and acceptance

I am not a person who is into "woo," so I was surprised when I found myself curious about TM. But…read moreafter reading the studies showing what a profound impact it has on people, I decided to invest in learning. I appreciated that the TM Foundation now does sliding scale payment plans, so I could finally afford it. I went to an information session and decided to take the plunge. I am so glad I did. The steep payment covers one-on-one instruction, four days of in-person group coaching, and unlimited lifetime support wherever you are on the globe. The practice of TM itself is ridiculously easy-- I was able to do it the first time, and every time since. After literally thousands of years and millions of practitioners, the way it is taught and practiced is simply the way that has worked throughout the millennia. My kids have noticed such a remarkable shift in my own sense of calm and focus that they've been asking if they can learn how to meditate too. Every part of my life has been better as a result of TM, and I truly appreciate Renee and Michael's commitment to patiently walking us through the learning process. Both of them have taught hundreds of people how to utilize TM in their lives, and it shows. I would recommend TM and the Portland Transcendental Meditation Center to anyone who is curious and open to a new way of moving through their life!

Transcendental Meditation IS the most effective meditation, as proven by numerous scientific and…read moremedical studies. The reason it's so protected is to ensure the purity of the teaching - to make sure it's taught properly. As someone who's been practicing TM for almost 6 years now, I can say that it's the most valuable thing I've ever learned. It's by far the easiest and most effective meditation I've tried. Also, I've never been a part of the "cult." I just learned the meditation and went on about my life.

I'm really surprised by a couple of reviews that say the pool or facility is dirty. The place has…read morealways looked quite clean during the last year I've been going there. The pool and facility are wonderful and well-maintained. It's a great gym, I highly recommend.

I'm not really rating Cascade AC on the whole in this review but rather their policy or lack…read morethereof. I enjoy swimming and Cascade has the best pool in the area so participation here is a matter of limited selection. My problem is the lack of policy/signs/refereeing something that keeps inconsiderate lane swimmers in line. Cascade has no posted policy or signs that direct how people should behave when there are others waiting for a lane. Since there are numerous older adults that seem to have developed blindness because they don't 'see' people waiting nor do they ask anyone. Instead, they see someone getting out of the pool and head directly to the lane that just opened up simply not caring that others are waiting. Most people seem to want to avoid conflict so nothing gets said empowering those who are already feel privileged enough to just jump in. Then there's me. I will say something and I might not be nice about it because your rudeness put you in my path. So, lane cutters if you can't turn to those waiting and ask then expect to get called out or for me to jump in 'your' lane. I simply won't stand for your rude behavior or whatever excuse you have for being like you are. As for Cascade - this on you. You have no policy, no guidance and no monitoring leaving us adults to police themselves. Fortunately, most do an exceptional job of policing themselves and have decency and courtesy. However, there are some that don't possess decency and probably have limited self-control when confronted about their behavior that could lead to an altercation between parties. If this were to happen to me you can bet that I would seeing you in court... And, while you are pondering this matter please scrub the pool! It's filthy. The walls and floor of the pool are coated in brown slime that cause slip when trying to push off. P.S. this also applies to those that are in a lane and invite someone that just shows up to join them instead of the next person in line as it should be. Friends don't get a free pass to the head of the line.